The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-11-27
DIVORCES AEgoGNIzED

recognized 10 South Carolina. The
Convention on Friday adopted a
section that recognizes the legality Of
marriages contracted by parties who
have been divorced in other States.
The manper in which the Convention
was induced to adopt this section is' SO
strongly dramatic that we cannot re-
frain from quoting the accouh. OF the
incident as given in the Ne~s ana
Courier As usual Senator Tillman
was the central figure in the episode,
and we honestly believe that it vas
largely due TO Senator Gillman's acute
perception Of .he.value Of the dramatic
aud pathetic. and his masterly manip-
ulation of the materials ip bis control,
that the change Of mind was wrought
in the Convention. 1t is on such oc
casious as this that We recognize more
fully the real power and ability OF b.
R. Tillmsu. HIS mastery Of the Con-
yeption on this occasion was so thor
ough and complete and was so easily
and quietly accomplished that it com
nels admiration. The NeWs and
Courier repors reads as follows:
s.Senator Tillman said that he
wished to offer new section to the
article After it had been sent up
to ahe desk he said he only wished
to read letter on the matter, and
did not care to make speech and
when the amendment was read it
was found to be: :.
"Section "a. The Courts shall give
to divorces from the bond of matri-
mony heretofore or hereafter granted
bv the Courts of other States of the
Union the same force and effect i'll
this State as in the State where
granted Provided, that the marriage
ceremony was actually performed
outside of the limits of this State,
and there was one of the contracting
parties who was neither native OF
this State, nor at the time of the
ceremony citizen thereof
"Every one expected big fight,
for several days had already been
spent in the discussion of the divorce
matter, but Senator TillmaD lost no
time in reading the letter he had, and
it is surprising how the spark of sym
pathv shot through the Convention.
and carried a proposition without
protest that had previously been so
bitterly fought.
"Senator Tillmar said that the nat
ter had been dis 4ssed aud that
amendments on the same line had
been offered. but that he felt called
upon to read the letter and present
the case to the Convention. Senator
Tillman then read from the letter the
following:
"To the Hon. B. r Tillman and
Gentlemen ct the Convention Bear
with me for few moments ou the
subject of divorce. l do not ask
that you make it law in your state.
really believe the more difficult the
separation of man and wife abe more
happy and prosperous the country.
But | do ask, nay, beg, implore you,
for the sake of our indisspuble
Union, for the love we bear tow ards
our sister States, to recognize their
laws and to receive as worthy citl
zens the children Who are born here
tf divorced parents. You find them
living together here on your soil, and
vet bt and the children as bastards /
cannot believe you will allow such
folly to go uncorrected. Would yon
regard your marriage less sacred
than in any other State should you
be called there to reside? Yet here
no license is required, while in other
States marriage is not legal without
the permission Of the Conris. Let
me give you living picture: Almost
eight years ago | was married in
Maryland to man divorced i'll Geor.
gia came to live with him in
South Carolina, very ignorant of your
laws, but not until God gave me my
first baby few weeks ago, indeed,
not until the meeting OF the Conven-
ton, did | know the worst. | come
to you confident the remedy can be
successfully applied while your body
is assembled" )"
"Re said he preferred to withhold
the names. He added tha: he knew
the lady in question and she was re-
ceived in society among her neigh
bors and was really good woman
uor husband died within thf. last few