The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-15
THE CONVENTION.
CONVENTION HELD BY AUTHORITY OF TIT
RECONSTRUCTION LAWS OF CONGRESS,
TO FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION
FOR SOUTH CAROLINA.

This now famous body yesterday rested from
its labors and devoted it's attention chiefly II
the consideration Of two subjects. The frs
was on the propriety Of giving two Senators IL
the General Assembly to the City Of Charleston
instead of one. On this question the Beaufor
delegation, with singular and unusual unan
unity, united their forces, and, by dra
! gooning others into their solid phalanx, sue
ceeded in making very obstinate fight. Col
Teton, Beaufort and Berkeley claimed the same
privileges which it was proposed to accord tt
Charleston, on the score, not Of wealth, taxa
ton or. diversity of interest, but simply on the
plea of equal population. The former up
country prejudices found vent, ancient jeal
ousies were dragged again into debate, and
notwithstanding the plausible excuses offered
on both sides for remembering old scores, the
discussion bordered on the acrimonious and
severe.
The second and only other subject OF discus
sion was report of q committee recommends
ing the convention to petition Congress to loan
the State one million of dollars.
C. p. Leslie, Of Barnwell, opposed the reso-
luton in strong, eloquent and impressive
speech, dashed, of course, with that strong IN
fusion Of humor which characterlzes the Les
lelian STYLE. He said that the proposed petit
ton was supreme humbug. 1t meant simply
nothi, at al but shrewd, cunning attempt
on the part it's reverend author (Cain) to
obtain votes-but votes at the expense Of the
poor deluded freedmen, whose friend he pre-
tended to be, and who in the end would find
themselves deceived by the Misrepresentation
made, T. No man sooner than himself, said Mr..
Leslie, would assist in securing aid for the i'm
poverished freedmen; but never, never, never
would he lend his voice or influence to q
scheme of deception like that proposed. There
was no probability whatever that Congress
would grant the loan solicited. 1t had not the
means to do 30. The treasury was already
cramped, and the reverend gentleman, II
he was familiar with the late report OF
the Secretary Of tina Treasury, was aware of the
fact: Hence, the effect Of his adroitly worded
resolution would be to hold out hope to the
freedmen of the State, that could not by any
possibility be realized. The very audience
present would carry away impressions from
that hall which would take new and e1agger-
ated shapes, and, being scattered among that
class throughout the State, would tend more
than anything yet done to create belief that
would never be rewarded, and result in de-
moraligstlon disastrous to the interests OF the
individual anG the State.
he would land himself to no such scheme.
He thought it dishonest, and designed for no
other purpose than~to build up the political
reputation Of an aspirant for power on the gull
libilty Of the poor people whom he affected to
represent.
In short, Mr.. Leslie took the skin OF
wherever his scalpel touched, and evinced
degree of power in debate with which he has
not, in the running fire of past discussion, been
accredited.
Il. H. Cain defended his measure as well as
he could under the circumstances, but the
sentiment OF the convention was pretty evenly
divided, at the hour of adjournment, as to the
propriety Of making request to Congress that
was evidently but formal in, it's character, and
based on no substantial probability of benefit.