The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-08-09

tue Of recognition Of the justice of the laws,
and restore peace and quiet where discomfort
asw reigns and, Rs preliminary to o change Of
these laws, we invoke his Excellency, L. B
Hayes, President Of the United States, to extend
amnesty unto all persons in this State who have
violated them.
Resoiced. That this Convention commends
with eptire appreciation the course which has
been pursued in the late session Of Congress by
our distinguished State senator, the Hon. Nj. c.
Butler, as well rs by his Democratic colleagues,
the Hon. ID. Wyatt Aiken and'ihe li9u. j. IL.
Evins, in the House of Representatives, and
the State now calls upon them IN their respect
i've spheres Of duty to exert their influence and
ability to effect the desired modification OF the
excise laws, and secure for people the relief
which is so much needed and sought for.
All of which is respectfully submitted, and
signed by the committee.
The platform, as presented by the committee,
was adopted without opposition or debate, and
the only controversy upon the report arose on
| the recommendation of the committee to lay OH
the table the resolutions offered by Mr.. Tilnan
in relation to the calling Of a Constitutional
Cons cution, and 10y Hon. D. w. Aiken i'll rela-
ton to war claims.
Mr. Tlilnan's resolutions were follows:
Whereas, the present Constitution OF South
Carolina beside being the odious handiwork of
| fools, knavcs, aliens and bayonets, is not only
i'll adapted To the circumstances and needs Of
cur people, climate and pursuits, but is also too
cumbersome and expensive for small, thinly
settled and impoverished State ; therefore, be ii
resolved:
| lst. That the next General Assembly should
pass an act submitting to the qualified voters of
| the State the question of convention or "No
| Convention TO frame u new Constitution suit
| able TO wants and means.
I'd. That when said Constitutional Conven-
| ton shall assemble it should by an enabling
dinance, rs nearly practicable, respect the
vested rights of all public officers by continuing
them in their respective Offices for the time dur
| ing which each may have been elected TO serve.
Mr. Tillman supported his resolution in an
eloquent and fiery speech, the conclusions Of
| which were that the people Of South Carolina
never could be entirely free and discnthralled
till they had thrown Off the miserable Coustitu
| ton fastened upon them by bayoncts and car
pet-baggcrs. lie held the State Of Georgia up
| as the highest example to follow and urged that
| rs Georgia hadSlone South Carolina should re-
| organize her Constitution, requiring the presen-
| taton Of n poll tax receipt to enable persons to
| vote. The resolutions were tabled by n large
majority.
Col. Aikcn's resolutions were rs follows:
Whereas, the political status of every citizen
of tbs. South IdNSipx<hss '~xr'of the rebellion
q 10 callcd) was we'll known and Enthusiastically
| defined either US Confederate or Federal sym
| pathizer; and whereas no Confederate would,
under the law, be recognized in appeal to the
| general government for reimbursement of losses
Individually sustained during the war; there
| fore,
Resolucd, That all those claims presented to
| Congress by post beHum loyalists, and known as
"Souih hcrn claims" are primo fdcic of doubt
ful validity, and should only be approved after
being subecte to the closest scrutiny and most
| critical examination.
RcsoiDcd, That in the opinion of The Demo-
Gratis of South Carolina Southern war claims
are not subjects for Congressional lcgslat ion,
but should be referred TO some tribunal eStab-
lished and authorized to give them final adjudi
cation.
The debate on this resolution was participat cd
in by Col Aiken and Mcssrs. Castor, Tillman]
and ~ II. Cooke for the ic>ui,iifC. --,.'!;uel
Dibblc and Col. Evins against il in its present
| shape. By those tavOring the resolution il was
| held that its passage was necessary in order to
set the South right and to counteract the terrible
agitatons raised over this question at the North,
where so much political capital has been and is
| being made at the expense of the Democratic
| party. Those opposing held that its passage
was not necessary, and would be miSconstrueh
| On motion of the Hon. H. III. Cooke, the rcsou-
| ton was tabled.
| In relation TO the endorsement of the course
Of Senator Butler, and Representatives Aiken
and Evns in Congress, Gen. Darlington moved
to amend by the substitution of the following ::
Their whole course on this subject" lie said
he could not endorse their course on all matters
Hon. NJ. i. o O'Connor spoke against the amend
mcnt, and Gen. Garliagton's motion was tabled
Gen. \. G. Darlington then introduced the fol-
| lowing resolutions:
| RcsoIrcd, That this Convention, having full
| confidence in the ability, honesty and fidelity
| of his Excclcncy Governor Wade Hampton, and
| Lieutenant Governor Simpson, Attorney Cen
cral Leroy +. Ioumaus, Secretary of State r.
| NJ Sims, Comptroller General johnson iiagood,
| State Treasurer ). l.. I.enphar, State Superin-
tendcnt Of Education Hugh $. Thompson and
Adiutant and Inspector General f. W. Noise, in
| the administration of the different departments
| of the government, does hereby rcnominaie his
| Excellcncy and the said State officers candi.
dates for their respss.itYlG 4tTem rcoplo
II Carolina for their hs. ~ and unIfvt1cd
~ '' ''|'
II is needless to say that these resolutions
were adopted unanimously, amidst the widest