The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-09

most impressive speech in favor of
Mr.. Lowman's ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
divorce on any ground.
Mr.. Jervey, on behalf of the COM
mittee, proceeded to support the report
of the committee, which is the clause
now in the Constitution. If the con-
vention was going to take this matter
away from the legislature then he
wished to express his views. He wasa
strong advocate of a stringent divorce
law. The Biblical idea was that a
man could put away his wife, but no
redress was given to the woman. he
spoke for some time.
Mr.. w. G. MCGOWAN then made one
of the most thoroughly eloquent argu-
ments heard on any matter since the
convention assembled. Mr.. MCGOWAN
said that the only real argument made
egainst the scheme to have no divorce
was made by the gentleman from
Aiken. He said that this plan was
putting a premium on adultery. Ide.
ny that. Exactly the reverse is true. /"
Turn loose married women without
husbands in a community, with all
the liberties of a married woman and
with none of the restraints of the un-
married woman, and you would have
no end of adultery. Put this PROPOSE
ton to the people and you will be
showed under 40 to +. He was proud
to live in so unique State in respect
to the sanctity of the marriage law. If
this was sentiment, he, for one, was
willing to stand upon it. It was bet
ter for society at large that there should
be no divorce at all. Once let down
the bars and there is no telling where
it will end. His friend Farrow had
argued ably and well of the effect of
such prohibitory law on foreign d.
vorces, but that had nothing to do
with the, convention granting divorces.
Mr.. Houser knew he was only apig-
my among the giants. His voice was
very weak and he could scarcely be
heard as he proclaimed that he thank
ed God that South Carolina had always
stood out against a divorce law. He
went on to picture what dire results
would follow the introduction of di-
vorce law. He hoped that the conven-
ton would keep South Carolina on
her high plane.
Mr.. J. H. Montgomery said in accept
ing any one of the three propositions
they would be doing something Of mo.
mentions concern to their peODle If
they were going to do anything they
should do what would protect the State
from designing men. Their action in
giving married women all the rights
others had over their property was
taken because of the corrupting in
fuence of a wicked, debauched or
criminal husband. Sometimes he
thought "Oh, South Carolina what
crimes are committed in thy name!'
Mr.. Montgomery spoke at length on
the matter and presented many strong
measures why reasonable divorce
law should be passed. d.. :,
MIR. Sheppard made a powerful
speech; his main point being that as
Congress might legislate on the mat
ter, the hands of our lawmakers should
notbe tied by a prohibition in our own
Constitution.
Mr.. Hutson then took the floor
against any divorce law. He sum-
married. the many arguments made
and met them in a judicial way.
Mr.. Ragsdale said congress had no
right to pass any divorce law for all
the States. The sentiment of this
State was opposed 10 such law.
Mr., B. B. McWhite spoke earnestly
and forcibly in favor Of allowing di-.
vorces for one cause only-adultery.
Mr.. Won Kolnitz opposed granting
divorces in this State but favored the
recognition of those granted in other
States.
Mr.. Bowman then quoted what the
late DR.. James Furman and DR.. Lam
sing Burrows, two noted Baptist dl-
vines, had said about the construction
of the Biblical passage on the subject.
They were both against divorces.
Mr.. Patterson moved to lay the
amendment of Mr.. Henderson on the
table. The president ruled this out of
order.
The roll was then called, the vote be-
ing on the adoption of Mr.. Bowman's
amendment. The result was as fob
lows:
Yeas-Aldrich, Alexander, Ashe,
Austin, Barton, Bates, Behre, Berry,
Bobo, Bowman, Breazeale, Brice, Us. !;
Buist, Byrd, Cantey, Carver. Connor,
Cooper, Cunningham, Dent, Douglass,
Doyle, Dudley, Ellerbe, Floyd, Gary,
Gilland, Glenn, J. P; Gooding, Gray,
Gunter, Hamel, Harrison, Hay,
Haynsworth, Henry, Hers, Houser,
Howell, Hutson, Irby, johnson, 7. E. )!
Jones, Wilie,; Klugh, Lee, Lowman,
Lybrand, McCalla, McCown, McDer-
motto, MCGOWAN, Matthews, Meares,
Mitchell, Moore, Nathaps, OTIS, Par
Ter, Parrot, Patterson, Patton, Perritte,
Redfearn, Rowland, Russell, Sloan,
Smith, A. J .; Smith, jeremiah Smith,.
W. c.: Smith, R. f.; Smoak, Sprott,
Stokes, Stribling, Talbert, Tillman,
G.. D.; VonKolnitz, Waters, Watson,
Wells, Wharton, White, A. H.; Will
son, Stanyarne; Winkler-Total s6. S.
Nays-Atkinson, Barry, Bowen,
Brice, T. W.; Dennis, ID. j.; Evans,
W. D.; Farrow, Field, Fitch, Fraser,
Gage, Garris, Glenn, J. L.; Graham,
Hemphill, Henderson, D. s.; Hender-
son, William; Hodges, Jeryey, John
stone, Geo.. Keitt. Kennedy, -. j..
Kennedy, J. W.; McMakin, McWhite,
Miller, Montgomery, j. d. );
Montgomery, w. j.. Morrison, Mich
DeIo1a DnnI Ia1,,.