The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-21

| committee, objected TO Tue HWlteQ tlme 81
lowed whereupon
gates. not having paid their board bills this
Ieek. wished to know when the funds are
coming, and where they are coming from.
The vote that the committee should report
on Wednesday noon was unanimous.
WORK FOB PRINTERS.
N. G.. Parker moved that two hundred
comics OF the rules and regulations be printed
and laid upon the tables of members.
Agreed to.
Benjamin Byas (colored), of Berkeley, offered
Whereas, The exercise of wisdom and dis
cretion is necessary in the government OF this
body,
Resolped, That no article or section, para
graph or clause, calculated to be embodied IN
This constitution, or any petition to Or from
this convention, shall receive its final adop-
ton until the same shall have received at least
two readings and lapse Of twenty-four hours
after the first reading of the same, and all
amendments thereto shall be subject to the
same stipulations. Referred to the Committee
on Rules.
OLD DEBTS.
B. Odel Duncn (white), Of Newberry, offered
the following:
Whereas, The institution Of slavery has
been abolished by the Government OF the
United States, and this action has been ratified
by the State of South Carolina; and l1htreas,
still to recognize the Indebtedness or oblga-
tions connected Herewith is still to recognize
rights in slavery, Therefore, be it
Resokued, That all debts Oh obligations OF
any kind, contracted for slaves, are hereby de-
clared null and void, and shall forever be so
considered. Be it further ,..ec
Resoloed, That no State Court OF State ofl-
cial shall hereafter entertain any suit or recog-
nize any claims or indebtness or obligations
contracted for slave property.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The same delegate offered tho following:
Whereas, A ong-continued and bloody war
has left our State in most deplorabe condi-
ton of poverty and decentralization, and prop
erty has .depreciated to much less than lts
former value, when debts were contracted; and
,Uhereas, The most vicious management OF
the rebel finances has lofG nearly all our people
loaded down with old debts contracted prior
to the war. Therefore. be it
Resolved, That all debts contracted prior to
the Both OF Juue, 1865, shall be reduced one
half: Provided, however, that nothing i'll this
ordinance shall be so construed as to interfere
with any debt outside OF the State prior to the
date above mentioned, and that it shall moi
relieve tho State from any Of its obligations,
except those contracted 10 aid OF tho rebellion;
nor shall it relieve any individual company or
corporation OF any obligation to the State.
/. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
L The same member gave notice OF his inten-
tion to introduce q petition to congress 30 as
to repeal the tax on cotton 80 as to cover tho
croplof 1867.
! A colored delegate moved that the sergeant
alarms be instructed to supply each OF the
members of the convention with copy OF
each of the daily papers OF the city. Dis
agreed to.
A SOLICITOR INVITED.
E. J. Moses, Jr., introduced the following
Whereas in all conventions in South Caro-
lima, heretofore held, it has been wise and
salutarv custom to have the assistance and aid
OF the State Solicitors in the legal preparation
OF ordinances and other papers, and 1cheTeds
it is the earnest desire OF this constitutional
convention to perform the important duties
entrusted to it in such O manner as will com.
mend it to the praise and approval of oil
law-sbiding citizens. Therefore, be it
ResoUed, That the necessary steps shall be
taken by this convention to secure The legal
services of Major c. D. Melton, OF York Dis
trict, and should he be willing to lend us his
aid in fastening forward the work OF recon,
struction, room in this building be assigned
to his USE and the per diem and mileage OF
delegates be allowed him. Referred to the
Executive Committee, with instructions to re-
port tomorrow.
PETITION TO CONGRESS.
The following petition was introduced and
read by B. F. Randolph (colored), OF Orange.
burg, and referred to the Committee on Mis-
celaneous Affairs:
We, the undersigned people Of South Caro-
lima, in convention assembled, do hereby re-
commend that the Bureau OF Refugees, Freed.
men and Abandoned Lands be continued until
the restoration OF civil authority; that then
Bureau OF Education be established, in order
that an efficient system OF schools be estab-
lished. Your humble servants and petitioners
would respectfully represent TINT the reasons
for making this recommendation are:
1. The necessity which first governed the ex-
istonce OF bureau remains the same, and de-
mands its continuance until the restoration OF
civil government. -.
2. The want OF an efficient system Of public
schools for the education OF thousands VINO
have been deprived OF such school privileges.
8. The greatly impoverished condition OF the
State. and the financial difficulties Of the peo-
pie, render the establishment by the State gov
ernment of such q system OF public schools
impossible for several years.
ANOTHER STAY LAW.
J. N. Allen (whitc), OF Groenville, offered
the following, which was referred to tho Com
mttee on Legislation:
BE il ordained, &c., That the legislature
shall, as soon as possible after the first
assembling thereof, under the authority OF
this convention, enact such laws as shall
secure from levy and sale OH any Judgment or
any final process of any court OF this State, oil
the real or personal property OF any debtor,
contracted prior 10 the year 1865, and until
such action shall have been taken by the le-
cislature. tue levy on and sale OF such proper
ty is suspended, provided it shall not extend
beyond the year 1873, and any stay law passed
by the legislature shall not extend beyond the
same time.
THE PAY OF MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION.
DIR. Neagle introduced the following:
BE II ordained, &C., That every delegate OF
this convention shall receive as compensation
for his services during his attendance on, and
going to and from this convention, eight dol
lars per diem, and twenty-five cents per mile
by tho most direct route from his home to the
CITY of Charleston, each way; provided that
any delegate, living in this city, and represent-
ing other districts, shall not receive mileage,
only as the delegates of this city. Referred to
the Committee on Finance.
DIVISION OF PICKENs DISTRICT.
DR.. L. B. johnson (white), OF Pickens, pre-
sented petition from the citizens OF that dis
trict, praying for its partition into two dis
tricts, which was road and referred to spe clal
committee.
CONCERNING MINISTER'S.
A colored delegate introduced the following,
which was referred to the Committee Oh Le-
gislaJion:
Whereas, Ministers of the Gospel ought not
RI be diyerted from the great duty deYolved