The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-09-17
THE LAWS OF THE PARTY.
The Democratic Constitution of South
Carolina, Adopted September, 1890.

The Democratic Constitution of South
Carolina, Adopted September, 1890.
Col. Irby offered the following constitution,
which was adopted without debate.
Article I. There shall be one or more Demo.
cratic clubs organized In each township or
ward, each OF which clubs shall have a dis
tinct title, "The-Democrntic Club" and shall
a recording and a corresponding secretary
and a treasurer, and shall have the following
working committees, OF not less than three
members each, VIZ; A committee on regis, s
other committees as to each club may seem
Art. II. The meetings of the clubs should be
some member of the club or invited speaker
deliver an address at each meeting. II pract-
icable
call an extra meeting of the club and one
fourth of the members shall constitute
quorum for the transaction of business.
Art. w. The clubs in each county shall be
held together and operate under the sontr9I 1tr2
consist of one member from each club, TO be
nominated by the respective clubs and elected
by the county convention, but these powers
with them the power to pass upon the elec-
tion OF member to the county convention,
or their qualification TO sit as members. for
this power belongs to the members. OF the
con vention through the appointment and
action OF committee on credential, whose
report shall be acted upon as to the members
of the convention may seem proper, The
executive committee, when elected, shall ap.
point Its own officers, and fill all vacancies
which may arise when the convention is not
In session. The tenure of the office OF the exc
cutive committee shall be until the first Mon
day in May OF each election year. at which
time the county conventions shall be called
together TO re-organiZe the party Every Presi-
dental election year these county conventions
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the national Democratic convention and to
elect the members Of the national Democrat.
ic executive committee from til Is state, and
such state convention shall exercise no other
power. This state convention shall be calld
by the state executive committee to meet
every Presidential election year on the third
Wednesday In May, and the state DEMOCRATIC
executive committee to meet on the third
Wednesday in September of each election
year.
Art. v. County Democratic conventions
shall be composed OF delegates elected by the
several local clubs, one delegate for every
twenty-five members, and one delegate for a
majority fraction thereof, with the right 10
each county convention 10 enlarge or dimin-
ish the representation according 10 cireum,
stances. The county conventions shall be
called together by the chairman OF the respec-
tive executive committees under such rules.
not inconsistent with this constitution, as
each county may adopt, and when assembled,
shall be called TO order by the chairman of the
executive committee, and the con nvention
shall proceed to nominate and elect from a.
mong It's members, president, one or more
vice.pi esldents, q secretary and treasurer.
The clubs recognized by the respective county
conventions which sent delegates TO the state
convention which met on the Aug. Is, l89O,
shall he recognized rs the only legal climbs,
provided however, that any county cnnvsn-
tion may permit the formation OF n new CLUB
or clubs by two thirds vote ofits mem mbers
provided. further that In oil cities with pop
ulation of five thousand and over. there may
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ganized I'm obedience TO this constitution as
are The clubs elsewhere In this state, and In
organizing said clubs they shall have reper-
sentHtion In the county conventions repec-
lively, as said convention shall declare In nc.
cordance with the provisions of this constitu-
tion.
Art. VI. The state nominating convention
for the nomination Of governor, lieutenant.
governor and other state officers in 1892, and
thereafter, and for electors for President and
Vice-President In the same year, and every
posed Of delegates from each county, in the
numerical proportion to which such county is
entitled In both branches OF the general as
sembly; said delegates are TO be chosen by
day in August OF each election year; the dele
gates elected to receive majority OF the
votes cast. at this election only white Dom
negros who voted for Gen. Hampton in 1876
and who have voted the Democratic ticket
continuously since may be allowed to vote.
The club rolls OF the party shall constitute
the registry list and shall be open to inspec-
ton by any member OF the party, and the
election under this clause shall be held and
regulated under the act OF general assembly
OF this state approved Dec. p, 1885, and any
subsequent net ofthe legislature OF this state.
Second primaries when necessary shall be
held two weeks after.
Art. VII. The officers of the state conven.
tlon shall be a president, one vice-presdent
from each congressional district, two secre-
taries and a treasurer.
Art. VIII. The state executive committee
shall be composed OF one member from each
county to be selected by the respective dele
CATION and elected by the convention. When
elected said executive committee shall choose
Its own officers; shall meet ut the call OF the
chairman or any hye members and at such
time and places as he or they may appoint.
The member Of the national Democratic exc.
cutiye committee from South Carolina shall
be elected by the May state convention In
when elected shall be ex.of.fcio member
OF the state executive committee. Vacancies
on said executive committee by death resign
alton or otherwise shall be filled be the res
pective county executive committees. The
state executive committees is charged with
the execution and direction of the policy of
the party In the state, subject to this const-
tuition, the principles, and declared In the
platform OF principles and such instructions
by resolutions or otherwise as state conven-
tion may from time to time adopt, and shall
continue In office for two years from the time
of election or until the assembling of the
state nom mating convention which meets
In september OF each election year. If any
vacancy occur on the state ticket or for elec-
tors, by death. removal of other. cause, the
committee shall have the power to fill the
vacancy by majority vote OF the whole COM
mittee.
Art: TX. When the state convention as
sembles 1t shall be called 10 order by the
chairman or the state executive committee,
n temporary president shall be nominated and
elected by the convention; and after Its Or
ganizatlon the convention shall proceed i'm
meaiateiy 9nn1I ely 70 the election Of permanent Of
When the business has heen concluded II
shall adjourn sine die.
Art. x. There shall be primary election
In each congressional district in this stute
on the last Tuesday in August, 1892 and every
two years thereafter to nominate candidates
FOR congress. TO be conducted and managed,
as is hereinoefore provided in the election OF
delegates to the state convention. The vote
TO be received, tabulated and announced by
the state executive committee, to the chair
man OF whom the result is to be transmitted
drst Tuesday in September, 1892, and every
two years thereafter. The election for solic-
itors Of the different circuit shall be by pri-
mary, subject to the same rules and regnla-
tions.and TO be announced In the same way
as before set forth for congressman.
Art X1. Before the election in 1892 and
each election year thereafter. the state Dem
to all candidates for state offices to address
the people Of the different counties of the
state, fixing the dates for the meetings. and
also inviting the candidates for congress and
for solicitor In their respective districts and
circuits to be present and address the people.
At such meetings only the candidates above
set forth shall be allowed to speak.
Art, MI. 1t shall be the duty of ach coun-
~ executive committee to appoint meetings
In their respective counties to be addressed BY
the candidates for the general assembly and
for the different county offices, all OF whom
including trial Justices, shall be elected by
primary on the last Tuesday in August or