The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-30
THE CONVENTION.

CONVENTION HELD BY AUTHORITY OF TH
RECONSTRUCTION LAWS OF CONGRESS,
TO FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION
FOR SOUTH CAROLINA.
The convention yesterday worked to pur
pose. First, the associate editor of the Mer
cury was excluded from the floor for reason
stated below. Second, the resolution invali
dnting all contracts, the consideration OF whic
was the purchase or sale OF slaves, was passe
to second reading, which, Of course, signife
that it will be adopted. Third, Plckens Dis
taict was cut in twain, and the pleasant nam
Of Oconee given to the other half-a consum
nation that has long been devoutly wished for
and, fourth, the tax ordinance was amended
and adopted. The proceedings we're, Of course
well peppered with the usual fire Of resolution
and petitions on all sorts of subjects, and busi
ness glded along with more than it's usua
smoothness.
The committees are getting their crude ma
terials into shape, and, in two or three days
will begin to report the amendments proposed
TO the constitution. From what has leaked ou
in conversation it is inferred that its spirit vii
be moderate.
The want Of money has been very serious
drawback to the comfort Of delegates thus far
but after the definite action taken yesterday i
is fair to presume that they will be more con
tented. The more considerate are now hesi
tating whether to let it go abroad that the con
vention has voted itself eleven dollars day II
bills receivable-two dollars more than any
other similar body in the South-or to appro
pirate eight dollars as a per dlena in green
backs and trust to brokers to get it. The
probability is, that, after the endorsement BY
the convention Of the B. RS, every dollar is
sued will be bought up by few moneyed mel
at the best discount they can get, who will thus
secure the profits and control the markets.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION.
THIRTEENTH DAY.
The convention assembled at 12 o'clock.
Prayer by Rev. ]. II. Runion, of Greenvile.
The roll WAS called and journal read.
THE REPORTER OF THE MERCURY AGAIN.
T.J. Coghlan offered the following:
Resolued, That the reporter OF the Mercury
be excluded from the privileges and floor oil
this convention.
The motion was agreed to-.
F. J. Moses, Jr., said that he, with several
other members, had voted stno" on the ques-
tion, and for one he desired to have his name
recorded on the journal as having done 80.
The following delegates also recorded their
votes in the negatives:
DR.. L. B. Johnson (whitel, L. Boozer (white),
W. G. Whipper (coIored), Samuel Johnson (col-
oredl, Dr.. Newell (wlite), John A. Hunter
| (white), William Perry (white), @. M. Olsen
| (white), s. A. Swails (colored), T. Hurley
| iwhite), R. G. DeLarge (colored), ]. l.. Neagle
| (whitel, J. NJ. Runion (White), and @: P. Les
| Lie (white). The latter said he desired to have
the honor Of voting s'no."
]. ]. Wright moved reconsideration OF the
| whole question.
The President stated that he also desired to
have his name recorded as voting "no," be-
cause no reason had been assigned for the re-
solution.
ton to reconsider be laid upon the table, and
it was agreed to.
AN EX-ooNFEDERATE AT THE FRONT.
r. B. Elliot (colored), of Edgefeld, read the
petition Of w. j. Nixon, setting forth the fol-
lowing facts: That for many years before the
war he held magisterial position, was op-
posed to the action Of the State, and refused
to vote for delegates to the secession conven-
ton of 1860; but believing that his first alle-
glance was due to the State, he volunteered as
q soldier in her defence, and fought her battles
with all his zeal; that afterthe war, he took
the oath Of allegiance from Captain N. G..
Parker, then in command Of colored troops in
Barnwell, renewed his allegiance, and adopted
the principles Of the Republican party; that IN
consequence Of having held magisterial office,
he has been deprived Of the elective franchise,
and the petitioner, therefore, prays that bus
case may be presented to the Congress OF the
United States, with the prayer that his disa-
bllity be removed.
Referred to the Committee on Franchise and
Elections.
The President also referred to that commit
tee letter on the same subject from the lndl-
yidual named.
WANT A DIVORCE.
q. A. swails, Of williamsburg, presented
petitions of Elizabeth Gordon and d. T.
Cooper, citizens of said district, praying for
divorce. Referred to Committee on Petitions.
C. P. Leslie said he would like to know what
color they were. -,
RELIEF FOB THE DEBTOR.
s. Corley, of Lexington, offered resolution,
which was referred to the committee on The
Legislative part of the constitution.
The substance OF it is as follows:
Resolped, That the State shall be authorized
IN issue bonds to the amount Of - mil
lions. the same to be paid in twenty years, the
| faith of the State to be pledged therefor, and
| to be based upon the lands to be purchased
with the modey ct the lowest cash prices
when forced into market These lands to De
divided in one hundred acre lots, one OF Whlch
tracts shall be reserved as homestead at the
price paid per acre for the whole tract, the
little to be given by the State, and the said
homestead to be forever exempt from levy and
sale. except to the State for purchase money;
said homestead to be paid for in annual gradu-
ated instalments, during period LOT twenty
wears. at an interest OF seven per cent; the
Remainder OF said lands to be held for sale to
any citizen who will obligate himself to settle
| on and improve the same; not more than one
hundred acres being allowed to one individual
| The succeeding resolution provides for the
| manner in which an individual oppressed by
debt may compromise with his creditors and
release himself from these tolls without being
prosecuted in the future.
Should the resolution be acted upon, we
shall publish both it and the action Of the
convention thereon.
ANOTHER SCHEME FOR RELIEF.
Frank Arnim (white), OF Edgefeld, offered
the following, which was read and referred to
| the Committee on Petitions:
We, the people, &C., in consideration of the
general destitution and great lack Of capital
J with which to give employment to thepoor and
/ enable them to secure homesteads:
Resolued, That the Congress OF the United
States be requested to appropriate three mil
| Eane oP dollara-the amount of Lhe cotton tax