Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-12
T|LLMAN CALLED DOWN A Negro Tells Him of His Duty
 to His State. HIS DUTY TO HIS PEOPLE Of More Importance Than Monetary Con-
 sideration.
ME VERY LIVELY PROCEEDINGS
At the Constitutional Convention of the State of South Carolina-Ques- ton of Taking the Oath
 Brought Up.

Columbia, s. C., Sept. 1.-The consti- tutional convention began it's session this morning with another rush, and there have been lively proceedings. President Evans announced his standing commit tees at the opening. Senator Irby is chairman of the committee on declara- tion of right, and Senator Tillman is in charge of the committee on rights of suffrage, which means, of course, the re- porting of the Mississippi plan, with mod fications The minority has been given pretty fair representation on committees.
 P. Melton was appointed assistant sec retary. Other minor officers were also appointed. The state printer was re- quested by resolution to print the con vention proceedings at the legislative scale of prices until permanent arrange tnentS can be made.
 A resolution was adopted looking to the stenographic reporting of the pro ceedings and printing thereof.
 MT. Henderson of Aiken offered several new ordinances, one on suffrage and one on the matter of divorce, which were re- ferred.
 Attention was called to the fact that delegates had not taken the consttu- tional oath that they had not been sworn in, and for three quarters of an hour things. were lively In the extreme. The convention did not wish to take the oath provided in the old constitution, and a fight ensued Finally 1t was decided to do so, as it could do no harm.
 When four delegations had been sworn in and President Evans had taken the oath Senator Tillman made things mer- ry. He submitted that under the same constitution if he took that oath he would have to leave the convention nIo xxytf a11 l-Iz1 States offices. for the constitution dis tinctly said that no man holding a fed eral office could hold state office cannot take that oath.
 General Smalls, the old negro states man, took him up and plastered him well. He said the same question had arisen, he being state senator and United States congressman att the same time. He simply lost his pay while he acted as state senator. Maybe Tillman didn't wish to do that.
 After lively running discussion the convention referred the matter to the judiciary committee to report whether they should take the oath or not, and if so to prepare a suitable one. Recess was taken pending this report
 General SmallS told Senator Tillman during his speech that the worst thing that could happen to him would be the losing of his pay. Surely Tillman could
 
 would be losing $13 day from the gov ernment while he would get only $2 for serving his own people.
 The committee after the recess re- ported that the taking of the oath was not necessary. and the report was adopt ed. All matter in the record in regard to the oath was ordered stricken out.
 A long fight took place in regard to in- creaSing the per diem of the members from $2. a sfixed by the legislature ir the act calling the convention, to s4. The effort to increase failed.
 Numerous new ordinances were intro duced, one providing suffrage plan con taining the main features of the Mis- sissippi plan, with alternative property and other qualifications; another provid- ing a $2O00 property qualification in cities and towns; another providing for di- vorces for adultery upon conviction by a. jury; another for the reduction of the area of counties to 500 square miles, mak- ing the terms of county officials four years, establishing county courts and providing for the election of county Judges.