Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-24

the tax should be distributed over two years,
instead of paying FIVE mills this year and
twelve mills next year.
Mr. Connor, Of Abbeville, made strong
speech in favor of paying the debt, only after
its investigation by the commission: He was
in favor of incorporating in the bill section
which would pledge the State to the payment
of the debt after its examination, in order
that the public credit might be saved from
injury from misunderstanding on the part
of the public creditors.
Wells, of Richland, (colored Republican,
spoke in favor Of the payment of the debt,
and went so far as to state that the whole debt
was valid.
At this stage the Senate appeared at the
bar of the House. LieutenantGovernor
Simpson took the chair and announced that
the Joint assembly had been called for the
purpose of electing an Associate Justice of
the Supreme Court of South Carolina.
Mr.. Colt, of Chesterfield, nominated Capt.
Henry McIver, pressing his claims in an earn,
est speech, bringing out his spotless record
and fine abilities in bold relief Keith, of
Darlington, (colored Republican, as a repre-.
sentative of the Peedee section) rose to second
the nomination, and, in so doing said that it
afforded him great pleasure, as representa-
tive of the colored race and of the Repubi-
can party, to show that, where good, honest
and able man was presented, the Republicans
were willing to support him.
Gen. Gary rose, also, to second the nomna-
ton of Col. McIver. but was Informed that
he was out of order, as only one second was
permitted General Gary asked and obtained
unanimous consent to continue, and said no
fact had afforded him more pleasure than that
the candidate presented by the Democratic
party, should have been seconded by the op-
poste side. 1t was becoming that it should
be so because he who held the scales Of JUS
tice should hold alike for blacks and whites,
for Democrats and Republicans; he should 60
to his position as the choice of the white peo-
pie and as the choice of both parties 1t
seemed then that they were fortunate in pre-
sentng the name of Henry McIver, native
South Carolnian, an accomplished jurist and
a Christian gentleman, who would give salts
faction alike to both political parties. He
would stand conspicuously as the representa-.
tive of the intelligence of South Carolina in
contrast with the Chief Justice, and we can
ask the people to look upon this picture and
then upon that. [Applause from the Repub
licans. Thos. Hamilton Republican under
the pretence of making another nomination,
also succeeded in seconding the nomination of
McIver. The nomination then closed and the
vote was taken, resulting in ballot which is
unprecedented in the post-bellum annals OF
the State. The total vote cast was l29, Nc.
liver receiving the unanimous vote as well as
the unanimous nomination Of the joint assem-
bly. After the President had announced the
unanimous election of McIver, the Senate re-
tired, and the consideration of the fifth section
of the appropriation bill was resumed.
Mr.. Youmans, of Barnwell, made vigor-
Gus speech against paying the interest.
Mr.. Shaw moved to amend Gray's amend
ment to appropriate 100000 to meet def:
ciences, &c., by inserting 100000. to be held
subject to the direction of the General AS
sembly. The manifest object of this motion
was to strike a compromise and avoid placing
the power to decide the validity of the bonds
in the hands of the commission.
Mr.. Collision, of Edge6eld, spoke in oppos-
ton to the passage of the section, and Mr..
Orr closed the debate in an eloquent speech
in favor of the passage of the section.
A resolution having been passed to come to
a vote on the vexed question at 2.3O p. M, at
that hour all debate was closed, and amid in
tense excitement, Minort, colored, moved to
lay Gray's amendment and Shaw's amendment
to the amendment on the table, The vote
was taken, and the amendments were both
tabled by a vote Of "A to 25.
Mr.. Simpson then moved that s30O.0 600 he
stricken out of the fifth section and S21O,OOO
inserted instead that sum being the exact
amount necessary to meet the interest on the
present consolidated debt during the present
fiscal year. This amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Connor moved to amend the section so
that, instead of the commission being empow-
cred to determine for itself the validity of the
debt no part Of the appropriation should be
paid until the commission shall have reported
to the General Assembly and until the Gen.
eral Assembly shall have determined the same
to be valid and bona fide. The chair ruled
this amendment out Of order, in view of the
fact that the vote on the main question was
pressed. Section FIVE was then passed with
out further amendment.
On motion of Mr. Sheppard, an additional
section was added between Sections and of
the appropriation bill, appropriating $1,000
for the purchase Of the sixth and seventh vol.
umes of the new series of Supreme Court Re-
ports and $1,000 for the furnishing of sta
tionery for the executive and legislative de-
partments. A ninth section was then added
appropriating $4,000 to pay the balance of
the per diem and mileage compensation due
members ofthe last General Assembly for the
session of 1856 The vote was then taken
on passing the bill and ordering it to be en-
crossed for third reading, and the bill passed
by Il vote of 70 to IL.
The House then took recess to p. NJ.
The House resumed its session at 8 P. M.
The supply bill was taken up and passed its
second reading, after two hours discussion,
with sundry amendments, the most important
of which are the following: In section the
tax is raised from to It mills. This in.
crease was in consequence of the fact that the
attorney general has given an opinion that
the $4,000 in the treasury, which the com.
mttee had counted in their estimate, could
not be used. The sundry amendments to the
appropriation bill, together with the above.
mentioned fact, would leave a deficiency of
$4,000, and of mill will just raise about
$4,000.
In Section 2, which provides mills for
county purposes, exceptions in several coun-
ties were made for special taxes already au-
thorized by special acts.
In Section 4, which forbids the collection
of any other tax than is laid down in this Sec
ton, an amendment was inserted excepting
taxes to meet the interest on bonds issued by
the counties in aid of railroads.