Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-12-16
Columbia Corresp spondence.
COLUMBIA, S. c., December


Editors Of the Keopee Courier:
We promised to keep your readers posted as
to tho progress of Legislation during tho ses-
sion, and as it is my turn to report for your
next issue, Mr.. V. having written last week
though it seems from some cause you did not
receive it in timo for publication, will tako
up The thread Of proceedings whore ho left
OFT, and give you tho most important points
from that dpte To tho .on4e>sb po" vnunv
commission, to consist of threo on tho part Of
the House and two upon tho part Of tho
Senate, to consider and suggest amendments
to tho constitution Of tho State and to report
at the beginning of tho next session, had
boon made tho special order for o'clock P.
NJ. Monday, 9th instnnt ut which time it was
takcn up and passed tho second reading"
without opposition. Every one socms to
recognize tho necessity for amendments to
our fundamental law, but the question is just
where to begin and whore to ond. Some think
that an active change is demanded and will
involve Tho necessity Of calling State Con-
vention, while othcrs are Of opinion that the
present instrument can be so amended rs to
meet tho necessities of tho situation and be
adapted to tho spirit and genius Of our people.
In tho multitude of these conflicting views it
was thought best to appoint this commission
to consider tho whole mattcr and digcet q
plan and report fully when wo meet again.
I suggested that the matter DO referred ia
tho commission which is being created to
revise, digest and codify tho laws of the
State, and thus savo some additional expense
but il is said that tho constitution itself pro-
vidcs for tho oodifcation Of tho laws and tha
it might impair tho integrity Of that work tt
include with it n revision Of tho constitution
but besides tho commission would bo com.
posed entirely of lawyers, and that We woul,
need politicians to treat tho constitution o
tho State. did not SEQ the forco OF thi
reasoning, but nevertheless it was adopted.
A bill to provide for tho funding of Ger
tain bills of the Bank of the State and 70
, other purposes apportaining to the same, ha
been mado the special order of tho day 70
Tuesday Immediately aitor tho morning hou,
, and was taken up for consideration on Il,
second reading, and provoked long On
| interesting discussion, and motion to strik
o out Section was lost by vote Of yeas 4s
J, nays 62, and the bill was ordered to bo or
y crossed for q third reading. 1t was con
q tcndcdby tho advocates Of the measure thu
n these bills aro the legal obligations Of II
State and that in good faith thoy should
y paid in full; that thcro aro largo number
10 innocent holders of the bills in smull amour
:. throughout tho State, Of our own peopl
y who rendered them for taxes and who cou
not fund thom under tho Act hcretofo
o passed; that the speculators who had be-
81 81 the largo holders Of this paper had alrca'
=, funded at fifty ccnts in tho dollar, and til
81 tho small holders, our own people, the i
or payers Of tho State, ought not to DO denied t
ro equity, even after tho time limited by t
n Act had expired for funding; that tho St'
re is still liable upon these obligations and C
i'd and will be mado to pay them; that tho hol
g. ers thereof will combine and involve I
State in endless litigation and expense, n
of ultimately make her liable for tho face val
les of these bills: therefore wo say it is botter
ve extend the time, allow tho holders to fu
TO- them OF fifty cents on The dollar, avoid r
i'd of expense and ultimate liability for
nd value and prosorso tho credit Of tho Sta