The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-16
THE CONVENTION.
FuTY-FIRsT DAT.

gress TO remove the political disablhtles nom
all the citizens of the State, and In the DISCUS
sion which followed, sentiments were uttered
bv manv of the delegates, especially the col
ored members, which indicated desire Oh
their part to place every man in the State upon
his former political footing as q citizen.
| It is understood that such an act would re-
ceiye the sanction of Congress, and that II Is IN
accordance with the wishes Of both the CIVIL
and military leaders of the Republican party.
A homestead section of an extremely hoerai
character was also adopted and declared to De
an integral part of the constitution. Inns was
introduced by Mr. c. P. Leslie of Barnwel, who
certainly "won his spurs for engineering the
clause through the convention, after another
! section had been adopted and passed TO lts
third reading. IT will be observed on reading
the text that it secures ga dwelhng-house out
buildings or lands appurtenant, and the yearly
product thereon, not to exceed the value OF one
thousand dollars and the yearly product there
of, to The person entitled thereto or the head
Of any family, besides household furniture, IL
brary, arms, carts, wagons, animals, imple-
ments &C., to the value of $500; and IN addl-
ton all necessary wearing apparel.
The impoverished people Of the State may
now sleep comfortably in their beds, with the
assurance that come veal or come woe, their
wives and little ones will not be turned out OF
doors. This is unquestionably one of the best
sections in the constitution.
Immediately after the morning session the
President announced that photographer was
present for the purpose of taking picture OF
the convention, and requested all who wished
to be handed Gown to posterity to remain IN
their seats, turn their faces to the rear, and
present thei- most decorous appearance.
There was az instantaneous twitching up of
shirt-collars, smoothing down Of refractory
hair and adjustment Of ready-made clothing.
The convention performed the maneuvre of
ssright about face," put on their proper coun-
tenances, and the ISLANDERS around the hall
ostruck an attitude" The artist leveled his
camera, aimed called "time," and pulled the
trigger. No such mantle Of silence ever rested
on that body before. For once Byas absolutely
held his breath; Langley did not ''second the
notion" DeIarge rose to make no explana-
tions; Elliot didn't call for the previous ques-
ton; Dill had nothing to say about frauds upon
the people, and the President did not rap the
irrepressible Leslie to order for speaking out
of time to ''the friends"
The artist took two Impressions, and to the
qualification Of the assembly announced that
both we're 80 perfect that he could distinctly
see the pimples upon the noses of several Of
the distant delegates. Five dollars. a picture
from each Of the one hundred and twenty dele
gates will net the pretty little sum to the pho
tographer of six hundred dollars for his morn
ing's work, besides the sales made to the ad-
miring constituency at home.
The convention assembled at the usual hour.
The President read the following communica-
tion, which was received with applause:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 9, 1866.
Sir have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt Of your communication Of the ID inst,
transmitting copy Of resolutions adopted by
the Constitutional Convention Of South Caro-
lima on the 9th ult. I beg you to communl-
cate to the convention my thanks for the ex-
pressions contained in the resolutions IN refer
ence to my official action.
am, with great respect,
Your obedient servant,
EDWIN n. STANTON.
Hon. A. G. MAcKEY, President Of the Constitu-
tional Convention Of South Carolina.
Article ten was then taken up, received its
third reading, excepting section Ii, which was
reserved for amendment and further conside-
ration.
The article is as follows:
ARTICLE z.
EDUCATION.
SECTION /. The supervision of public in
struction shall be vested in State Superin-
tendent of Education, who shall be elected by
the qualified electors Of the State in such man
ner and at such time as the other State officers
are elected; his powers, duties, term OF office
and compensation shall be defined by the
General Assembly.
SEC. Q. There shall be elected biennially, in
ca ch county, by the qualified electors thereof,
on e School Commissioner, said commissioners
to constitute q State Board Of Education, OF
which the State Superintendent shall, by VIZ
ties and compensation Of the members of said
| board shall be determined by law.
Sec. 8. The General Assembly shall, as soon
as practicable after the adoption OF this con-
| stieution, provide for a liberal and uniform
system Of free public schools throughout the
SCale, HuQ 5uhu dioO luohV PAO'4ofOh Aot eAS
| division of the State into suitable school dis
tricts. There shall be kept open at least six
months in each year one or more schools In
| each scnool district.
SEC. 4. It .hall be the duty of the General
Assembly TO provide for the compulsory at
tendance, at either public or private schools,
of all children between the ages OF six and
sixteen years, not physically or mentally disa-
bled, for term equivalent to twenty-four
months at least: Prorided, That no law to
that effect shall be passed until system of
public schools has been thoroughly and COM
pletely organized, and facilities afforded to all
the inhabitants Of the State for the free edu-
cation of their children.
SEC. 5. The General Assembly shall levy, at
each regular session after the adoption Of this
| constitution, an annual tax on all taxable
property throughout the State for the support
| of public schools, which tax shall be collected
at the same time and by the same agents as
the general State levy, and shall be paid into
! the treasury of the State. There shall be as
sessed on all taxable polls in the State an an
nual tax of one dollar on each poll, the pro-
ceeds of which tax shall be applied solely to
| educational purposes: Provided, That no per-
son shall ever be deprived of the right OF SUI
frage for the non-payment OF said tax. NO
other poll or capitation tax shall be levied N
the State, nor shall the amount assessed on
each poll exceed the limit given in this sec,
tion. The school tax shall be distributed
among the several school districts OF the State,
! in proportion to the respective number OF .pu-
nils attending the public schools. No religious