The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-01-23
Tho Recons,ruc,ion Convention.
SIXTH DAY.

1
ton proceeded to business. +.
+. j. Moses, jr.. Chairman of the
Executive Committee, reported in
favor of the petition to Gen. Candy
to stay executions for three months.
On motion of James M. Rutland,
white delegate from Fairfield, the
report WAS made the special order for
wednesday, at p. III. ,.t..s
F. J. Moses, jr., Chairman OF the
Executive Committee, reported fa-
vorably on the resolution to employ
Major @. D. Melton, one of the So
licitors Of the State, to assist in draw
ing up ordinances, &c. Also, recon-
mending that Major D. Il. Corbin be
appointed Solicitor of the Conven-
ton, with the pay and mileage of o
delegate.
The report was adopted.
Lamuel Boozer, from the Commit
tee on Miscellaneous Affairs, to which
was referred the resolution calling for
a committee of five to visit and ex-
anime the. State penitent tiary, report
ed that the Committee did not think
the resolution n proper subject for
their consideration, and requested
that it be referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary. It was so referred.
The hour for the special order
having arrived, DeLarge moved to
discharge the special order, which was
adopted. The special order having
been the excuse of Lemuel Boozer.
its discharge caused him some annoy
ance and the rest of the delegates
some amusement.
Hurley offered a resolution to in
corporate in the Constitution, proyi-
sions against bribery--the party
bribed to be disfrancklsed for five
years and punished by fine and i'm
prisonment, as the laws may here
after direct. and the party bribing to
be declared Ineligible to Office for ten
years, and punished by fine and i'm
prisonment, as the law may hereafter
direct. Referred to the. Committee
on Franchise and Election.
Hurley also offered resolution for
the establishment Of militia, which
was referred to the Committee on the
Militia.
Runion introduced an ordinance
to abolish the Districts Courts of the
State.
The rules were suspended and the
Convention went into Committee of
the Whole on this ordinance, J. M.
Rutland in the chair.
DeLarge, Langley, Rnincy and
Hurley, all opposed the abolition of
the District Courts, on the ground
that the Convention had not either
the necessary power or authority.
Cardozn said that Gov. Orr had ex-
pressed to him an opinion unfavor-
able to the District Courts, but he
thought that it was the spirit of the
judges, and not the form of the
Court which was at fault, and he did
not think the ordinance would ac-
complish its purpose, and he there
fore opposed it.
Rnnion, i'll defence of his ordi-
nance, said that if the Convention of
1860 had power to establish the Dis
trict Courts he did not see why this
Convention had not the power to
abolish them.
McKinlay spoke in opposition to
the ordinance and Randolph III sup
port of 1T. The latter objected to the
District Courts on the ground of
their great expense.
Neagle. of York, made n long but
very weak argument in favor Of the
ordinance and against the courts.
He said that the District Courts cost
the State at least $50, 900 per annum,
and that some estimated the expense
at 500, 900 per unnum. And, as for
the power of the Convention, it was
assembled to frame Constitution
and form civil government for the
State of South Carolina, and, as a
Government was incomplete without
officers, he thought that the Conven-
ton had entire control of every office
and officer in the State.
A. u. Mackey, Chairman of the
Convention, said that he had not in
tended to obtrnde his views upon the
members, but he saw disposition on
the part of some, not only to legis-
late upon matters not within tho pro-
vision of the Convention, but to rush
such legislation through in disregard
of oil pal iamentary forms. The work
before tho Convention was specific.
1t was not only confined to framing
Constitution, but to framing Con-
stitution which must be submitted
first to the people of the State for
ratification, and then to Congress for
approval. Until the Constitution.
they should frame. had passed