The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-12-07
The LEGISLATURE.

tlrely devoid or interest up 10 the present tlme
After brief sessions of two days, the Senate ad-
journed from Wednesday until Monday last,
and upon re-assembling the business transacted
was unimportant The House of Representa-
tives refused to adjourn longer than one day,
Thursday, and the excitement usually attendant
upon the sessions of that branch Of the Legis-
lature seems to have been inaugurated already.
We make such extracts from the proceedings as
will prove interesting to our readers:
In the House of Representatives Mr.. Jervey
presented the return of the Charleston Com
missioners of Election of the election, in said
County, of c.. G. Bowen, as q member of the
House of Representatives, and moved that the
member elect be qualified; which was strongly
opposed by w. FL. jones' Jamison and others,
upon the ground that the election was invalid,
both in law and under the constitution charg
ing that the signature of the clerk to the writ
of election was forgery; that Bowen had been
convicted of serious crime and misdemean-
or :" and that he was still contesting for seat
/ in the United States Congress, to which he
claimed to have been elected.
A motion was made to postpone the consid-
Grafton of the matter until Wednesday next I;
which caused very animated debate by Messrs.
Jamison, Jones, Davis, Jervey, Wilkes, Mobley
and others.
Amidst the most intense excitement and con-
fusion, vote was taken, and the motion lost.
The previous question was then called and
decided in the affirmative, by vote of 73 yeas
to % nays.
Mr. Bowen appeared before the Speakers
tdesk, and was qualified.
The Speaker stated to the House that imme-
diately after the resignation of Mr.. Hardy, a
member from the County of Charleston, he i'm
'mediately issued writ of election to fill the
vacancy; that the clerk of the House was not
in the city, and his name was signed to the
writ by another, but afterwards mel a0ith his Gp-
oroUdt.
Mr. Bowen asked permission to address few
words, which was granted, when he said, that
he had listened to the arguments of the MEM
fious opposition he knew that strong combi-
nations had been formed to keep him from ta-
king his seat he knew it before he left Charles
ton. All manner of charges had been made
against him, and spoken of here to-day; but
he did not desire to say anything upon that
subject. He had been elected not only to rep
resent the people of Charleston County, but as
the representative of the people of the whole
State and as such he intended to do his duty.
He warned those who had been abetting fraud
and corruption, and had robbed the State of no
less than 81, ,0OO,0 900, that their day had come,
and that they should suffer for their conduct.
Amidst great applause, he took his seat.
On Saturday, Mr. Wilkes introduced the fol-
lowing concurrent preamble and resolutions
which were adopted:
Whereas in the political canvass in this State,
in the general election of 1870, the Republican
and Reform parties alike pledged themselves to
an economical administration of the State gov
ernment, so as to lessen taxation and Tighten
the burthens of the people; and whereas the
people of the State, irrespective of party, have
right to expect and do earnestly demand, the
fulfillment of the pledges then given; and
whereas his Excellency r. X. Scott, in his late
message, has earnestly recommended retrench-
ment in the expenditures of the government,
by abolishing some officers, consolidating 9TH
ers and reducing salaries Of officers; therefore,
be it
Resolued, by the House of Representatives
of the State of South Carolina, the Senate con-
curing, That committee of three discreet
members on the part of the House, and -
members on the part of the Senate, be appoin-
ted Immediately to consider:
]. What offices, if any, State and County,
and their interests.
!, 2. What Offices, State and County, can and
should be consolidated.
3. How far the salaries of State and Coun.
ty officers can be and should be reduced.
Resolucd That this committee be, and they
are hereby, instructed to address themselves at
once to the serious consideration of the forego-
ing points, and to report thereon at the earli-
est day practicable; and that said committee
have leave to report by bill or otherwise
A concurrent resolution was passed, requir-
ing the State Financial Committee to report
on Thursday next.
Resolution to require the State Treasurer to
Withdraw the unsigned bonds of the State from
the American Bank Note Company to be held
subject to the order of the General Assembly,
was adopted.
Resolution, by Mr.. Frost, to go into an elcc-
ton for one Associate Justice, and eight Cir
cult Judges, on the 18th inst, was adopted.