The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-02-01
SATURDAY MORNING FEBRUARY /, 1868.

the wofsaaie except wages of laborcrs or liens
on tho c9opn 10 secure advances made by fac.
tors or;sthsrsss
Bowets moved to amend by substituting "al
debts coftrastod previous to lst of Junuary,
1865, ,nifor tthe Both June, 1865"
II. b. Elliott moved to amend by inserting
''prior to'she passage of this Ordinance"
WhittaHiors moved to lay the amendment on
the tablessS
The President stated that laying the amend
ment on tho table carriestwith it tho whole sub
ject matter.
Whittfmore moved to strike out the time and
insert to the reception Of this petition by
General eapby." a,@
Il. c. l)eLarge called for the previous qucs-
tion, whiplls Sas carried '''''' '' '''''
A nuii6cr Of delegates rose to ask for infor
nation and the rcading Of the ordinance, when.
Whittemoro moved reconsideration. which
was carried II"
I. j, Robertson then rose, and said it was
not theTpoor man, or the loyal man, who
brought pbopt the present impoverished condi-
ton Of tho country. On the contrary, it was
those who claim to have the wisdom and wealth
Of the ccoSsntry- These last were the very mon
now clan,oring for stay laws and homesteads.
He neyersknew man who paid his debts only
at the end Of the law, to pay them at all when
he had abtay law. These parties owning large
bodies ofslands, wanting stay laws, arc those
who say they cannot live here with colorcd
men, They don't want to pay their just debts
and ncvexwill. Ho deemed stay laws as un-
constitutional: impairng the OBJ igations of con,
tracts.
Let them sell their lands, md It will be bot
tcr for the working mun, unubling him to pro-
vide n home mud identify himself with the soil.
He was willing togiye a liberal homestead law,
say of 40 or 60 acres, quite enough for any
':.u to support his family. athla
Now, sir, tho men, with but few exceptions,
asking fssief, are these who do not recognize
tho validity of the Reconstruction Acts of
Congrcssesand who refused to vote ut the cleo
tion for Delegates t., this Convention. Some
OF them gall this Convention menagerio,
collcctioEs9f wild animals. Is this mcnugere
to protect their property at the expense of the
loyal citizens, and the working men Of the
country? hope not-or are we to obey the
laws which recognizes no suoh thing?
The resolution before them only asked a stay
of three months-what does thnt mean They
will then bring it up before the Legislature and
ask for it to be extended until Fail to allow the
crop to be made and gathered, aud then the
price of cotton not being high enough to suit
their views they will clamor for its continuance.
until there is no end to it. a stay law has
been i'll operation for more than six years, and
gentlemen arc asking for more time. He saw
no disposition on the part of tho creditors Of
this State to opprcss tho debtors, where they
are making the least effort to discharge Their
obligations. Stay laws arc the lcgiti-uato off.
spring of secession and rebellion and aro we
who claim to he loyal to continao to foster and
cherish that offspring. I.o. them takO tho fat
of their alma .aatcs, r'' A'
n, II. Cain also ventilated his ideas on tho
subject
On motion, the Convention adjourned
FRIDAY 24Tn.
Tho minutes Of tho last meeting wore read
ana confirmed.
The president here read communication
from General Il. X. Scott, Assistant Comnis-
sionor Of tho Freclncn's Bureau:
Hpq's ASST COMMISSIONERS,
BUREAU RE-. ANDA A. L....4..-..-
CMARLEsroN, s. c. DIsrRicr s.. CT
January %, 1868.
Hon. Il. G. .Narkry. President South Carohnd
Constitutional (onre,tion, Charleston, s. c.:
Sir: have the honor to transmit. for your
consideration, and for the action of the conyen-
ton ovor which you have the honor to preside
(if in your Judgment it may seem best to lay
the matter before it), tho enclosed letter.
1t is one of many complaints which have
received during tho past few weeks, aud as the
condition of affairs described therein arises
from what appears to be gradually growing
sentiment OH the part of the freed people
throughout the State, think an OK preston OF
some kind from tho Convention, in the form of
II resolution, announcing the sense of tho Con.
vontion on the subject, would be pr.,dnctiye Of
most beneficial result.
The sooner that such ideas ns those hold h,,