The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-07-04
They Rise to Explain.

THE CHARLESTON SENATOR'S GIVE THE HISTORY
OF THE CENSUS LEGI'LArIoN IN THE SENATE.
To the Editor of The Ncrs 0nd Courier
Captain TIllnan has on several occasions
seen fit to denouncs those members of the
State Senate who voted again. the census
and reapportonment bills. We have waited
10 sec whether any one, other than ourselves, |
would give the reason, for such action. We |
arc unwilling longer to have such reasons
uust,ted. especially in view of the recent
attack on that upright soldier and gentleman,
Judge Izlar, whose position necessarily fsrces
him to keep silence.
The facts are rs follows: The Gcneral
Statutes of the State contsined aud now con-
tanned the general provisions for taxing
| the census About two or three DAYS
before the close of the session oi
! 1854 bill came over from the House 10 inc
| Senate. amending in certain psrtieu ars tue
| general law, on the subject OF the census,
principally as to the rate per .caplta to. DC
| mid and in othcI minor points. While now
| ever, it left the duty on the Governor OF nav.
| ;uy an enumeration made, neither this bill
nor the general law appropriated amy money
to enable him to have the work done. Inc
bill therefore, us it passed the house was
incomplete aud would have etected no re-
| suit
IL
prohablc expense of n State census wouiu
amount TO some $1,000 or 100000. Tins
IVA. the estimate made by careful men, VINO
wcrc supposed to be i'll position to Know
Th, majority of tho Seniors. nearly all ot
whose counties were unaffected by the result
did not feel justified in putting upon inc
rcoolc this heavy expense. And aS 'hs
House. which was the body whose
t mcmbeship was in question. had not "eemea
il proper To- take the responsibility OF hiahine
Z the onrrorrntiun necessary for the WORK
, these Senators, acting on the Dill Se"' '"'"
y by the House. re cc,cd IT.
z Thc counties whose representation wouI'
q bc affected by the census were ABOUT eqna,'9
G divided. The very large majority OF ih'
Senators were entirely diSentcrested' as
IS did not affect their counties any way q.
e ,n,;,ri,v of these dSintcrcsted Senators v"t
l. eel AGAINST the bill. and by their votes 1t wa
IA defeated.
v In 1SS5 the amendment to the Constiu
rl ton was proposed allowing rcapPorhoh'h'"
g. on the basis of the United States census ,
'g 1900 and thereafter. This was adopted
cr the vote of every Senator present except ont
Mr. R,ynol,ls of Beaufort. 1t was pro
l. rosod and passed II. II hllhlment OF the II
T. uuircmcnt cf the Constitution providing 10
cd rcrprortionmcnt, but rs saving the ta1paye'
of the State the heavy expense OF taxing u
ON State. =,
d. At tho same Session, 1850. the llou
j. again sent over bill fer taking the ccns'
hc hv the State authorities. H", 40 the ""N""'
,n,nt 10 the Constitution had been pass
he nrovidiur the other method for respporti"
mont .. - measure of economy To the Sta'
set | tho Senate did not feel called on To pass u
he bill.
'ch There was another serious oolechoh'
,rd wit: Whether an extra session "t the Leg
ere lnture cou'd legally be called to reapporti
in time for the election in the fall OF ~!
at This had due consideration, But that WIN
III determined tho mattor was that hho'i
'tly method for reapportionmcnt had oseh
II II yided by which the taxpayers were say
'wn some 500, 900 OF 100000.
,ud T,o matter then came before tho peo
Is n of the State at the general election III IL
for whom this amendment was submitted for III
deci-ion. 1t was adopted by an overwhe
the in.. popular vote, The people OF tho ~
,ity thereby ratified and approved the action
uld the Legis 'nturc i'll substituting tins me
V To of r,oprinnmcnt, and saving them the hc
| for tax and expense Of taking the census by
State. And the people themselves he'
! ~ tins constitutional amendment como
lore The Senate. 1t was passed bv the
OF every Senator erccpt one.
IN iNS' and again in lSSS bills wero
'r'u"cta INTO tho Senate to reapportion
the basis of the census of 1850. Tbcso =,
-" opposed aS not being within the .cope of
Ii'' amendment, which provided that the f
~" feapror'Ionment should be made undsr
u W census OF 1880. There were also pracri
T "'i"''''l'S, as Tor instance with Chnrlest
"'' '0"n'y which had been divided since n
on census into Charleston and Bcrklcv ~
prevented any accurate or proper re,nn
ave mohmcnt on tho basis ofthe census in il,
"y inc senate, therefore, by decided maiori
'rk rejected the bills.
'eu ms ~ simplo statement ofthe case.
'ar DO not propose TO indulge in intempcr.ta 10
IN, g"agc or to he drawn into vi,uperatiop
Jm nS'rIu'ihati"n' We desire solely to give 4
y reasons which governed the Senate in
nd action. :"
-" AUGUSTINE T. SvYrmr,
., GE". LAME BrI~r,
81" senators from Chnrlrs,on r,r,,,