Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-02-13
PROCEEDINGS
...ssg OF, THE Ia
RECONSTRUCTION CONVENTION.
CONTINUED FROM FIRsTPAGE-
NINETEENTH DAY

NINETEENTH DAY.
THURSDAY, February 6.-The Convention as
sembled at II, NJ.
The convention proceeded to the consideration
of the special order for twelve o clock namely, the
report Of the Committee on the Bill Of Rights.
B. O. Duncan, of Newberry, moved to strike
out from the first section the words born free and
equal" so that it would read ''an men are endow-
ed by their Creator" &c.
He said that until o man became of age he GER
tainly was not free; consequently the statement
was not true, and he wished to see nothing in the
constitution that was not literally correct. -.
c. G. Bowen offered the following amendment
as substitute: "All men are born equally free
and independent, and have certain natural inner
ent and inalienable rights" -s.....'..,. ...-..
E. F. Whittemore said he would like to ask the
mover of the above how people are born lndepen-
dent All men are born free and equal politically,
and, whatever may be the aspirations or quaihca-
tions of individuals they are entitled to the prlv-
leges enjoyed In common.
G. Lee moved to lay the amendments on the Ia
bic, and the motion being agreed to, the question
reading, and It was decided in the affirmative.
Section was read, on motion of B. o. Duncan,
modified verbally, and passed to its third reading
Section 3. B. 0. Duncan offered as substitute
the following: L. :,
GAN political power is originally vested in and
derived from the people, and all free governments
arc founded on their authority and instituted for
their peace, safety and happiness. ......s..
BF. Whittemore contended that the amend
ment changed the entire character of the section,
which declared the right of the people at all times
to modify their form Of government.
A motion was made to lay the amendment on
the table, whereupon the President explained that
such course was unparliamentary unless it was
designed to carry with it the original proposition.
The proper way to get rid of an amendment was to
vote it down.
Mr. Duncan urged that as the idea was already
expressed in the Bill Of Rights, its repetition was
unnecessary.
c. c. Bowen favored the amendment. He
said that it was upon the identical phraseology
of section that the discussion and difficulty arose
which led to the war, sand he saw no object in per-
petuating it in the forthcoming constitution. 1t
was known as the States Rights clause, character
zed as such and, in nearly all of the constitutions
lately formed, has been left out.
]. Il. jerks considered tho section, as it stood
revolutionary No clause ought to exist IN the
constitution upon which canbe raised question
as to the paramount authority of the United States
A. J. Ransier, colored, said the Bill of Rights
expressed and embodied this idea. The right OF
secession was denied IN toto. The section in ques.
ton simply provided that the people may at will
modify and change their form of government. :,
Further discussion followed at some length, and
the amendments being voted down, section pass
ed to its third reading.
On motion of F. J. Moses, Jr., the vote or.
Section was reeonsidered, for the purpose OF
making the following substitute, which, after de-
bate, was agreed to-: ''Slavery shall not exist in
this State, neither shall involuntary seryitude, ex-
cept as punishment for crime, whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted"
Section was read and passed to its third read
ing without objection. .,,
Section was amended, on motion Of G. Pills
bury, BY the insertion of the word ''shall'' as a
substitute for fought to- so as to make it read
that ''all attempts to dissolve the Union shall be
resisted" &c.
Discussion ensued on an amendment by F. j;
Moses, substituting the words s'diseonnect from
for the word dissolve" but the motion was not
agreed to. =.
Sections and then passed to third reading.
c. G. Bowen moved to strike out the section,
on the ground of superAuity and after considerable
debate the motion was agreed to.
Sections and Swere passed, and the convention
adjourned.