The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-09-19

alarms, and q reading clerk, each u
be elected by u viva voce vote. 1h''
resolution was adopted.
Mr.. A. III. Patterson, or Barnweii
took the floor, saying that ne tooR
great pleasure in placing In NOMINATION
the name Of his excellency, Gov. JONI
Gary Evans. Though young In years
Gov. Evans was most peculiarly tttet
for the position. His Six years eX
nerience In both the upper and lower
house of the General Assembly gave
him particular qualifications for pre-
siding over the deliberations Of this
Important body. He referred also to
Gov. Evans as the father of The bill
providing for the calling of the con-
vention, and said that no man deserved
more credit than did he for the calling
of this convention. He had champion
ed the convention on the stump, and
had fought for it from first 20 last
Congressman Talbcrt said that he
desired on the part OF the Edgcheld
delegation, to second the nomination
Of Gov. Evans, who WAS eminentiy
fitted to discharge the duties of presid-
ing officer. j. Walter Gray, of Green
vile, also seconded the nomination.
On motion of Mr.. McCown, OF
Florence, it was decided to elect the
president by acclamation. A rising
vote was taken, and every one so far
as could be seen stood up save the
colored delegates. When the call was
made for those opposed to Gov. Evans
election to stand, the famed old
"Gullah Statesman" Robert Smalls,
slowly rose in his seat and stood look
ing unconcernedly around him for q
| few moments, much to the amusement
of the delegates and the spectators.
| Evans was declared elected with q
single exception unanimously.
A committee Of three, consisting OF
Congressman Talbert, Speaker Jones
and Mr.. a. II. Patterson, was appoint
ed to acquaint Gov. Evans with his
election and conduct him to the chair.
The convention proceeded with the
permanent organization. Stanyarne
| Wilson nominated w. Jasper Talbert
and Ira B. Jones for vice presidents,
and they we're unanimously elected.
Mr.. Wharton nominated S. w.
Vance, Of Laurens, for clerk, and he
was elected by acclumation. MIR. N.
II. Stansell. of Barnwell, was chosen
sergeant-at-arms.
The special committee to escort
Governor Evans, the newly elected
president Of the convention, returned
ut this time, and the convention rose
| 10 receive the president.
GOV. EVANS ADDRESS.
In assuming the chai.', Gov. Evans
j made an address, in which he outlined
somo changes that he thought would
be wise in our government. He spoke
substantially rs follows:
Gcntlemen of the Convention: |
thank you for the honor conferred upon
me by electing me to preside over
| F.
! ferent forms Of government, u monar-
chical, despOtic and republican, you re-
present here today the sovereign power
Of the republic. TO be called upon,
then, to preside over the sovereig gnty
OF South Carolina is indeed an honor of
which any man can feel proud. shall
not review the past history of our con-
ventions. That has already been ably
done by our temporary chairman. 1t
only sutliccs for me to say that this is
the first time in the history of your
represented directly by the people,
elected by the power of the ballot
fairly and honestly used. Your re-
| sponsibility is indeed great. They
have delegated to you that sovereignty
which is supreme, which can only be
reversed by the same methods here
employed. feel that | shall give to
you, and you will pardon me, my views
as to some Of the measures which in my
Judgment you should handle. do this
because naturally as your presiding
officer, | will be excluded from having
q voice in your deliberations. feel
that should call your attention to the
executive department.. You are to say
what power your executive shall have;
what power you are to delegate to him.
That power should be we'll guarded it
should be restricted. Safeguards
should be thrown about him. We do
not desire a monarchy, nor do we de-
sire u despotism. Be careful and throw
I every safeguard around this power.
Our present constitution was not
tercst of the whole people of the State
at heart, nor was it framed by the in
telligence OF the State. | would here
| locaIl to your mind the prophetic
words of Gov. Orr on tho floor OF that
convention that no constitution not
constructed by the intelligence of the
State could endure. We have come
here to blot out that constitution and
make q constitution that will pcrpc-
tuate the rule Of intelligence. We
arc not against any class of citiZ sns.
We are here to sustain the republic.
Virtue and patriotism is what sustains
any government.
The happiest people are the best
educated people. Therefore, you
should kpreservo your educational in.
stitutions and see that the masses are
given the benefit of every educational
advantage.
! There is no way at present for the
executive to remove or suspend dis
honest or defaulting officials The con-
stitution should provide for the re-
moval of such officials, or at least for
their suspension by the governor till
their cases can be investigated Spec
ify the oifense and provide the punish
| ment.
AS to the Legislative department it
is not necessary for me to go far into
that for see Legislators here. The
Legislature has entirely too many cleo
lions.
1t is an unwritten law that it must ad-
journ at Christmas. The terms should
be annual, as they are now. All the
elections should be put in the hands Of
the people. No Legislature can do
mnch with making law. when the