Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-02-12
SEVENTEENTH DAY.

The hour of three having arrived, the Con-
vention adjourned.
SEVENTEENTH DAY.
CHARLESTON, Feb. q.
The convention assembled at II O'Clock.
Prayer by the Rev F. L. Cardoza. The roll
was called and journal read.
The President stated that the ordinances,
taxing the people to defray expenses, and de-
fning the pay and mileage of the members,
has been engrossed and duly signed by the
Secretary and himself.
w. E. Rose, from the Committee on Peti-
tons, to whom was referred rcsolu On with
reference to the collection of the wages and
debts of labsrers. reported the same back
with the recommendation that it be laid on
the table. The report was adopted.
w. E. Rose, from the Committee on Pcti
tons, reported favoraby upon the petition OF
w. j. Mixer, praying that he be restored to
the privileges of The elective franchise.
The report was adopted.
The President laid before the Convention
communication from Gen. Candy on the
debt question. and orders heretofore issued in
relation thereto.
On motion OF A. ]. Rqnsier the unfinished
business Of yesterday, being the ordinance
invalidating contracts based on slaves, was
taken up.
Speeches were made by A. j. Ransier, @.
C. Bowen, d. H. Chambcrlin, and 6. Pillsbu.
ry, and the previous question then being
called, the main question was taken, by yeas
and nays, and the ordinance passed to third
reading. :.
On motion of F. j. Moses, Jr, the sergeant
alarms was instructed to summon the mem
bcrs and close the doors.
The ordinance passed to third reading by
vote Of ninety-six yeas, against nineteen
nays.
Arnim, Bonnm, Harris and Rivers voted in
the affirna;ivc.-Elliot and Wooicy did not
vote.
Before announcing lis vote, B. f. Whitte-
more, of Darlington, obtained leave Of the
convention to give his reasons therefor. He
said Tie manner in which this question has
been debated to-day would tend TO INDICATE,
.hat ovory person who n,ay ~oto o,---.r--''
it, favors the idea ;ha: there can be any right
OF property in man. / wish to say that there
is no delegate on this floor who has more
persistcntly and continuously denied such
right than myself, and vote "no'' on the
present question only because | believe III the
enforcement of al contracts mutually aud
legally formed, Of whatever character they
may be.
w. G. Whipper moved that the ordinance
| be reconsidcrcd, and that the motion to re-
consider be laid upon the table. The motion
was agreed to.
On motion of the same delegate, the rules
were suspended, and the ordinance received
its third reading, and was ordered 10 be en-
crossed.
The ordinance is as follows:
| AN ORDINANCE DECLARING NULL AND VOID ALL
CONTRACTS AND JUDGMENTS AND DEGREES
HERETOFORE MADE Oh ENTERED UP, WHERE
TIE CONSIDERATION WAS FOR THE PURCHASE
OF SLAVES.
We, tile people Of South Carolina By our
deleoGtcs in contention assembled, do hereby
declare and oro1ain, lst. That all contracts,
whether under seal or not, the considerations
Of which wclc the purchase Of slaves are
hereby declared null and void, and Of no ef,
feet; and no suit, either at Law or in equity,
shall be commenced or prosecuted for the en-.
forcement Of such contracts.
I'd. That ali proceedings to enforce salts
faction or payment of judgment or decrces
rendered, recorded, enrolled or entered upon
such contracts in any court in this Stale, are
hereby prohibited.
3. That all orders heretofore made in any
court in this State in relation to such con-
tracts, whereby property is held subject to
decision. as to validity of such contracts, are
also hereby declared null and void, and OF no
effect.
Done in convention, Mt the City of Charles
ton, the 4th day of February, in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and sixty eight.
B. Byas (colorcd), of Bcrkely, offered a
long series OF resolutions providing tha; every
freedman in South Carolina shall be entitled
to collect wages from his former master .or
services rendered since January l, 1865, to
wit: Male hands, over l. yearsof age. at the
rate of $40 per month; under - years, So
per month females, over Is years, SIS per
month; uadcr Is, So per moath. =,
The resolution was laid on the table amid
great laughter, Byas being evidently much
discomfitted thereat.
Some discussion took place on resolution
offered by j. J. Wright, to the effect that
whereas several of the leading members OF
the convention were Inclined to dodge the Is
sue whenever important questions were tv &c
decided by yeas and nays, therefore resolved
that any delegate absent more than thirty
minutes, without leave from the President
shall lose his per diem for that day..
On. motion of B. Byas, it was laid on the
table.
The rest of the business of the day was un
important, and at the usual hour the convcn
tion adjourned.
DEATH OF A MiLL1oNAlnE-Mr. Cranshaw