The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-04-08

reform commenced by the General
Assembly, aud to avoid the great
expense and excitement consequent
upon Convention of the people be-
ing called to amend the Consti-
tuition of the State, inasmuch as all
that was necessary could be accom-
plished by the General Assembly.
on the Sth of December, 1875, I
addressed a letter to such Of the Sem
ators and Representatives rs we're
then at the capital, stating to them
my belief that the Constitution of
this State might be amended so that
it should be as effective, honest
'aud economical a government after
the next election as that of any
State in the Union, and that
such needed reforms could be Sc
cured without the expense and ex-
citement consequent upon an elec.
ton for members of such a Conven-
tion, by the passage ofsuch measures
by the General Assembly and SUBJ
mitting them to the people for rati-
fcs.tion. I also cited some of the
changes which I thought our pecu-
liar condition and recent reforms in
other States particularly suggested
to every thoughtful man, being sub
stantially those embraced in the
platform I have recited in this ad-
dress. All of these Senators and
Representatives agreed in the main
with the propositions set forth by me,
and in favor Of the Republican Legis-
lature initiating such measures Of
reform as would secure the greatest
good to the people; and requested
that my letter and their answer be
communicated to the Republican
members of the General Assembly,
which I had done accordingly.
On November %, 1875, / intro
duced in the Senate a resolution
providing for the appointment of a
Committee to report to the Senate,
as soon as practicable, such resolu-
tions for amendment to the Consti-
tuition Of the State as, in their judg.
ment, should receive attention at
that session, which was Immediately
adopted.
On February 1st, 1875, as Chair
man of the Committee, I submitted
a Joint Resolution proposing certain
amendments 10 the State Constitu-
ton, which was finally adopted by
the Senate} February 10th, 1876, and
sent to the House. But, al
though the General Assembly con-
tinued in session for more than sixty
days thereafter, it was not acted
upon by the Judiciary Committee, to
whom this matter was referred, until
too late to secure its passage.
Unfortunately, a majority of this
Committee was engaged in the pros
ecution of Judge Moses before the
Senate; and, amid the excitementand
for want of time, the resolution
failed. The great satisfaction /
have, however, is that I made every
effort to discharge my duty, and
that if the resolution had been
adopted much good would have
resulted therefrom.
ILLICIT SALE OF LIQUORS.
The illicit sale of spirituous
liquors by wagons and through other
sources was tending to the demorali-
za.ion Of the people, particularly
young men, both white and colored,
and in many instances having an
injurious effect upon schools and
disturbing religious congregations in
the country. To remedy this, I in
troduced ga Bill to prevent the sale
Of spirituous liquors within one mile
of any church, school house or col
lege within this State" [See Senate
Journal, session 1S77-78, page ALL
The Bill as adopted excepts schools
and churches within incorporated
cities, towns and villages. At the
time of its introduction the illicit
sale Of whisky in the various Coun.
ties was injuring the interests of the
farmers in many neighborhoods, and
destroying the peaceful relations be-
tween the United States authorities
and numerous citizens of the State.
One object had in view was to pre-
vent, as far as possible, such sales in
the neighborhood of schools and
churches and at the same time ena.
BILE the State authqtities to assist the
United States government in putting
down the unlawful traffic in liquor,
and thereby bring about a better
understanding between the citizens
of the State and the officers of the
revenue department.. This Act re.
ceived the necessary readings in
both houses ard was approved by
Governor Hampton, March IS, 1878.
I also, as shown by Senate Jour
, nal, page As, session of 1S75-76, Of
fered the following resolution, which
was adopted:
"'Whereas the Internal Revenue DEPARTMENT