The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-03
FORTIETH DAY.

sections we're passed with little or no amend
ment.
They provide 1. That the State shall have
concurrent jurisdiction on ali rivers bordering
on this State; and they, together with all other
nayigable waters within the limits OF the state,
shall be common highways, without any tax or
impost therefor.
8. That the title to all lands and other prop
erty which have heretofore accrued to this
chests, or otherwise, shall vest in the State OF
South Carolina the same as though no change
had taken place.
s. The people Of the State, in their right OF
sovereignty are declared to possess the ultl-
mate property in ard to all lands within the
iurisdfction OF the State; and all lands, the
title to which shall fail from defect OF heirs,
shall revert or escheat to the people.
l.. S. Langley moved, as an amendment to
the last section, that the words Gin their
right of sovereignty" be stricken out, on the
ground that the war had exploded the idea that
any sovereignty could reside in the people, and
the amendment was agreed to.
The ordinance to divide the State into four
Congressional Districts was made special
order for Friday morning next.
The Committee on franchise and Elections
will report this morning.
The convention next took up the article on
impeachment, and without other than verbal
amendment, passed it's several sections to
their third reading.
They provide that the House of Representa-
tives shall have the sole power Of lmpeach-
ment, and vote of two-thirds be required, the
party impeached being suspended until judg-
nnent has been pronounced. That the Senate
shall try all impeachments; that all executive
and judicial officers are liable to impeachment;
but Judgment shall not extend further than re-
moval from Office. For any wiifui neglect OF
duty, not sufficient ground for impeachment,
the Governor, with the cooperation OF two
thirds of the legislature, may remove any eX-
ecutive or judicial officer.
Three clauses of the Article on Education
. we're passed to their third reading. The hrst
vests public instruction in State Superlnten-
dent OF Education to be elected by the people;
the second provides for an election blennially
in each county of School Commissioner, said
Commissioners to constitute State Board OF
Education, OF which the State Superintendent
is to be chairman; the third provides for sys-
tenn of public schools and division OF the State
into school districts; schools to be kept open at
least six months in the year.
Section four provides for the compulsory at
tendance at either public or private schools OF
all children between the ages OF SIX and sixteen
years, not disabled, for term equivalent to
twenty-four months.
B. q. Duncan proposed to modify the phrase
fscompulsory," by saying "it shall be duty to
enforce, as far as practcacie," &c.
R. c. DeLarge moved to strike out the word
"compulsory."
81. &. Hayne, OF Marion, moved that the sec
tion be. recommitted to the comml5tee; ana,
after debate, the consideration of the whole
section was postponed until tomorrow at IL
o'clock.
The next business in order was the report Of
the Committee on Finance and Taxation.
The first six sections were passed without
amendment. They provide that the legislacc
ture shall arrange q uniform and equal rate OF
assessment and taxation on all property except
such as may be exempted by law; that poll
tax may be imposed for school purposes, but
for no other object; that the Legislature may
supply deficiency in the funds raised one year,
by additional taxation in the ensuing year;
and that the legislature may exempt from tax
alton public schools, colleges, &C., all charlta-
bic institutions, public libraries, churches and
burying grounds.
On motion of B. F. Whittemoro, the last
clause was amended by the following addition
tend beyond the buildings and premises ac-
tually occupied by such schools, colleges and
institutions of learning, asylums, libraries,
churches and burial grounds, although con-
nected with charitable objects.
The reason assigned for the amendment was
the Stste by these ch ritabe and religious in
stitutions, in the shape Of stores, warehouses.
and real estate on which no taxes were paid.
Section provides that the legislature shall
provide for the valuation and assessment OF
all lands and improvements thereon before the
year 1870, and thereafter every fifth year.
Section allows the State to contract public
debts, and, in the original text, limited the
amount to $500,0O0, beyond that already in
CURED.
Mr.. j. D. Bell, OF Beaufort, moved to strike
out the limitation.
MIR. N. G. Parker opposed the motion on the
ground that it would leave the matter in
definite, and if the amount should be largely
increased the taxes upon the people would be
uncomfortable.
L. s. Langley hoped the motion would pre-
vail. The legislature, in all probability, would
possess as much sense and judgment as the
convention, and he was opposed to tying Its
hands.
Further debate followed, and the amendment
was finally agreed to.
Sections, on motion of Mr. E. W. NJ. Mackey,
was amended so as to read that the corporate
authorities of counties, townships, school dis
trlcts, cities, towns and villages, may be vest
ed with power to assess and collect taxes for
corporate purposes; and the General Assembly
shall require that all the property within the
1nf1ts OF municipal corporations, except that
heretofore exempted, shall be taxed for the
pufuucuI Qcpto COulrdCCeQ uQ Qer authority
Of the law.
Section 9, which provides that the credit OF
the Slate shall not be granted 10 or in aid OF
any person, association or corporation, afler
debate, was stricken out.
The convention at one o'clock adjourned.
EVENING SESSION.
The convention reassembled at P. NJ.
Mr.. J. NJ. Runion offered resolution that
this convention stand adjourned SINE die on the
11th OF March.
The question was debated, and finally de-
cided IN the negative, it being deemed best to
progress further with the business in hand be-
fore committing the convention to any act dis
solving the body finally
The Chair announced that tho hour for the |
consideration of the special order had arrived, |
and it was read as follows:
Whereas, We regard it the duty and true |
policy OF the General Government to carefully |
husband, encourage and protect the agricul- |
tural resources of the several States; Ana |
achereas, the culture of rice forms one of the |
principal resources of the State Of South Caro-
lima; therefore
Resoiued, That we humbly petition Congress |
that they will take 10 action looking toward !