The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-12-13
THE cONvENTIoN,s work ENDS.
The New Constitution Now the LAW. A
Review OF Its Most Important
fpsr

Features.
After remaining in session for three
months, less one week, the constitu-
tional convention has at last completed
the work of framing new constitution
for the State of South Carolina and
has adjourned sine die. Seven MEM
bers of the convention voted against
the final adoption of the now organic
law. Mr.. Doyle voted with these
seven at first, but upon the completion
of the roll call had his vote changed
1t has taken long time and no end of
debate to construct the new organic
law, and consequently many radical
been made, the Ave most radical being
the regulation of the suffrage, with the
understanding" feature; the increase
in the school tax; the imposition of the
graduated income tax; the putting in
of the dispensary law regulations, and
the adoption of the anti-lynch law
section, which is the only provision of
the kind in any State constitution.
Then there is the increase of the
Supreme Court to four justices, and IN
endless number of other important
changes.
The convention was in sassion 30
\ long that it come to be considered al
most part OF the State government.
It is needless to say that good many
members seem to be much fatigued
and worn out, aud no doubt they will
be glad to get away to to their homes.
| The cost of framing the new constitu-
| tion has been greater than was expect
| ed. but that has been provided for and
| the people will scarcely complain.
Thus far very few opinions as to the
merits or demerits of the paper have
been expressed, but no doubt many of
its features will be heard from during
the coming state campaign.
The conventions members as
whole have stuck pretty close to their
work during the entire session and are
Thr .e members of the convention died
during the session. Wednesdays work
was purely of n routine character from
beginning to end, the committee on or
der, style and revision directing the
proceedings. This committee has done
its work in the most thorough manner.
The consideration of the committees
proposed amendments was completed
| Wednesday at exactly ! 3S p. M, and
after considering some res utions the
convention at = p. IN. took II recess ,ill
p. IN. to allow the committee to have
changes put in the enrolled copy. In
the afternoon the committee had all
these pages ready. They were adopt
ed after being carefully revised, and
then the constitution was adopted us II
whole. A recess was then taken till
1880 to allow the committee to arrange
the enrolled sheets in their proper or
der. In the interim Il mock conven-
ton was held and much sport indulged
in.
Vedp, sgregRiiigzhst, a. the the final SEES
constitution was ~ t+.avI1
I i.siLent Evnns signed tirstan.r,ca,.
Gen. Robert Smalls, one of the negro
members, refused to sign. The other
negroes were not in the hall. At two
minutes of 8 O'clock the constitution
was declared the organic law of the
State. The convention then went into
committee of the whole with Mr..
George Johnstone in the chair. Ap-
propriate resolutions wore adopted.
When President Evans again took the
chair, Mr.. Bellinger, on behalf of the
delegates, presented him with hand
some gold watch President Evans
then delivered his farewell address,
speaking as follows:
There are times, gentlemen, places
and circumstances. that bring the
hearts of men together, when the out
side chickering's, when dissensions, when
animosities are forgotten and hearts
~
beat for one body. I feel that this
convention, representing the sover-
eighty of South Carolina now rests in
that condition. 1t has been the cher
lshed hope Of the most of us that this
convention would be the means of
framing law around which South
Cnrollnlans could unite; around which
divided people could unite and bury
past differences and be brethren once
more. [ feel that that has been ac-
complished. We came here with some
misgivings. We came here some of us
mistrustiug one another. We came
here possibly thinking that some of us
In the heat of debate, in passion,
would inflict wounds that would never
be healed. L thank God that this has
not been the case. I thank God that
this body will adjourn, and I say it
from my own heart and believe I but
reflect the feelings and the sentiments
of every delegate upon this floor when
I say that when we leave here we leave
it with no heart-burnings-wit no
prejudices. We leave it united peo-
pie once more"
He then thanked the body for hon
oring him, and for the gift to him. He
then made the following appropriate
personal reference: "And now, gentle
men. let Inc assure you that before