The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-03-17
Correspondent Charleston News I


TO be continued
Correspondent Charleston News
From the State Capital
COLUMBIA, S. G., March G.--Tht
bill for the enumeration Of the in
habitunts of the State led to lone
discussion in the Scuate yesterday
The House bill on the snmo suhi,o
was laid on the table in the Senate.
Both bills were drawn in accordance
with the provision Of .the new State
constitution, which requires that an
enumeration of the inhabitants of the
State be made in 1869, again in 1875,
and in tho course Of every tenth year
thereafter. Both provided for the
appointment by the Governor of Il
census takcr for each county, at five
dollars per day, with the privilege of
appointing assistants who arc to be
paid at tho rate Of three dollars per
day.
Senator Leslie opposed both bills,
and moved to lay them on the table.
He said that it was we'll known that
it was his intention, as United States
Marshal, to take the census for 1869
without one dollar of expense to the
State.
Nash interrupted him by asking if
he had already received his appoint
ment. General Grant, he knew, was
only inauguratad the day before and
could have had no time to read the vol
luminous petition Of tho honorable
senator for the Office he was seeking.
IL was not, he said, alvey tho hcov .,
the surest way to wait for dead mems
shoes, and if the senator from Barn
we'll waited for Mr.. Epping's shoes
he might be disappointed. These old
Germans are very tenacious and long
lived. He therefore thought the
senator should not jump at conclu-
sions without some good guarantee of
his hopes being fulfilled.
Senator Leslie said if he was not
appointed James G.. Gibbcs (who is a
candidate), or some other equally
good man as himself would be. 1t
perhaps made but little difference 70
tho people Of the State which of the
first named respectable gentlemen
received the appointment, but one
thing is certain, whoever got it will
DC required &c dc exactly what is
called for in tho bill. He contcnded
that the intent of the constitution was
simply to have an enumeration, and
that the people should know now
many senators and representatives
they arc entitled to elect at the next
election. That being done by the
| United States Marshal and his depu.
ties, would be q virtual compliance
with the provision of The constitution
on the subject.
Senator Leslie's views, however,
we're overruled, and the Senate bill
passed its second reading and was
ordered to be engrossed.
During the heat Of the discussion
on the above bill, Senator Leslie was
observed to be looking intently at the
clock in the rear of tho presidents
desk. At 2:3O p. NJ. he rose to a
question Of privilege, and desired the
president to inform him whether that
clock was regarded as the legal official
time of tho Senate. President Cor
bin, in reply, respectfully referred
the decision of that question to the
senator from Barnwell. Mr.. Leslie
thcreupon, pointing to the dial, an.
nouuced that "BlaSkville had become
law, and the county seat of Barnwell
County, irrcvocably changed to Black.
Vile by the expiration, Of tho three
days constitutional limit given his
Excellency to approve an act or re.
turn it with his objections to the
House in which such act originated
and neither of these provisions had
been complied with" The announce
mcnt caused general smile in the
Senate.
Senator Leslie left for Blackvillc
Courthouse to-day.
In the House, tho Educational bill
has caused an exceedingly tedious
and uninterestiug discussion for twe
days. The main points debated have
been the respective salaries Of the
officers named in the bill, and theil
powers and duties. 1t is urged thai
the office of School Commissioner il
intended as an honorary position, ant
the duties to be performed by those
in the community who were willing t,
give portion Of their time to public
benefaotions without other reward
than that of doing q service to hu
manity. Tho opposition, however
argued that in the present condition
| of societygsuch sdisinterested patriot
could not be found; that the worl
was both arduous and expensive, AM
should be paid for. The bill wa