Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-12-19
PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

and salu: oOJeot to this continued aud
special legislation US to tho colorcd ruoe
The colored man is endowed with all tho
privileges OF citizen, and there are 10
means to curtail his rights. The prcvcn--
tion of the iotermarrage of the races is not
o political issue. This is social question,
which is regulated by the parties themselves.
| object to this bill only on the ground that
it is striking at tho liberty Of the colored
man, while it is an indiscrcet assault upon
tho white mans rights. Each individual
has tho right to choose his own companion.
Efforts havo been made to show that inter
marriages injuriously affoct the white race.
You have SO effectually held yourselves
together in the past, that there seems but
little prospect Of our race cffecting tho white
race now. This legislation is wholly un-
necessary.
Mr.. Garrison-I am in favor of the bill.
[ 1.-Two on the line adjoining North Carolina.
The whites and blacks from that State come
down to our county oud get married. l
think they should not intcrmarry, but
should be kept separate.
Mr.. Rutledge-I concur with what has
boon said by the member from York. The
intermarriagc Of the races is nuisance
which should be nbatcd.
hlr. Simmons, colorcd-I believe when
God made us he intended for us to act und
do as we please. (Laughtcr.)
MIR. Rlchardson-I would like to make
motion to postpone any action on this sub
ject at present. This is not q time to
discuss this matter. 1t is inexpcdient to
do SO just now, but whcn it does come up,
| at some future time, it should bc uly dis.
I l,ou olo a.,
| subject, which should like to sec carried
out. If the motion to lay on tho table
fails, give notice of my intention
to move to postpone the muttcr indefinitely.
The ayes and noes were cullcd for, and
| the motion to lay Oh the table was lost by a
| vote 60 to 81
Mr.. Richardson moved to postpone the
| bill Indefinitely, which was lost by vote of
| So to 44.
Mr.. Eckhard moved to postpone further
discussion of the matter until the next ses.
| sion.
Nir. Cooke moved to lay that motion on
! tho table Carried.
MIR. Simmons moved to mako it tho spe-
cial order for Tuesday week
Mr.. Aldrich moved to lay that motion on
the table Carried,
Mr.. Gonzalcs-I move to strike out tho
cnacting clause for different reasons Sec
. and 10 of tho constitution Of the State
prevents tho Interference with religious
| convictions by legislative enactment. With
tho religious convictions Of tho sect which
represent, we deem it preferable that our
people should enter the marriage relation
rather than live i'll concupisccncc. We
regard tho marriage relation moro sacred
than n moro civil contract. Pass this bill i.
and it will be blow to the religion ]
profess. From the discussion, it would
seem that the white people are rctrograding
and that this law is being passed to prevent
our progress.
Mr.. Dargau, Of Sumter, made the point
that the bill might be in conflict with the
constitution, and moved to recommit tho
bill to the judiciary Committee.
Mr. Murray argued chat the bill was not
in conflict with the constitution.
Gen MCGOWAN, chairman of the Commit,
tee on the Judiciary, said tho committee
had madc favorable report on the bill.
He was opposed to anything that would
lead to mixed races. That was an injury to
both races, and led to physical deterioration.
The question of the constitutionalty of this
bill was not mooted before tho committee
and as intelligent and thoughtful members
around him seriously mado tho question,
he hoped tho motion of bis friond from
Sumter to rocommit would prevail.
| Upon taking the vote, tho bill was
recommittcd to the judiciary Committee.
A bill providing licenso for trading iD
seed cotton was madc the special order of
the day for tomorrow at 2 O'Clock p. NJ.
The following reports wero agreed to-:
Claims Of w. D. Love & Co: disposition
made of moneys appropriated for tho pur--
chase of books for thcaSupreme Court libra.
ry $4,000.
a bill to prevent and punish the inter
marriage of races was recommitted to the
Committee on the judiciary.
The House adjourned to meet Tomorrow
at ] l O'Clock A. NJ.
COLUMBIA, December 10.-In tho Sem
ate, bill (IIouse) making provision for
certain committee clerks of tho General
Assembly; bill (House) to punish assault
or assault and battery with any fro arm
committed On streets or places of public
resort; bill (I1ouse) to Incorporate tho Nc.
chanics' Building and Loan Association, of
Spartanburg, were read tho third tmo,
passed and returned to tho House.
Bill (Houso) to amend an act entitled
"An act to authorize County Commissioners
to submit to tho qualified electors of their
several counties proposition to alter the
fence laws and to provide for calculating
tho same," passed to a third reading.
In the House, Mr. Hutson introduced
bill to quiet titles of parties holding real
estate by virtue of tox title.