Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-10-30
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Synopsis OF the Daily Work on the New
Fundamental Law.
ruJTPSnAT

The principal feature Of Thursdays
discussion was All elaboration OF George
D. TiIlman's proposed new system OF
township government. Mr.. Tillman
made a great speech on the subject.
He said he was in favor Uf local sci!
government and as much Of it as ht
could get. He was opposed to sys'
tenn in which all political power Is
vested in the higher officers. H,
thought that power should originate
with the people and be transmitted
upward, rather than originate with
the governor and be transmitted
downward. He wanted each township
10 he organized as body corporate
and governed by board of commits
sioners elected by the people, just as
in the case Of Incorporated towns.
Among the duties he would have
these officers to perform, would be
looking after schools, roads and
bridges, assessment of lakes, appoint
ment Of election managers, registra-
ton of voters, all under general laws.
Mr.. Stanyarne Wilson objected to
Mr.. Tillman's scheme on the ground
that the population and wealth OF
some of the counties were UNEQUAL to
the expense that would be involved.
1t might work all right in New Eng
land; but it was impractical in South
Carolina.
The discussion was continued for the
greater part of the day, ami al % a
part of the next. 1t was decided to
incorporate the townships as bodies
polite and leave the manner of their
government to the legislature. The
whole article on county government
WAS then adopted and "clinched." 1t
is published in full in this issue.
FRIDAY.
The county government question dis
posed of, the convention then took up
the report of the committee on the suf-
frage problem. The report provides
that up to January l, 1898, any male
citizen, over 81 years of age and not
otherwise disqualified on account of
disabilities named, shall be entitled to
register, if he can read and write any
section of the constitution, or under
stand it when it is read to him; or
owns and pays taxes on $500 worth OF
property, and can show that he has
paid all taxes due. After January l,
1898, he must be able to both read and
write, or own and pay taxes Oh $500
worth of property. In all cases, super
visors of registration and election offi
GERS to be appointed by the governor.
Tom Miller, the colored ex-congress-
man moved to strike out all the suffrage
plan, after the word "report," which
was the entire suffrage plan, as adopt
ed by the committee: and made a long,
and from his standpoint, good speech,
on the subject. He said that the plan,
although ostensibly aimed at the Negro,
was really aimed at the poor white
man as well. Senator TiIlman had
candidly admitted that the scheme was
only temporary at best, and that it
could only be made to operate so long
as those interested in carrying out its
intentions stuck together. Those little
ifs and ors are innocent enough now
but in less than six years this section
will he so construed that no man can
vote unless he can not only read and
write but also has $500 worth ofprop-
erty. A governor will be elected who
will turn the machinery over to the
wealthy, to the managers Of corporate
rights, to the goldbugs, to the whisky
trust, and we will have a spectacle like
this: The poor ignorant white man,
the poor educated white man, the poor
ignorant Negro, and the poor educated
Negro, will be nonentities in this gov
erment, with no voice to say who shall
rule, with no representation in the
legislative halls, and with no represen-
taliou in the courts. 1t will be turning
back the wheel of progress, and revo-
lu,ions should never go backward.
Miller called attention to the fact that
although there were Conservatives on
the suffrage committee they did not
present a minority report. The reason,
he said, was quite easy to comprehend.
The Conservatives saw that this ar
rangement would speedily give them
control of the State, and they did not
want anything better.
After Miller concluded, there was a
motion to table his amendment, which
was carried without word of protest.
Delegate Wigg, colored, offered as a
substitute for the committee report, a
complete article providing for univer-
sal suffrage. He made a speech in
favor of his substitute. The conven-
ton listened to him quite respectfully,
and when be concluded voted down
his substitute.
W. J. Whipper, another colored del
egate, offered a substitute providing
for straight educational qualification.
At his request the convention agreed
to adjourn until next day and hear his
speech. He was unable to talk Oh
account of a severe attack of asthma.
SATURDAY.
The feature of the day was the
speeches of w. j. Whipper and Bob
Smalls on the suffrage question. Both
speakers were listened to with close
attention; but neither is supposed to
have had any considerable influence
with the convention.
Whipper said that the convention