The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-23
THE CONVENTION.
CONVENTION HELD BY AUTHORITY OF THE
RECONSTRUCTION LAWS OF CONGRESS.
TO FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION
FOR SOUTH CAROLINA.

| TO get the advantage OF pOSlClOn, duu wueu tue
question comes up to-day, We presume the
racket Of heavy artillery and small arms will
be tremendous.
Matters of finance are evidently of deep in
terest to the majority of delegates, and they
will continue to grow more 30 for the next
week, and we presume it will be impossible,
from the character of the Investigation upon
which the Finance Committee has entered, to
secure all the information required to make
their report before that time.
It is understood that most of the commit
tees are waiting until the members have fin
ished firing off propositions, after which they
will begin work in earnest.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION.
SEVENTH DAY.
The convention was called to order at 12 NJ
Prayer by F. L. Cardoza (colored), OF Charles
too.
The chair announced that the first business
in order was reports from Standing Commit
tees. 80
CONTRACTS BASED ON SLAVES.
G. G. Bowen, from the Committee on Judlol-
ary, to whom was referred resolution IN re-
gard to contracts, the consideration for which
was the sale Of slaves, reported an ordinance !:
First. All contracts, whether under seal or not,
the consideration for which is the sale OF slaves,
are null and void and OF no effect. Second. NO
suit at law or equity shall be commenced or
prosecuted on such contracts, ald proceedings
for the satisfaction and payment OF deorees
which have been recorded, entered or enrolled,
are hereby prohibited. Third. All orders with
reference to such contracts which may at any
time have been made in any court OF this State,
either of law or equity, whereby any properly
is held subject to decision as to the validity OF
such contracts, are also hereby declared nun
and void and Of no effect.
The President stated that in his opinion the
term Ordinance" is SYNONYMOUS with "blli,
as used in the legislature, and according 10
the rules Of the House Of Representatives,,
which had been adopted for the guidance OF
the convention, no bill can be passed until IL
has been read three times. He therefore de-
cided that the ordinance had been read tue
first time.
The President also requested the convention
to appeal from any decisions Of the chair with
which they might not agree, and thus assume
the responsibility of the same.
WORK FOB THE PRINTER.
W. McKinlay (coloredj, of Charleston, NOV
ed that all matters coming before the conyen-
ton, in the shape Of ordinance or resolution,
when reported from committee, should be
printed.
R. G. Donaldson (white), of Chesterfield,
proposed as an amendment that ordinances
and resolutions should only be printed on the
second reading.
ment was disagreed to. -,
The question was then taken on the original
motion, and decided IN the affirmative.
pEN1TENT1ARY AFFAIRS.
C. C. Bowen (white), from the Committee on
the Judiciary, to whom was referred resolu-
tion appointing committee OF five to lnvestl-
gate affairs in the penitentiary, reported that
thew had had the same under consideration,
and were Of opinion that the subject matter RS is
beyond the jurisdiction of the convention, that
institution being under the control of the pro-
yisional authorities Of the State, and the su-
ueryision Of the Commanding General. They
therefore recommend that it be referred to
Major General Candy, with the request that
the case receive from him the necessary lnyes-
tigation.
JURORS.
G. C.. Bowen, from the same committee to
whom had been referred resolution relating
to Jurors, reported it back with the recon-
mendstion that it be referred to the Commit
tee on Legislative Provisions OF the Constitu-
ton. Not adopted.
FINANCES.
|. N. @. Parker (white), from the Committee
ON Finance, reported that they had under con-
sideration the resolution relating to bills re-
ceiyable, aud, being in correspondence with
Governor Orr and General Candy, desired
further time. Further time was granted.
RULES.
8. A. Swails (colored), from the Committee
on Rules and Regulations, reported series OF
rules. which were read and one hundred
copies ordered to be printed for the use OF the
convention.
A NEW DISTRICT.
DIR. L. B. Johnson (white), of Pickens, from
a select committee, reported an ordinance d.
viding Pckens into two districts-one to be
known by it's original name, the other to be
called Oconee.
The ordinance appoints commissioners TO se-
lect proper sites, lay out O new town for court
house, plan buildings for courthouse and jail,
sell property, apply proceeds, and make titles
to purchasers of lots in the name or the state.
J.J. Wright (colored) moved that the report
Of the committee be returned until the assem-
bling Of the legislature, and that then 1T be
referred to that body.
DR.. Jobnson hoped the motion would not pre-
vail. The division of Picken6 District had
been an1iously desired by it's citizens for many
wears. The people have sent strong petition
to this end, signed by the officers OF the court
the clerk, sheriff, commissioner in equity,
Judge, all the lawyers, and other prominent
Citizens. There are only thirteen families re-
siding in Pickens Courthouse, most OF them
officers of the district Oconee District, when
the division takes place, will contain one thou
sand four hundred and six square miles. Plck-
ems District will contain one thousand two hun
dred and twenty-five square miles.
On motion OF N. G.. Parker, the motion to
refer WAS laid on the table.
PENAL CODE AND REFORM FARM.
B. F. Whittemore (white), offered the fol-
lowing, which was referred to the Committee
on Legislative Provisions OF the Constitution
Resolved, That it shall be the duty OF the
General Assembly, as soon as circumstances
will permit to form penal code founded on
principles of reformation and not ylndct1ve
Justice. Also to provide one or more farms, to
be an asylum for those persons who by reason
of age, infrmity, or other misfortune, may
have q claim upon the aid and benevolence OF
society, on such principles that such persons
NAV therein find employment and every rea-
sonable comfort, and thereby lose every de-
grading sense of dependence.
THE SUPREME COURT.
J.K. Jillson (white), Of Kershaw, offered
resolution to reorganze the Supreme and such
Inferior Courts as the legislature may essab-
Iish. II provides for the election OF the Judges
by the two houses OF the legislature in "grand
committee" each Judge to hold his Office
until it IS declared vacant by act Of the
General Assembly; and provides further
| as TO the manner III which vacancies are TO be
filled when they occur from any cause, &c.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary,