The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19
A HOT DEBATE.
IN THE SENATE OVER THE CONSTl-
TUTIOkAL CONVENTION.
Barnwen AS u Balm Agent and Sloan's
Soothing Syrup-The Election to be Held
In Marcel, and the Convention In July.

in March and the Convention In july
COLUMBIA, S. c., Dec. H. The Po,
litical bitterness of the past was thought
to be dead in the senate but 1t was re-
vived today with whoop and has
been the sensation in Columbia since.
The fact is that there were red not
times in the solemn precincts of this
dignifed body. The row arose over
an amendment to the constitutional
convention bill, which was special
order in the senate. The amendment
was by Senator Finley and was to
have the ballot boxes in full view OF
the public. Senator Wilson objected
to the amendment, saying that he did
not think there was a necessity for
changing the election laws. Elections
good enough for senators are good
enough for delegates to the constltu-
tional convention.
Senator Barnwell followed. He dis
claimed any intention of dividing the
senate on political lines. He was
conscious Of the honor of the men of
South Carolina, but he was deeply
concerned for the purity of the ballot.
He recognized need for an advance
on the line of election methods. II
hope" he said that the election for
delegates to the convention will be
conducted on a high plane, above
partizan considerations. The present
constitution was tainted from its birth
because it was not our own. The con-
stitutional convention is the most
momentous question that has confront
ed our people since the secession con-
vention assembled. hope our peo-
pie are actuated by as sublime an
enthusiasm as actuated the South Caro-
inians in 1860 our men marched
forth to a conflict in which twelve
thousand of the flower of our youth
were slain on the battle field" Mr..
Barnwel said he would not charge
fraud in the late election. He did not
believe the petitioner Pope) who made
bold to charge it received a majority
of the votes.
Senator Finley remarked that he
had no idea of exciting his friend from
Spartanburg Wilson) to the extent
that was shown by that Senator's re-
marks. He could assert that the re-
cent election in his neighborhood was
entirely fair, but he had heard of polls
where persons were carried separately
into room, and of complaints result
ing that everything was not as it
should be. He offered the amendment
in the interest of fairness, and to pre-
clude any possibility of the white. peo-
pie being charged with holding unfair
elections. There could be no valid OBJ
lection to this amendment. The Sena-
tor from Spartanburg spoke of it as a
fundamental change in the election
law, but if this was any change it was
not near so mtaerial as the provision
in the bill concerning the registration
law. The passage of this amendment
would stop all cavilling as to elections
not being fair.
Senator Mayfeld agreed with Mr..
Barnwell about having fair elections.
He characterized the amendment as be-
ing harmless in appearance, but, he
said, it would turn back the Govern
ment into the hands of the few, and by
the help of the negroes these few
would overturn white supremacy. He
implored the people to have fair cleo
tons, but this amendment would simp-
ly overwhelm the white people by the
votes of the ignorant. There is some
thing more than mere feeling in this
matter. We should see to it that no
body comes into these halls to con-
troll legislation that is brought here by
negro votes. 1t is very we'll to cry
peace. In 1890 the majority nominat-
ed Governor, but a handful Of peo-
pie, proclaiming themselves as the
brain and intelligence of the State, de-
clared that they would never submit
to that man being Governor. In a
convention of these people one day a
speaker arose and said: Nov, gentle
men, let us 90 home and tell these
misguided people that B. R. Tillman
shall never be Governor of South Car
olina." How could he prevent Till
mans nomination except by appealing
to the negro2 In 1892 there was an
other appeal. AS a majority we said
let us reason about this matter, but
the minority said no, nothing will do
us but that we shall control. 1t was
the same way in 1894. Petitions have
been filed challenging the election of
the Governor, and by this means q
gentleman who has been Senator and
who would like to remain Senator
hopes to bring about negro rule again
This is the peace offered US and is what
would be the result of the adoption of
this amendment. Mr.. Finley asked
Mr.. Mayfeld to explain how that
would come about. The latter con-
tented himself by saying that his side
did not intend to submit to being do
minated by negro rule.
Senator Barnweu arose and said
that he would only reply in few
words to some of the expressions which
had fallen from the Senator from Barn
we'll. Before he was nominated he
had declared he would not discuss po-
litics on the floor of the Senate and be
would not do so now. In some future
contest before the people he might be
pleased to discuss the record of the
Senator from Barnwen as compared
with his own, and the people could de-
eide between them, but the whole mat
ter was irrevelent here. With regard
to the attack which, it was said, had
been made upon the election laws by
the Senator from York, whose record,
be presumed, as a Reformer was as
good as the record of the Senator from
Barnwell, would like to quote what
was high authority, he presumed,
with the Senator from Barnwell and
the Senator from Spartanburg no less