Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-01-29
SEVENTH DAY.

January -.
The Convention assembled at - NJ, and
was called to order oy the President, A. G.
Mackey.
The President announced the first business
in order to be the reports Of Special Com
mittees
Mr.. c. c. Bowen made report of the
Committee on the Judiciary, a resolution in
relation to contracts, where the consideration
was for the purchase of slaves, stating that
they had considered the same and recommend
for their adoption the following ordinance:
First. We, the people of the State OF
South Carolina, by our delegates in Conven-
ton. do hereby crdain aud declare. that all
contracts, whether under seal or not, the con.
sideration of which were for the sale of slaves,
are null and void aud OF nor,oiiect.
Second. No suit, either at law or equity,
shall be commenced or prosecuted on such
contracts. aad proceedings for the satisfac-
tion and payment Of judgments and DEGREES
which at any time heretofore have been re
corded, rendered. enrolled. or entered upon
such contracts, arc hereby forever prohibited.
Third. All orders relative to such con-
tracts which may at any time heretofore have
been made in any Court of this State, either
Of law or equity, whereby any property. real
OF personal, is held subject TO decision as to
the validity OF such contracts, are also de-
ciared null and void, and of non effect.
The President stated that the Convention
having at an early session Of the body adopted
the Rules Of the House Of Representatives,
and regarding the term ordinance in the Con
yeiiion as Synonymous with Bill in the Leg
islatiye Assembly, the Chair was compelled to
decide that DO ordinance can pass the Con-
yen,;on untl it has received three readings.
The Chair decided therefore that this ordi.
nance had received its first reading.
Mr.N G.. Parker made the following report ::
The Committee on Finance, to whom was
referred an ordinance relative TO the valida
ton of portion Of the bills receivable of
the State, and the sale thereof, and the man
ner of levying and collecting the tax au;hc-
rized by Act Of Congress, to defray the ex
penses OF the Convention, with instructions to
report thereon this mcrning beg leave respect
fully to report, that they are in correspon-
dence with Major. General Z. r. S. Canby,
the Governor Of the State, ard other State
officials, from whom information is asked and
that it was impossible 10 arrive at any con-
clason at so early day, and respectfully ask
further time, with the assurance that an early
report may be expected.
Report adopted.
Mr.. Whittemore offered the following
which was referred to the Committee on Leg
islation.
1t shall be the duty of the General Assem-
biz, rs soon as circumstances will permit, to
form penal code founded on the principles
Of reformation and not of vindictive justice
and also to provide one or more farms to be
on asylum for those persons, who, by reason
Of age, infirmity, or other mislortunes, may
have claim upon the aid of the benevolence
of society, that such persons may therein find
employment and every reasonable comfort,
anl lose by Their usefulness the degrading
sense of dependence.
L. S. Langley called for the special order,
namely, the report o! the Committee recon-
mendng petition to General Candy to sus.
pend, for three months. the collection OF all
debts contracted prior to the Both Of June,
1865.
After considerable debate the matter was
made the special orGer for hnlf-past one to-
morrow.