Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-10-04
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CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
No More Divorce In this State-Discussing
the Suffrage.

the Suffrage.
TUESDAY-TWENTYS DAY.
The committee on the right of suf-
frage made a report consisting Of 15
sections. The most important provis-
ions of the report are as follows:
Every male citizen of the United
States, 81 years of age and upward,
who has resided in the State two years
and in the county one year, and who
is laboring under none of the disabili.
ties provided in the constitution, shall
be legal elector.
Electors must be registered once
every ten years. No man shall be
entitled to register unless he can read
and write any section of the constitu-
ton, or understand the same when it
is read to him, or can show that he
pays taxes on $500 worth of property.
After January, 1898, the understand
ing" clause is abolished, and all elec-
tors must he able 10 read and write or
must pay taxes on $500 worth of prop.
erty. Lost registration certificates
may be renewed. Any individual
who may be denied a registration GER
tifcate, shall have the right of appeal
to all the courts. Illegal and fraudu-
lent registration shall be punished by
law.
The following are disqualified as
voters: Persons convicted Of burg
larry, theft, arson, obtaining goods or
money under false pretenses, perjury,
forgery, robbery, bribery, adultery,
embezzlement, bigamy, or crimes
against the election laws, unless par
doned by the governor. Also among
the disqualified are idiots, insane per
sons, paupers supported at the public
expense, and persons confined in pub
lie prisons.
In all cases registration books shall
be closed at least 80 days before an
election, and at all general elections
each of the two parties that cast the
largest vote at the preceding election,
shall have equal representation on the
boards of managers and canvassers.
In municipal elections involving an
issue of bonds, all citizens who have
paid taxes on 5000 worth of property,
shall have the right to vote. No pow
er, civil or military, shall at any time
interfere to prevent the free exercise OF
the right of suffrage.
The first discussion of the day came
up on the divorce question. Mr.. Hen
derson wanted to allow divorces for
adultery and not to allow the guilty
parties to marry again. Mr.. Watson
was against the granting of divorces
for any cause. The discussion was
participated in by quite number of
members. Only few seemed to be
in favor of divorce even for adultery !;
but several wanted to recognize di-
vorces in other States. Senator Till
man was one Of these, and he made a
speech in favor of the proposition.
The convention would have nothing
of the kind. By vote Of Sc to 49, it
decreed that there shall never be any
divorce in this State, and all efforts to
recognize divorces granted in other
States were numerically showed un-
der. Messrs. Ashe, Brice and A. H.
White voted against divorce, and Mr..
Wilson voted for it. The vote Of 5.
f. White is not recorded.
Mr.. Ellerbe's resolution to take a
recess until January IA came up. Mr..
Ellerbe argued that the delegates had
already given three weeks of time to
the consideration Of the new constitu-
ton, and now he thought it fair that
they be allowed to take a recess in
order that they might have the oppor-
tunity to look after their own private
business at home. He also argued
that the delegates would be better
prepared for wise action after a recess
than they are now. The propositions
under consideration are new to most