Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-02-13
The s. O.. Guurentiun1.
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
RECONSTRUCTION CONVENTION.
SEVENTEENTH DAY.

J, SEVENTEENTH DAY. .s. ..--
TUESDAY, February 4-The convention assem-
bled at IL o'clock.
The president stated that the ordinances taxing
the people to defray the expenses, and defining tht
pay and mileage of the members, had been engross
ed and duly signed by the Secretary and himself.
WAGES. ...
;, W. E. Rose, from the Committee on Petitions
to whom was referred resolution with reference
the collection of the wages and debts of laborers
reported the same back with the recommendation
that it be laid on the table. The report was a
dopted. .. ...-.-..--. e.. ..
On motion of A. j. Ransier, the unfinished
business of yesterday, being the ordinance inyal
dating contracts based on slaves, was taken up. :.
Speeches were made by A. j. Ransier, q. q.
the previous question then being called, the main
question was taken, by yeas and nays, and the or.
dinance passed to third reading
On motion Of F. j. Moses, Jr., the sergeant-at:
arms was instructed to summon the members and
close the doors. -. ,r.
Such is the importance of the question that We
publish the list Of yeas and nays, which, it will be
observed, show the large vote of ninety-six yeas
against nineteen nays.
Keas-The President and Messrs. Allen, Arnim,
Becker, Bell, Bowen, Bonum, Burton, Broken
ION, DIyce, DyaS u. II. CdlI, Il: q. Caiii, Canip,
Coghlan, Chambe1lin, Cook, Collins, Crews, Dar.
aldson, Drifle, Duncan, Edwards, Foster, Gentry,
Goss, Gray, Harris, j. N. Hayne, Haynes, Hen
; derson, Holmes, Humbird, Hunter Hurley. Jack
. son, Jacobs, Jeryey, S. johnson, w. B. johnson,
J..W. johnson, W. f. johnson, Joiner, Il. Jones
l G. Jones, Lang, Langley, G. Lee, S. Lee, Lomax,
Leslie, Mackey, Mayer, Middleton, Milford, Mo-
ses, Nance, Nash, Neagle, Newell, Nuckles, Par,
ker, Pillsbury Randolph, Rainey, Ransier, Rich
mond, Rivers, Rose, Runion, Sanders, Sasportas,
Shrewsbury, Smalls, Stubs, Swails Thomas, Au-
gustus Thompson, B. A. Thompson, S. B. Thomp.
; Son, Viney, Webb, Whipper, White, G. NJ. Wild
er, Wingo and Wright.
Clinton, Corley, Dill, jerks, Jillson, Mauldin, W.
J. McKinlay, VIM. McKinlay, McDaniels, Mead,
Miller, Owens, Rutland, Whittemore, Williamson
and F. +. Wilder. D.. ..
Before announcing his vote, B. T. Whittemore,
of Darlington obtained leave of the convention to
give his reasons therefor. He said The manner
, in which this question has been debated to-day
would tend to indicate that every person who may
vote "no" upon it, favors the idea that there can
be any right of property in man. [ wish to say
that there is no delegate this floor who has more
persistently and continuously denied such right
than myself, and vote mo on the present aues
ton only because I believe in the enforcement o1
all contracts mutually and legally formed, of what
ever character they may be.
On motion of W. G.. Whipper, the rules were
suspended, and the ordinance received its third
reading, and was ordered to be engrossed. Tho
ordinance is as folows:>
We, the people of South Carolina, By our Dele
gates IN Conve,ton assembled, do hereby declare
and ordaia, lst That all contracts, whether under
seal or not, the consideration of which were the
20 mil opd
void, and of no effect and no suit either in law OF
|equity, shall be commenced or prosecuted for the
Ed. That all proceedings to enforce satisfaction
or payment of Judgment or DEGREES rendered. re
corded, enrolled Or entered upon such contracts IL
Sd. That all orders heretofore made in any cour
in this State in relation to such contracts, whereby
property is held subject to decision, as to validity
of such contracts are also hereby declared null anc
void and Of no effect.
Done in convention at the City of Char lestoa thu
4th day of February, in the year of our Lore
one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
= HOW TO COLLECT WAGES.
: B. Byas, colored, of Berkeley offered long Sc
res of resolutions providing that every freedman
in South Carolina shall be entitled to collect wage
from his former master for services rendered slne
January l, 1862 to wit: Male hands, over q
years Of age, at the rate Of $40 per month; unde
. 81 years, So per month females over Is years
So per month under Is, $6 per month.
i. The resolution was laid on the table amid grea
laughter, Byas being evidently much discomfttet
+ thereat.
y FUTURE RAILROADS.
!, W. G. Whipper offered the following, whicl
y was referred to the Committee on Miscelaneou
y Affairs.
= Resolred, That it shall be binding and obligato
v I fo n charter
posed railroad whenever the said charter shall b.
applied for by any twelve respectable citizens pro
~ vided the route of such proposed road shall no
= run within ten miles on parallel line with an
l other now in existence in the State.
The convention adjourned.
: EIGHTEENTH DAY.
o WEDNESDAY, February 5.-The Convention as
g sembed at u, NJ
a G.. p. Leslie offered the following resolution
y which, on motion of W. G. Whipper, was adopted
r Resolred, That the President Of the conventio
y appoint committee of three to audit contlngen
G accounts and inquire into the correctness Of a
8 bills; and no money shall be paid until the aege
o Indebtedness shall have been investigated and n
u ported to the convention.
IT The unfinished business Of yesterday was take
GreenvlIe that the President be requested to dra'
from the Treasury of the State $780, 600 for the pul
pose of paying the per diem and mileage of officer
l. and members of the convention, and that the sam
. be paid on Saturday, at three O clock, z. N;
II MIR. Parker moved to amend by adding "for tn
a purpose of paying the per diem of the member
e and officers of this Convention and such other el
: penses."
q Mr. Leslie moved to amend as follows: "Prov
q ded that no contingent expenses shall be paid unit
ol the same shall have been acted on by the Commi
y, tee of Audit and approved by the House"
8 R. H. Cain hoped the amendment would NJ
d pass The Finance Committee had charge Of thes
% matters and it seemed to be calling inqueston the
: management to appoint Committee to audit tt
u accounts
IS w. j. Whipper hoped, as a matter of relief
Z the Finance Committee, the amendment would
~ adopted.
to Mr.. Parker, Chairman of the Committee on T
at nance said when the motion was made to draw tt
money, he only desired to bring it to the consider
d ton Of the House that the money should be draw
In order to be paid they might make and arrang
ments they deemed proper Anything would
w satisfactory to the Chairman or other members
1g the Committee on Finance. He did, howeve
to want to pay the printer.
d, B. f. Randolph hoped the first amendmen
IN which requires the officers and other expenses
its be paid would be adopted. If as delegates, th'
at received their pay, and left all incidental expens
of unpaid, it would look as if they were disposed
feather their own pockets to the exclusion Of ever
We body else.
ii Mr. Leslie said he offered his amendment sir
of nlv 10 carry out the object intended by the appor