The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-19
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENT r1oN.
TwENTY-NNTH DAY.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION
TwENTY-N1NTH DAY.
The convention assembled at 10s o'clock
Prayer by Rev. D. F. Randolph.
A resolution was offered by N G. Parker in
viting Senator Howard, now in Richmond, To
extend his visit to Charleston and address the
convention. Adopted.
The convention resumed the consideration
OF tho legislative part of the constitution, and
with little CT no debate of general interest
twenty odd sections ran the guantlet of criti-
cism, and were passed to their third reading.
At the thrty-ifth section, which provides
for homestead, members braced themselves
for fight. T. j. Robertson, of Richland, fired
the first gun, and it exploded squarely in the
enemy's camp. He moved the following amend
ment:
"No homestead shall be exempt from any
| Just debt contracted at the time OF the pas
sage OF this constitution"
| In supporting that amendment he said that
while he was willing to give a man twenty-five
hundred dollars worth ofproperty as homo
stead in the future, he would never vote in favor
ofretrospective legislation, especially in behalf
of those who made the war, 'bet their all on Sc
cession," did not care whose property was sac
rifced. and drove men like cattle into tho
slaughter pen.
r. c. DeLarge hoped that the section would
be adopted in its present shape. 1t was
measure of relief to all, was aptly framed to Of
feet this object and, he believed, represented
fairly the disposition Of the convention.
DeLarge told the trnth.
Then followed Langley with specimen OF
Greek fire in the shape of proposition not to
exempt any property whatever from sale "for
debts contracted for labor" Whipper and
Cardoza rallied to the support Of the right
wing, when vigorous assault was made on tho
centre by J. NJ Rutland, who took broad con-
stitutional grounds that such an ordinance as
tho one proposed was not worth tho paper on
which it was written. The courts would not
susta it; class legislation was involved in tho
measure, and the creditors would cry out ''ln-
Justice and reputation"
C. P. Leslie met the doughty warrior from
Fairfield with whole battery of artillery, be-
sides bringing up 'horso, foot and dragons" !"
He said he had in his youth read greet deal
of old-fashioned law, such rs KeEt's common
taries and the like, but this was the first time
he had studied Rutland on the constitution,
and from present appearances, preferred to
stick to first principles. He noticed that When
ever the question of relief camo up, the dele
patos from Fairfield aud Richland (Rutland
and Rob ertson), always hunted in couples.
IF a ship should be wrecked at sea, the pas
senrers on which wero their debtors, and those
pass ,ngers had lost all thoir baggage, proba-
bly the first thing done by these gentlemen,
on her arrival in port, would be to go.on board,
rush up to the group Of sufferers, shivering in
their night shirts on the poop deck, and say,
ssLook here, want you to pay up that little
debt you owe, and I want it now" Thoy
wouldn't caro- for O scanty wardrobe or any
thing else. At least that spirit would fairly
illustrate their opposition to the Homestead
bill. This section proposed to leave some COW
cring to the debtor, to afford him respite from
the claims oil law, to let him enjoy what little
he may possess to the cxtont named, and then
go to work rejoicingly.
At the conclusion of the remarks Of Mr.
Leslie, an episode occurred which shows how
zone touch of nature makes the whole world
kim" He was speaking OF the probable rati-
tcation of the constitution, should it accord
with the wishes OF the people; OF the benefits
that would accrue to them from the exhibition
of o lust and liberal spirit, and depicting the
eagorness CT the contenled throngs who would
make their way to the polls to deposit their
votes in favor Of the new constitution. In q
low tone, and amid silence which would
have made the drop of pin audible, lie was
describing all these things, when he spoke in
cidentally of "my people in Barnwell." The
words were scarcely out OF his mouth, when
overcome by emotion, with face flushed and
ewes fillei with tears, lie WAS obliged to re-
sumo his seat, utterly unable to proceed.
From the humorous to the pathetic is but q
step. The audience which but a moment be-
fore was so noisy with merriment, hushed i'll
an instant; and although few could understand
the cause for SO unusual display Of feeling, ii
was very apparent that this species of dntauehi
eloquence found q responsible throb in every
heart
Strange 10 say, Langley did not call the dele
gate from Barnwell to order, for doing some
thing contrary to the rules of the house. He
did proceed to make speech, however, ia
yoring his amendment, and was followed by Mr.
B. F. Whlttemcre in opposition 10 the section
The hour of adjournment arrived while he was
speaking, and the convention dissolved, to mee
at the usual hour this morning.
Some controversy appears likely to arist
on IL e question whether green is the ma