The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-12-15
A LIVELY TIM f.
IN THE ROUSE OVER THE CONSTITU-
't TlONaL CONVENTION.

the Discussiun-Tn Bni I'apgCd to 81.
| Third Reading.
COLUMBIA, IS. g., Dec. 3.-Whcn
the House rcachcd The joint resolution
providing for the calling of constitu-
tional convention, Mr.. Bacot moved for
postponemont. The originator Of the
measure objected.
Mr. Bacot then Introduced the follow
ing resolution, which occasioncd the big
fight Of the day:
Provided, however, that no Consiltu.
ton formed or which may be formed by
such convention shall be biudiny or 90
into effect until it shall have been sub
mitted 10 the peoIl le Cf the State for
ratification and shall have been ratified
by the votes of the majority OF the quail.
he'd voters OF tic State voting upon
such 1ues ton.
In support of this Mr.. Bacot said that
the people should be heard directly at
the polls andnot through the mediun OF
representatives.
Mr.. Gary said that the amendment
was harmless, butUSele;s. The LcGisla.
ture had no right . control the action
OF convention.
Mr.. Moscs-Hasn't 1t been held by
the courts that a .onveption called bv
the Legislature, a: d wEeu that call is
limited, hns no 20; CT TO transcend that
call?
In answer to the question of Mr..
Moses. Represents i've Haskell said that
in The case of Ex .arte Hatch the vi.
preme Court held ,at a convention can
be limite d. The Ii eislature has no right
to limit The action Of a convention, but
the people have tht full right To limit the
action OF Ihelr repre- &C entatives.
MIR. Buis; said hat if it Mas under
taken to limit the action OF a consttu-
tional cOpven ton, it might as well be
said to tic Legisla ure. Thus far ou
shall go aud no lal Dher. This conven-
ton is called 10 do away with q consttu.
tion that Is rtpu2nant TO .he people OF
the Stale. / mcar the representative
people cf lhc Stale. TO rcsube1it it
would be to delay action to the injury OF
the State.
Mr.. Watts saw No use for the amend
ment. 1he people were gong to elect
representatives. who could take care Of
their interests.
Mr.. Haskell sale that in sense Mr..
Buist was hight, bit to carry out what
that gentleman sad TO It's legitimate
result would show that it Is wrous in
toto. The work OF this Legislature can
be corrected by a"Y succeeding Legis-
lature. The reces ity for that power is
shown cot ciUsvcl" by tive number of
acts that are epe led at each SESSION
and the number Of ws that are changed.
1t Is o good lesson 20 learn that all wis
dom does not began and end in one
Genel al Ass elnbiy
There is Ills diff renee: Once put IN
the organic law Of le State provision,
and it ls 81 matter {. years to correct it,
requiring a t"o,thi vote 80 chance IT,.
If one man over on,:-third stands against
the pirOposed chan e he can defeat the
Will ot'y.wO.thirds. For years have adj.
Vocated' the cell of constitutional con-
Ventlon, ana year after year it was de-
1ealed., and amendments have been put
IN unt'i the abboirent features of the
sonstiC.fti N Lave b, en- practically ellmi-
nated. rThcle is no reason to say that
we nave a carpet-hag constitution over
US. We haya the frame work, but the
substance, hex been amended by the
democratic party until it is practically
our own constitution.
The resolution offered is practically
the custom approved by ages. Itglves
the people chance for second sober
thought. know that the people will
send their best ulen to the convention,
but there iS chance that matters
thought at the time to be AooG may on
second thought be found the opposite.
don't think there is such hot haste
that we shCu!0 run he risk of not giving
the people a Chanc TO say whether or
not they agree th what has been
done.
Mr.. j. Il. Duncan--WNuld you be an
advocate OF CO nvcnti IN with this
amenCmcdt aGopte
Mr.. HASKELL would, with the pas.
sage OF certain an nGment that shall
send up.
Mr.. Duncan then vent to work, on the
incorrerct assumpti N that M. Haskell
was the author Ct the Bacot amend.
ment, to make Charges that Col. IIask> Ii
was trying to deies ) the bill. He aait
tkat The whole prog ANNE was 10 change
the bill 80 that the convention could not
be held. A uumbc, OF us. said he, know
the difficulty OF citing around Tie
shrewd planting such as the "col0nel"
has given us. Now, watch Mr.. Haskell!
AAN VoJo ShS NOitotitu lldS DCCl1 UCC
tored TO suit. 1t does not suit Us. FIT
is adopted the people will have the same
redress they have had since the war.
His purpose ip transparent. He dares
not fight a@ajrist TIE convention. lie
knows this Assembly has made up It's
mind 10 force the issue, but to divert
your attention he comes here with his
plausible scEtmcs, and then lc c,n 80
back to tic leopIe. like some ,cma-
sogues do, and say hat he has tried to
preserve your rights. | hope this body
will vote down anY amendment thai
comes jrCn 1Ils source.
MIR. WClic Oi ran9eburg then altered
INTO Lengthy diGcr sion about the need
OF cOnvt nllGn. lie said that the gen.
tlsman from r CHA d had as usual pos cA
as patriot, and III / he was simply try
ing to kill the bill by adding amen l.
me nts. lie and hls faction would ViIoy-
ously oppose this bill. All these amend.
ments were loop,hJles and sleighL.ol,
hand tricks. Mr.. Wolfe entered into
such an elaborate discussion coucerpinp