Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-01-30

that the question Sh0uld be CONSIDERED, ana WILL
out reference to- some committee, OF which tn
gentleman himself might be chairman, to be ther
retained until too late to effect the benehcent oh
ject in view If necessary, said the speaker let
rush" the measure through the convention, an!
show to the people of the State that we are vii
ling to rush anything through which is demanded
for their good and welfare. [Applause.] .Cne
of question. ......,. ...aa. ..--..r.. -
G. G. Bowen said he was opposed to the resolu
ton in its present shape. Relief would undoubt
edly be given to the people. 1t was the desire o
a large majority of the convention, but he was op
posed to anything that sayored Of class legislation
and the resolution offered proposed nothing else.
j. s. Craig white, of Colleton-an ex-Federa
offcer-Favored the measure, and hoped it woulc
be passed without reference to committee, where
it might be laid to rest forever. . r. ..,,g., -
The question was then taken on suspending thu
rules, and the motion of the delegate from Yorl
was not agreed to.
The resolutions were referred to the COMMITTEES
/. .,.....a. HOMESTEAD LAWS. .. f.. .'....gf
J. NJ. Allen, white, of Greenyille submitted ,tht
following, which was disagreed to:
ResolUed, That the Judiciary Committee be in
the benefit of any and all exemption or homestead
tracted prior to the passage of such law, and b
empowered to call to their aid the best legal talen
in the State, if by them considered necessary.
1t may be remarked here, parenthetically, tina
the disposition of the convention is evidently Il
have nothing to do with outsiders not identified
with them in sympathy and interest, and that !.
,rtain way to kill measure is to associate witt
it the name of any official in the State. -...
GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS.
L. s. Langley, colored, Of Beaufort, submitted
an ordinance to change the name of the election
districts of South Carolina into counties, and II
divide such counties into townships said town
ships to be not less than FIVE miles, nor more thar
ten miles square, Referred to the Committee OF
Legislation. .. ... ...,
BILLS RECEIVABLE.
DR.. J. G. Neagle offered the following,
Be it ordained, &c., That the President of this
convention do place his signature and official title
dated at Charleston, January 20, 1868, across the
face of 100000 of the bills of this State, author
lied by act Of the Legislature of this State, passed
on the 2lst December, 1865, and known as "Bil
Receivable" And that all such bills bearing sale
signature shall be ''legal tender for all debts
public or private, within the jurisdiction Of this
State, except in cases where the Government o.
the United States is party. .n. -.as,
Treasurer of this State in Charleston is hereby au
thorized to sell, under the direction and control Of
His Excellency James L. Orr, Provisional Cover
nor of the State sufficient amount of the afore-
said bills to raise ten thousand dollars in United
States currency per week, or so much as may be
necessary to pay the delegates Of this convention.
Third. eit ordained, de-, That the balance Of
the aforesaid bills remain in the public treasury Of
the State, to be expended in defaying the contin-
gent expenses of the State under the appropriation
authorized by General Orders, No. -, from the
Headquarters, Second Military District, and under
the control of His Excellency James L. On, Pro-
visional Governor, or his successor in Office.
Fourth. Be 1t ordained, &C., That the Finance
Committee are hereby directed to prepare and re-
port at On early day an ordinance for the levy and
collection of taxes III accordance with the Recon
struction acts of Congress, under which this con-
vention is convened, that will amount to 5000, ,000
to be collected between the first day of September
and first day Of December, 1871, which money
shall be appropriated to heredemption Of the afore
said bills on and after the first Of January, 1872,
in such manner as this convention may direct.
DR.. Neagle moved to refer the ordinance to the
Committee on Finance, with instructions to report
tomorrow.
N. G.. Parker white, chairman of that commit
tee, objected to the limited time allowed where
upon
DR.. Neagle suggested thatmany of the delegates,
not having paid their board bills this week, wished
to know when the funds are coming, and where
they are coming from.
The vote that the committee should report on
Wednesday, noon, was unanimous. ..a.....
ANEW RULE. ..
Benjamin Byas, colored, of Berkley, offered the
following:
Whereas The exercise of wisdom and discretion
is necessary in the government of this body,
Resohed, That no article or section, paragraph
or clause, calculated to be EN- bodied in this consti
tution or any petition to or from this convention,
shall receive its final adoption until the same shall
have received, at least two readings and lapse of
twenty-four hours after the first reading of the
same, and all amendments thereto shall be subject
to the same stipulations. Referred to the Com
mittee on Rules. ...
OLD DEBTS.
B. Odell Duncan, white, of Newbery, offered
the following: -.
Whereas, The institution of Slavery has been
abolished by the Government of the United States
and this action has been ratified by the State Of s..
Carolina; and whereas, still to recognize the in
debtedness or obligations connected Herewith is
still to recognize rights in slavery. Therefore, be
Reso7ued, That all debts or obligations of any
kind, contracted for slaves, are hereby declared
null and void, and shall forever be so considered
Be it further
Resolred, That no State Court or State Official
shall hereafter entertain any suit or recognize any
claims or Indebtedness or obligations contracted for
slave property.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The same delegate offered the following:
Wkcrreas, A long-continued and bloody war
has left our State in most deplorabe condition Of
poverty and decentralization, and property has de-
preciated to much less than its former value, when
debts were contracted; and aohereas, The most Vi
cous management of the rebel finances has left
nearly all our people loaded down with old debts
contracted prior to the war. Therefore, be it
30th of June, 1865, shall be reduced one-half !:
Provided, however, that nothing in this ordinance
shall be 50 construed as to interfere with any debt
outside of the State prior to the date above men
toned, and that it shall not relieve the State from
any of its obligations, except those contracted in
aid of the rebellion nor shall it relieve any indi-
vidua company or corporation Of any obligation to
the State.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
A SOLICITOR INVITED.
+. J. Moses, Jr, introduced the following:
Whereas in all conventions in South Carolina,
heretofore held, it has been wise and sautary
tom to have the assistance and aid of the State So
lcitors in the legal preparation of ordinances and
others papers, and aoereas it is the earnest desire
of this constitutional convention to perform the i'm
portant duties entrusted to it in such manner as
will commend it to the praise and approval of all
citizens. Therefore, be it
Resolyed, That the necessary steps shall be Ia
ken by this convention to secure the legal services
of Major C. D. Melton, of York District, and
hn hn uillinn To lend rs his aid In hasteninn