Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-10-13
STATE AID FOR CHARLESTON.

Inc QueSClOn having Deeu ulSCuSoeu VI Vic
expediency and propriety of the Governor
convening the Legislature in extra session
for the purpose of submitting to the people
an amendment to the constitution, to be
voted on at the ensuing State election, pro-
viding State relief for the Charleston suf-
ferers by the earthquake, the Columbia
Register of Saturday discusses the question
as follows:
In order that injustice may not be done
Governor Sheppard as having willfully re-
fused to call an extra session OF the Assem-
bly, for the purpose of amending the State
Constitution so as to permit the granting
aid for the rebuilding of ruined property
in Charleston and Summerville, it is but
proper that the Register should explain the
Governors position. 1t is over five weeks
since the disastrous Tuesday night when
Charleston and Summerville were laid in
ruins. From that time to the present no
assemblage of the people of Charleston has
been had asking State aid, nor has the City
Council or Mayor sought such aid.
Along with this, it is known by the Gov
ernor that the Charleston delegation in the
Assembly are adverse to the proposition CT
an extra session, and there is besides this
good ground for the belief that the people of
Charleston are largely opposed to asking aid
from the State.
Besides all this, with the exception of Mr..
Brawley, no member of the Assembly from
any part of the State has expressed will
ingness for call Of an extra session, whilst
not few have expressed themselves as de-
cidedly averse to such call.
The Governor, under all these circum-
stances, does not feel justified in calling the
Legislature together.
In addition to all this, owing to certain
decisions ofthe Supreme Court ofthe United
States constituting the provisions of the
Fourteenth amendment of the Federal Con-
stitution, viz: "Nor shall any State deprive
any person of life, liberty or property with
out due process of law" as forbidding just
such action on the part of a Legislature as
would be involved in granting aid, either
by bonds, endorsement or otherwise, for the
rebuilding or repair of private property, it
is not seen how an amendment to the State
Constitution if the people should consent to
the same, would cure the difficulty. There
would still remain the provision of the
Federal Constitution, and the construction
of the same by the Supreme Court of the
United States forbidding the contemplated
legislation, just as effectually as is now
done by our State Constitution and the de-
cision of our own Supreme Court. We
position should be fairly understood in this
matter by the people of the State.
THE PEABODY SCHOOL FUND.-At the
meeting in New York on Wednesday last
of the trustees of the Peabody Fund the
following executive committee was appoint
ed: A. II. II. Stuart, w. M. Evarts, Chief
Justice Waite, eX-President Hayes, James
d. Porter and Chairman Winthrop.
A resolution was adopted to increase the
allotment to the State of South Carolina in
view of the devastation caused by the earth
quakes. The amount will probably be fixed
at $4,000.
In hisannual address, President Winthrop
said the reduction Of interest had diminish
ed the income realized from the bonds left
by Mr.. Peabody. He congratulated the
trustees on their twenty years successful
work. and called attention to the necessity
of securing national aid for education. He
alluded to the illiteracy among the negroes
of the South, and said that education would
make them better and stop frauds. Refer
ring to South Carolina he said not one
of the Southern States had made greater or
more successful efforts in the cause of edu-
cation. She now needed assistance, owing
to the terrible devastation caused by the
recent earthquake.
The income of the fund for the year
amounted to s62,365, of which South Caro-
lima received s5, 900.
Union Times: The trial of the State VS..
w. +. Ray, G. w. Fowler and II. A. May,
for murder, took up nearly the whole of
Wednesday last. Conclusive evidence
showed that the killing of the deceased was
purely unintentional, or without malice on
the part of the prisoners. The jury was out
fifteen minutes and brought in verdict of
not guilty. The verdict was fully expected
by all who heard the evidence or knew the
nature of the case, and the verdict was con-
sidered lust one.