Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-03-27
The Proposed Constitution.

The Proposed Constitution.
WHAT THE co.r2 HOW TO De rAID.
The late Convention was in CharleaIan nine
weeks. longer time than was required by
any previous Convention or Legislature in
South Carolina. The daily pay Of member,
which it fixed for ITSELF WAS more than twice
as great AS ever before. in thi, State, was re-
ceved hy member Of any susl, body, nearly
twice as much a. il fixed for tho favored Lecis.
lsturo which il expected soon to assemble and
complete its work and five tnes rs much as its
members generally expended during th.i. Sos
sion. Seven hundssd dollart, besides mileage
for nina wcrksi
Except u few who boarded at hotels, when
did one Of these members ever make so much
in the same timel As to the majo, ity, did one
| Of those ever have 80 much before When
seat In public deiiherAtive assembly becomes
place Of profit. corruption bns assniled the
vi.als O: the body poli,ic. With high salari.s
to multiplied "fiicer., printing jobs, incidental
expenses and pccula,ion. the Constitution now
submitted will cost tho State more than one
hundred thousand dollars-probably nearer
two hundred thousand. Two committees with
clerks aud jobs. yet continued to swell tho
debt Of tho poor State. coating probably on
hundred dollars day until the expected meet
ing Of the Legislature, and then . largo ,um
for useless reports. One Of these il stationary
"A party club paid by tho State--intsnded te
manipulate the approachiug el-ctiens: the
other designed 10 reality for agitation aud
slsc'ionrering. is likely to he locorautiv-, of
| fec ia l,nh oft NJ
spending more than il will save, an im,tru-
ment OF unjust elnmor against some public ser
wants. and OF favoritisn and protection to
| others.
Who will paJf Il is a liberal estimate to
| sny that Of the Convention there were not
one dozen who over contributed five dollars
each, to the State any of its institutions, and
Of these. half dozen who will cash pay of the
expense Of the Convention a sum equal 10 the
pay OF member for enc day. All Of these
eSPenses must be met by the citizens who
have property to be tn1edi aud these expenses
ore hut the beginning. The new institutions
and new officers which the Convention estab-
lished will, in this small State, already iusol-
vent. be absolutely ipsupportable. The cupita-
ton tax is to be devoted exclusively to eluca-
voting caanot be requred; and with full un.
der,,nnding That the collections from it will be
insufficient for the public schools which are 10
be established, it is direct ed that an annual tag
upon all property shall 10 levied for the sau.
purpose. The poor are to he supPcrted-their
natural claims upon their relatives being ig-
nored. The result will be that the young will
h- brought up iu idtene.s uider the show Of
education, and Incidence and thriftlessnsss bs
encouraged by public provisions made for the
old. The deficiency of one year 10 to be sup.
Piled by Increased taxation for the next. The
Legislature is to TAX and so arc County Com
,nissiuners aud School Superintendent.
| All OF these are 10 be elected, hy univer.al
srffrage and no property qualification is to be
required. In effect. taxes without limit are to
be imposed upon those who have property. by
those who have none; extravaganza nnl mis-
management to he without check, for to in
grease them will he the interest Of the apruint-
ing power nnd Of tile oniciaIs surerin ,sndsni.,
normal schools, educational in.iiiu tons fur the
blind. deaf and dumb-a reform school for iu-
veniIe oGen lers-puhlc schools. colleges and
niversities-lunatic asylum. penitentiary-
Commissioners for the Code-Court Of Appeals
and Reior,s-fve Circuit Courts a yenr in
in each county, viii, judges. numerous juror.
and constables. County Commissioners. with
powor. to make internal improvements, . Gov
ernor, residing nt The Capital Of the State with
his Secretaries. a Lieutenant Governor. with a
salary too. . Legislature of one hundred and
hhy'sIx' members at six dollars . day. with OIL
Gers, printefs and other employecs-as Treas-
rrer, with his clerk-a Comptroller General.
with his c!eik-rn :Adjutaut G General-an At
torpsy -General-six or n,ure Solicilors-in.
terest on the public debt which with arrears
must now exceed fve millions, exclusive of
bonds Tor military defencs-cluims against tile
State. annual 'ciarges, ordinary and extraor-
dlnary-Commiitees Of tha Con ven,ion, aud
~ doubt. according TO the, fashion Of the
times, Committees Of the Legislature sitting
and waiting money during the reeess-1buses,
frauds. stealage and msfot:uue-a,l Of thtse
matters must. BY this Constitution, b me. by
taxation. And what IL to b taxed More
than one half Of the voters havs pothing but
thsir heads. and the Carits,ion Tax, a. ue
have said, is especially devoted to education.
and eapnot be rai,sl 81 the Legislature above
one dollar = head, nor be imposed at al by
Town or souoty' corporations. The busds o
must EAll upon land apd msrehaudizs-prinsi-
Eps''y. lands, Industry will ,be checked and
improvement prevented. for properly under
this Constitution could not lie safe. Het yc,ers.
white Or colorsd:; WHO own atty Iroper,y,'6r
expect ever to'du 30. he are hos th ~ suffer
yoke to he fastened upon ah.m. .wLisl, here
! after they may aut be able either TO Lear Or
shake toa: ~" '.''''' '>''.
...,, ,fIoEE"roS AND PRACTICE. r =:
The seth Section Of the Declaration Of
iRghis in the model Cons,itution, with hvno-
critical CAN'T say', "Eieii ihdit iiuarof society
hHs' right to be protected 10 the eniormsu, 81
life, ;hbrs'y, and property, nceco.diur 10 stand
ing 'aws.' lie should therefore Contribute his
share 70. She expense Of bis protection and
give bis personal service when necessary"
A Known n'Jorify Of tl. indiysluals 'vho,.
right Of t66ragA has ssen mo.s, yy;u.,.n,1x
easried ~ tho csa,,!tuiion. will p.v, naI,,,.
isnrihs sspsese Of pratss.ioh aud render his
pAr.0ssl .sr'ies f. the .Al'sserys. th, grsaa.r
Frt; q ths esPsPsss Of the State viii be no.
merely for iheir protection, rit Tor iBsIt H..
tieuisr advshtaGe: I'll. n,isof ity@ will ma y,sl,
sne Ttesfts only what osetta,s,s sem.as.p..
s"d' d'tasas h'Ilosssromay design. u Grant, 49,, /