The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-10-31
shall demand for our sovereign voters.

oio1 uoulnpu lOL Jul bOfCloiRA SOtolos
The most effective argument used
against our old Constitution is that it
permits negroes to send their children
to white schools. Has any negro in
South Carolina ever dared to send his
children TO the came schools with white
pupils? No, aud that clause may stand
until Gabril blows his trumpet, and they
will not attempt to d. 1t, and neither do
the blacks desire to do 80.
But there is way to amend the Con.
stitution, and We can do tho work. too,
without any expense to the State. Let
our Legislature adopt such amendments
or charges as it sees proper, and then
submit them to the people for ratiaca-
tion at the ensuing general election.
This won't cost the taxpayers one dol
lar, and 1t will answer every purpose .
ola brand new Constitution. Georgia
has done this, and voted on two amend
ments last Wednesday.
And then, did 1t ever occur to the
voter that a now Constitution is q roy
ular gold mine for lawyers! Yet such
is assuredlY the case. When We change
our fundamental laws tho Supreme
Court must place a new Interpretation
upon tho same, and an endless amount
of expensive litigation 10 incurred. Aud
then all of this litigation must be paid
for out of tho pockets of tho farmer and
producer. We are surprised that any
clare-sighted lawyer should oppose tho
Constitutional Convention, for when he
defeats it be simply kills tho goose that
will lay him many golden eggs.
Tbs aboYe are our views in regard to
this proposed Constitutional Con.
vention. Personally, We shall not sup
port 1t since the Act docs not require q
submittaI of the work to tho people for
their action. Again, tho farmers are not
In financial condition to bear this heavy
and unnecessary expense; and then we
do not believe that q moro untavorable
time than now could be chosen for re-.
modelling our organic laws. Simply be.
cause tho proposition enansted from our
friends We were favorable to the scheme,
butin doubt. But tho past two days
We have studied tho old Constitution
and tho Act authorizing q vote on q
convention, and We capnet, with the
rights and liberty of our people at heart,
endorse any scheme that takes from tho
masses theIr dearest privilege and turns
it over to few men, Our readers will,
OF course, act upon their judgment. We
do not dssire to prejulcs them. O, the
other hand our columns are open to
anyone for tull and free discussion OF
this question, for We are anxious that
all tho light possible be throwa upon the
subj .ct. Give good reason why this
Convention should be hold. We are al.
ways opsn to q conviction, not being in
tho least welded to our opinions.
Reform means the will of tho people
and the rule of tho people. If there is
any "reform" in this proposition to
have one hundred and sixty men frame
Constitution, and then refuse to submit
it to the people to pass upon, csndor
compeis US to confess that We cannot
see it. In fact, it would bs tho very
worst species Of political despotism-
defraudlng tho voter of bis dearest right
anti privilege, and cor centrating power
IN the hands of the few. Even the old
deposed political rulers in South Carolina
never dared attempt anything - dss-
postlc.-Piedmont Headlight.