The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-11-10
A Constitutional Convention.

Since the result OF the Presidential election
has become known quite a number OF our
people have expressed the desire for the Leg
islature Of South Carolina to order a Constitu-
tional Convention. Some want the Constitu-
ton overhaulcd on general principles for the
reason that 1t was the work Of the Republi
cans; some want to do away with the home
stead exemptions; some propose 10 econo-
mize on the school tax which is now levied In
accordance with the requirements OF the Con-
stitution; some would like to see the Office Of
Auditor, Treasurer, County Commissioner and
School Commissioner abolished. and one Off.
Ger chosen TO discharge the duties Of the sew
erai officers at II figure much below that now
paid to my one Of the above named officers;
& majority desire TO have the term OF office ex-
tended to all officers OF the State and county
to four years; and nearly everybody seems
anxious to have the time Of holding State
elections changed TO some other day than that
on which the Federal elections are held. AS
far as we have been able to ascertain we be-
lieve that a majority Of our people at the first
impulse would say that a Constitutional Con-
vention Is needed, but we are sure that the
sober second thought will make them
almost n unit against any such move.
We oppose the proposed Constitutional Con-
vention for many reasons and have never
been able to see any good reason for calling II.
We object to IT.
Because, the present Constitution Is q good
one, and no doubt q better one than the pro-
posed new one would be;
Because, II the people want to change any
part OF the Constitution they can do 1t by
amendment, as cheaply and as easily MS was
the recent change in the Homestead cxemp-
lions effected;
Because, the frequent alteration OF our laws
has already had a very demoralizing effect
upon our people. AS a rule the Legislature
has altered some OF our important laws every
year, and the Supreme Court has had no diff
Guilty in constituting many OF them to mean
something else than was intended, orto mean
nothing at all,
Because, our citizens a spent q great
deal Of time md money to get the Supreme
Court decisions as TO the meaning Of various
sections OF the Constitution itself, and the
number OF law that 1t has been necessary to
obtain their meaning from the Court, is
great;
Because, II a new Constitution is adopted all
these decisions which cost so much will go for
nothing. and ~litigants will be compelled to
undergo this great expense a second time;
Because, we believe 1t impossible to elect
able and learned jurlsts TO such a Conven.
tIon. The farmers OF the country In the past
have imagined that they could frame better
laws than lawyers could. and We have no
doubt that they would come to the same con-
cluslon as to delegates to the Constitutional
Convention, and would elect the same class
of men to a Convention that they have here
tofore elected to the Legislature. We oil
know how many efforts and how many years
1t has required to get the Savannah Valley
and the Greenwood and Augusta Railroad SO
chartered MS to enable these companies to col.
lect taxesby force Of law for the construction
OF these roads. II they cannot at the first and
second efforts pass a simple law like this,
which the courts will not "go through" we
would like TO know what progress such men
in Convention assembled would make in
framing q Constitution;
Because, q Constitution which would do
away with the Homestead would and should
be promptly and decisively defeated by the
votes OF the people;
Because, a Constitution which would abol.
ish and r%eorganize the county government
would be defeated by the people;
Because, any Constitution which did not re-
quire the levying OF the school tax, would be
overwhelmingly defeated BY the votes Of both
white and black;
Because. to hold a State Convention, would
cost the State q hundred thousand dollars,
and that Convention would only frame a Con-
s.itution which the people would reject. or In
case 1t was accepted, it would cost much
more TO have tho Supreme Court inter-
pref its meaning;
Because, we nave had enough Of politics 10
last us for q long time. We need rest from po-
litical excitement, in order that we may de-
vote our time and attention to the ordinary
pursuits Of life. The negro and the white
man should be allowed time to provide the
necessary comforts OF life for their respective
households;
Because, 1t is better to benr the Ills We have,
than give way to childish fears, and yield TO
that spirit Of unrest which Is as unstable Us
water.