Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-05-07

Declaration Of Independence, than
which nothing could be more revolu-
tionary or rsdicel in the air Of South
Carolina. This 10 followed by the most
emphatical and solemn assertion Of the
inviolability Of the American Union,
denying the power, under any circum-
stances, Of the State TO break the bond
which binds her to that Union. This
is followed by tho clear, unmistakable
declaration that "This State shaH ever
remaina member Of the American Union,
and all attempts, from whatever source,
or upon Whatever pretext, to dissolve
said Union, shall be resisted with the
whole power of the State" 1t need net
be said that this Is the last feather on
the overloaded camel's back of old South
Carolinian State pride. Can q bittsrer
cup be imagined for the lips Of men who
still repeat, morning ard evening, the
old dogDas of Calhoun and Hammond?
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT Abolished.
Following these declarations are the
usual enunciations of rights, carefully
drawn, and intended, as far as possible,
to cover all possible cases in the future
One section Of the Bill of Rights, how
ever, deserves special notics-the section
prohibiting imprisonment for debt, sx-
cept in cases Of fraud. Strange as il may
seem, imprisonment for debt actually
existed in South Carolina up to the day
when Gen. Sickles issued his famous
Order No. 10; and not only did it exist
on the statute book, but it was in daily,
hourly use and practice, and Gen. Sick
les' order opened the prison doors TO men
who had not seen their homes or breath
ed the free air for three. five and seven
years. A gentleman, long resident in
Charlestony related to me, the other day,
an affecting incident in the life of the
lamented James l.. Pittigru, which illus
trates the truly noble character Of Judge
Pettigru, and the barbarism Of the old
laws of South Carolina toward white as
we'll as black. During the war, while
the Circuit Court was holding session in
Charleston, Judge Pettigru rose in open
Court as aDaicus curi1e, and begged to
call the attention of the Court to the case
| of man who had lain in the Jail for
Is years for debt! The Court was aston
ished, and sent in haste for the poor vic
tim. He was brought int Court, sight
for gods and men. He who fifteen years
before had entered the Jail hale, stal:
wart man, in the prime Of manhood
came out of it a decrepit, white-hairsd
helpless wreckl So much for one of oul
"RadicaI" innovations.
THE HOMESTEAD GUARANTEE.
The next great innovation 10 the sec
ton authorizing q homestead of th'
value of fifteen hundred in the State
| This il a feature Of the Constitution
which appeals most strongly to the land
ed white residents of the State-asestien
too, which was passed by colored men
not one in hnndred, no, not in fv'
hundred, of whom could hope to derive
benefitfrom it. But the colored mer
felt that it was wise, fair measure
tending to the welfare of the whole peo
pie, and they passed the section unani
mously. Owing 10 the Impoverished
condition of the State, this section ha
drawn out quite large white vote il
favor of the new Constitution.
THE NEW JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
The changes in the judiciary'systsm
the State, established by the new Con
stitution, are among the topics which
have occasioned the most interest her
and have been most misrepresente
abroad. During the session of the Con
vention the agent of the Associate Pres
sent word TO the country that the ney
system was ecesdihgly cumbersome ant
greatly, increased the expense OF the yu
dicial Department of the State. Tn
exact reverse of this is the truth. Th
new system simplifies the machinery ant
reduces the expenses of the Judiciary q
least one-third. Under the old system
there were District Courts, for the ex
elusive cognizance of cases, civil or Grim
nal, efiectiHg persons of color. Thel
there were Courts of Common Pleas TO
civil cases, Courts of General Session, TO
criminal cases, q Court of Errors, and
final Court of Appeals, aud in addition
all this, there was a most fOOlishly intri
cate and intelerable system Of separate
equity, jurisdiction and practice. L
was unwieldy, tedious, unphilosophica
In general, intricate in detail, and ex
pensive to degree amounting to pre-
hibition in many cases. 1t was asysten
too, so old and riekety, and still SO linke
in its parts, that it could not be amended
The Convention, therefore, quietly, bu
remorselessly, WHIPPED" 1t cut, and be
gan with carte blanche.
The new system is simple, complete
inexpensive and impartial. 1t provide
for Supreme Court, with appellate jul
isdietion generally, and the special orig
. nal Jurisdiction. Below this are the tw
: Circuit Courts-the Common Please
with civil Jurisdiction only, and tn
General Sessions, with criminal jurisdit
!, ton only; Judges OF Probate and Just
, ces Of the Peace. Nothing could well I
, simpler. The two Circuit Courts are
be held by the same Judge in each circui
and the old separate equity courts, in a
,. their details and qualifications, are In
, contiaently hurried to the realm
"chaos and old night" The Distrit
, Courts, established for the sole beneiit {
the colered people, are also swept ava
, and the colored people are quite conter
, to take their chances in the courts, alon
. with white men. Ii is. estimated thu
the cost of the new system will not
more than two thirds the cost of the oil
> and will secure the ends for which cour
: are established, to wit: to secure substal
tial and impartial justice, in a simpl
q expeditions, cheap way. You can g
without remark how utterly untruthf'
. the account was as given by the Assoc
/ ate Press.
4 SUFFRAGE.
E The next great change effected by u
: new Constitution is the article on su
: frage. BY this article, every male cit
e zen of the United States, of the age
n twenty-one years, who has been res
s dent of the State for one year, is mat
: an'elector of the State, except such pc
r sons as are now, or may hereafter,
8 disfranchised by Congress. Not OF
n line is added to the laws Of Congress.
a Not single man whom the reconstru
y ton acts do not disfranchise Is teucbe
by this Constitution; and that, too,
It South Carolina, where the champions
d secession are to-day bitter as gall, in
t Convention composed of alarRe majori
: OF colored men, with power to glut the