Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-01-21
THE s. C. LEGISLATURE.

In the Senate, Corbin introduced Q bill to deter
mine the value of contracts made in Confederate
money; and bill to punish persons obtaining
property under false pretences. The bill with ref
erence to Confederate money FIXES its value at va
rious periods during the war, as compared with
ary, 1861, the value Of one dollar in United States
and five cents Of Confederate currency The value
of Confederate currency is regularly reduced until
the lst of May, 1855, when one dollar in United
States currency is reckoned as the equivalent Of
eight hundred and thirty-three dollars and thirty
three cents in Confederate currency. The bill was
ordered to be printed. -
Rainey gave notice of bill to increase the sala-
ry of the Governors Private Secretary to 81, 900
and tha State Auditor to $500.
Coghlan, Senator from Sumter, rendered his
resignation, which was accepted in; ..gl.
In the House, the committee appointed at the
suecial session of the General Assembly, under
the provision of an Act entitled "An Act to regu-
late the manner Of keeping and Disturbing funds
the requirements of the Act above mentioned, that
they have examined the books, vouchers and re-
ceipts of the State Treasurer, and find the books
kept, the vouchers, drafts and checks drawn, and
all moneys deposited in strict accordance with the
law, and the general routine Of business connected
with the Office transacted in manner alike credta-
bic to the Treasurer and his clerk.
Mr. Mickey introduced resolution, which was
referred to the Special Joint Committee on Luna
tic Asylum investigation, that as it is reported that
ministers of the Gospel are not permitted to per-
form religious services in one branch of the Luna
tic Asylum of this State, that the Committee on
the Lunatic Asylum be instructed to investigate
the matter so that the poor and afflicted may have
the Gospel preached to them, irrespective Of race
or color
Mr.. Mobley introduced resolution, which was
adopted, that the Committee on the Judiciary be
instructed to report bill 10 regulate contracts for
labor, which will give suitable officers power to
approve and settle the same.
A bill empowering the Attorney General to
changet the venue in State cases was taken up, read
the second time and ordered to be engossed for
third reading. =, .sssf ~
was referred petition from sundry taxpayers,
merchants Of the city Of Charleston, praying that
certain taxes paid by them under the assessment
of 1866, may be refunded, submitted areport I'D
verse to the petition. The following is anextract
from the report go .ssz,g .Yli.;.5.g
"Under the assessment provided by an act OF the
General Assembly, passed December 10, 1866, en-
titled Gan act to raise supplies for the year com
mencing in October, 1866" tax Of sixty cents on
the hundred dollars was assessed upon al sales of
goods wares, merchandise, &C. This tax was
paid By the petitioners. Subsequently, by order
of General Candy, this tax was reduced to twenty
cents on the hundred dollars. The petitioners
claim that Justice and equity require that the ex-
cess Of taxes over and above the tax Of twenty
cents on the hundred dollars paid BY them should
be refunded. s.E 81
Your committee are of the opinion that the
prayer of the petitioners ought not to be granted.
The tax paid BY the petitioners was lawfully as
sessed and collected. General Candy, who subse-
ouently became the supreme power in the State,
carefully considered the whole matter and conclu-
ded to reduce the tax to be levied in the future,
but did not provide for refunding any taxes alrea
DIV paid. Your committee think it would now be
unwise to attempt to reconsider the action Of Gen
eral Candy. The door would be opened too wide
" for similar claims to be made by other parties.
The condition of the Treasury Of the State will not
warrant any action which diminishes the funds Of
the State, except upon the most imperative con.
siderations of legal right They therefore respect
fully recommend that the petitioners have leave to
withdraw petitions" The recommendation In the
report was adopted.
TUESDAY, January -, 1859.
In the Senate, bill to establish State Orphan
Asylum, received its second reading, was consider
ed by sections, agreed to, and ordered to be en-
crossed for third reading.
Mr.. Corbin introduced resolution, that the
General Assembly adjourn sine die on the 5th OF
February, which was ordered for future conade-
ration. .....-.., -.
Mr.. Corbin also introduced the following bill to
amend the criminal law of the State which received
its first reading and was ordered for second read
ing:
resentatives of the State of South Carolina, now
met and sitting in General Assembly, and by the
authority of the same:
SECTION l. Capital punishment, except in the
case of wilful murder, is hereby abolished.
SEC. 9. Manslaughter or the unlawful killing
of another without malice, expressed or implied,
shall be punishable by hard labor in the Penitsnti
ary not exceeding thirty years nor less than two
years. .. -,
SEC. 8. The crimes of burglary and arson shall
be punishable by hard labor in the Penitentiary
not exceeding thirty years nor less than one year
SEQ. 4. The benefit of clergy is hereby abolished.
In the House, q concurrent resolution was adopt
ted and sent to the Senate, resembling the res0lu
ton adopted in December depriFing members ct
pay during the recess of the General Assembly.
A bill to regulate the manner of selling public
lands was introduced. Itrequires the Sheriff to-
divide all the lands to be sold into tracts Of not
more than forty acres. - -, 81 .relg =
Mr.. Neagle introduced resolution, which was
adopted, that the resolutio., adopted on July "a;
1868, relieving the Committee on Claims from the
consideration of claims against the State, be re-
scinded, and that the committee be directed to
,,~oooo1 xuith oil hraindea pror,orls, hof,ro -