The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-09-18

may learn 8 lesson IrOHl IL. 1He Juu'
ciary should be well guarded. Se'
that it is placed on so high a pinnacl
that it will remain spotless so no ont
can dishonor or disgrace it. 1t seem
to me that it would be best for the peo
pie to elect the judges. This ha
proved a blessing in majority o
cases where it has been tried.
As our county courts are at presen
constituted they are almost farce
They are expensive and fail to NEE
the requirements of the people. Witt
counties large enough to support then
(and counties should not be too small
monthly county courts with juridic
ton to send convicts directly to tn
chain-gang would give justice and a
the same time as good roads as cal
be found in the world.
The question of education is th'
most serious one to deal with. 1t is o
more importance than the suffrage, be
cause by education our best citizen
are obtained. The beginning OF a cltl
zen is made at home but after h'
leaves it for the school, the SC hoolmas
ter becomes the most important per
sonage in the government. The hap
piest people are those educated. Sci
that to the masses is preserved th'
privilege of education. Higher educa
ton is asimportant as common school
One is part of the other. A common
school education makes demand fol
higher and it is your duty to supper
Institutions of higher learning. Sci
that no lights are put out. Rather set
that more are established. The grea
mass of the people will never quarre.
over taxation for education because
they know they will derive a dlrec
benefit.
There must be some educationa
qualification for the suffrage if white
supremacy is to be preserved. Only
intelligence must rule and it is no injus
tice to the black man to have such
qualification. We must do our duty
in this matter. Let not the censure o.
foreigners and aliens affect you in
performing this duty. You have ex
perienced what ignorant rule means
On this question there should be NJ
factional differences and he who doe:
not deprecate such is unworthy to
stand in this hall. Fix it as in youl
Judgment appears wisest, but fix it sc
that the blessings of white supremacy
may be enjoyed by your wives ane
children. Guard well the suffrage. i
is expected of you by the outside
world.
Some provision must be made tt
protect the people against the en-
croachments of corporate wealth
against plutocracy. Corporations in
South Carolina are becomiug power
full. Your laws offer special induc
ments for them to operate in the State
and while you owe duty tothem you
owe it to the people as we'll. The
people in our factories are not anarch
lists, socialists or foreigners. but are
native born. You should see to it thai
in their poverty they are not op
pressed. Whether special officer
should be appointed to look after this
is to be considered and think the
small salary he would be paid would
be fully compensated for by the good
he would accomplish.
Especially should some provisions be
made against corrupt influences ir
elections. In municipalities there il
generally corruption and dishonest
means used in elections. It is your
duty to see that municipalities have
as honest and fair elections as you
have in your State elections.
With these reflections I leave the
questions with you, asking your par
don for giving you my. opinions. !
give them to you as duty and no,
to influence you. Looking at the per
sonnel of the convention no man car
say the people have not acted wisely
in sending you. here. Almighty God
send you wisdom and imbue you with
Justice and moderation. Let youl
work 20 forth not as the work o1
a faction, but as coming from the
sovereignty of the State around which
all can unite and say "this is our con
stitution" and then you will receive the
"well done faithful servants" of the
whole people.
ORGANIZATION RESUMED.
The work of electing permanent Of
ficers was resumed end the following
were nominated for reading clerk: G.
Walt. Whitman, of Union; A. g.
Dagnall of Darlington and j. s
Withers of Chester. The three took
turns at reading portions of the pres
ent constitution. By viva voce vote
Mr.. Dagnan was elected, receiving "a
votes to Whitmans' IL and Withers' 81
Gov. Sheppard reported what the
special committee on committees had
agreed upon. 1t was to this effect
In order to expedite the business of the
convention the Presidents authorized
to appoint standing committees, con
sisting of eleven members each, on the
following subjects, and said commit
tees shall report to the convention on
matters referred to them: Declaration
of Rights; Legislative; Executive; Ju
dietary; Jurisprudence; Eminent Do
main; Impeachments; Right Of Suf
frage; Finance and Taxation; Educa
ton; Charitable and Penal Institu
tions; Municipalities and Police; Cor
porations; Militia; Printing; County
and County Governments; Amend.
ments to the Constitution; Engrosseo
Resolutions and Ordinances; Current
Accounts and Expenses; Mlscellane
Gus Matters, and, also, a committee or
rules to consist of five mem
bers, of which the President
shall be exofficio member. The re
port was adopted, and the following
committees appointed:
D--1-.ls1-S .f D.o.l&. M T.,