The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-19
A NOVEL STUDY FOR OUR PEOPLE.

To meet general want, We have prepared
the following analysis, showing the principal
and radical points Of difference between the
| Constitution Of 1865 and that adopted by the
Reconstruction Convention, with reference,
wherever necessary, to the points in which
both these latter differ from the old consti-
tuition adopted in 1880.
No strict order Of comparison has been
adopted, but all the provisions relating to any
one branch Of government are grouped under
appropriate heads.
THE BILL OF H-eHTs.
In the Constitutions i790 and 1855, the
declaration Of rights is but brief affair, but
the Constitution Of 1868 is prefxed by bill Of
rights, consisting of forty-one sections, de-
claring the abolition Of imprisonment for debt,
forbidding any qualification upon suffrage, pro-
hibiting bribery at elections, and providing
penalties for duellng, besides expressing the
opinions of the convention as to what should
be the organic law Of the State upon all sub
iects from being born ''free and equal" to the
opening OF all na1gable waters free Of tax or
toll. This Bill Of Rights is known as article I.
in the 1868 Constitution.
TIE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
Under the Constitution of 1890 no person was
eligible to seat in the House Of Representa-
tives VINO was not free, white, twenty-one
years of age, citizen and resident for three
years prior to election, and the possessor of
freehold estate Of five hundred acres and ten
negroes, or of unincumbered real estate to the
valre of one hundred and fifty pounds. No
citizen was eligible as senator who had not
been resident for five years, and had not
settled freehold estate OF the value of three
hundred pounds free of debt. These qualifca-
tons found no place in the Constitution of
1865, nor, of course, are they found in that Of
1868.
THE HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
BY the Constitution Of 1866 the Legislative au-
thority is vested in Senate and House Of
Representatives, the latter TO consist of one
hundred and twenty-four members, apportion-
ed according to population and taxation, one
representative being allowed for every sixty
second part of the whole number of white In
hsbitants, and one for every sixty-second part
of the whole taxes raised by the General As
sembly, at least representative being given
to each election district, but not more than
twelve being allowed to any one district.
No person was eligible unless Tree, white,
syenty.one years old, citizen and resident
for three years, and for six months prior to
election a resident of the district from which
elected. Members were to be chosen every
two years by ballot
Under the Reconstruction Constitution the
number OF Representatives is the same, but
the appprtionment is to be made according to
population 4lone, provided that the represen-
tation is to be as follows until an enumeration
OF the inhabitants of the State shall have been
made as directed in 1869:
Abbeviile, S; Anderson, 8; Barnweu, 6; Beau
fort, 7; Charleston, IS; Chester, s. Clarendon,
2; Coleton, 5; Chesterfield, 2; Darlington y;
Edgefeld, z; Fairfield, 8; Georgetown, 3; Green
vile, 4; Horny 2; Kershaw, 2; Lancaster, y;
Laurens, 4; Lexington, 2; Marion, 4; Marlboro )
2; Newberry, s; Oconee, 2; Orangepurs' o.
Pickens, l; Richland, 4; Spartanburg, 4; Sum-
ter, 4; Union, 8; Williamsburg, 8; York, 4.
1t will be observed that the names OF all dis
tricts have been changed to counties, and that
Pickens has been divided so as to form the new
county Of Oeonee.
One representative is to be allowed to every
one hundred and twenty-fourth part of the
whole number o. inhabitants, each district
being allowed at least one representative, and
no restriction as to the number allowed to each
district being imposed.
No person is eligible as representative who
has not oeen citizen and resident for ore
year prior to the elections, or who has been
convicted Of any infamous crime.
! THE SENATE.
Under the Constitution of 1865 Charleston
had two senators and each other district one.
one-haf Of the whole number cf senators