The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-22
THE CONVENTION.
CONVENTION HELD BY AUTHORITY OF THE
RECONSTRUCTION LAWS OF CONGRESS.
TO FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION
FOR SOUTH CAROLINA.

The business Of the convention yesterday
may be summed up in single paragraph
much talk and little work. The great fight o.
the session was over a proposition to divide
the judicial district OF Charleston into three
election districts; but the country rallied II
strong force, and the measure was defeated
Charleston is entitled to two senators, but the
'county of Edisto," which some ambitious
member looking to future honors proposed
was lett out in the cold.
In the early part of the day c. P. Leslie
made speech in reply to the attack upon him
in the Mercury Of yesterday; stated that the
charges made we're without foundation, and
regretted that, because he had endeavored to
perform his duty to the people of Barnwell and
the State, that journal had seen fit to indulge
in burlesque which was as cruel as 1t
was undeserved. His remarks being on
question OF privilege, no action was taken
th sreon, and the body proceeded to its usual
duties.
Last evening caucus was held, it is under
stood, for the purpose Of completing nomina-
tions; but with what result, we are not in
formed. The colored delegates are said to be
exceedingly annoyed at the division Of spoils,
and new ''slate" is being prepared whereon
will be written the names OF the "o-be-distin-
guished," who expect to fill the proud places
of the State.
F. L. Cardoza, Rev. r. II. Cain, and one or
two other colored men have gone to Washing
ton as sort of self-constituted committee on
a prospecting tour. First, their object is to
find out whether o colored man, if elected to
Congress-, will be welcomed with hospitablo
hands," &C.; secondly, why Speaker Collax
treated such q proposition, made by letter
some time ago, with contempluous silence;
thirdly, whether the convention is sufficiently
Radical to be success in the eye OF the boss
reconstructionists CT Washington; and finally,
whether any arrangement can be made to
carry out q land scheme, by which the freedmen
may enjoy their now petted day-dream as
bona fde reality.
The general impression is that the mission
will prove failure, and that the colored peo-
ple OF the State will be most thoroughly dis
gusted by the so-called friendly promises OF
tho Washington politicians.
The probabilities grow stronger every day
that the convention will not be able to finish
it's duties before the 14th Of March. Much
work replains to be done. Many heavy verbal
contests are Cooking up on vexed questions
vet to BE- considered, and at the present rate
of progress, this limit TO the session is not an
one.
Meanwhile, funny things continue to be
said and done on the floor, which mako por-
tiors OF the proceedings as good as comedy.
For instance, yesterday, ono of the delegates
another of unprecedented smartnoss,
and to damage him with regular ''sochdolo-
gel" that should quench and make him forever
after hold his peace, said that he had ''cut his
eve teeth before he had done nussing." The
same delegate handled tho Charleston mem
bers without gloves for trying to do some
thing which we did not clearly understand, and
he Indignantly declared that they were prepar-
ed to ''sell their birthright for mess OF part
ridges" These sallies of rough humour mover
fail to ''bring down the house." and naturally
afford amusement which lightens the burden
of prosaic debate and relieves the monotony OF
holding chair down for five mortal hours