The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-09-20
COL. ROBERT ALDRICH'S DRAFT
OF A NEW CONSTITUTION.

The following are the most striking
parts of the draft of the Constitution
submitted to the Convention by Col.
Robert Aldrich, which shows great
study and ability on his part rs Con.
stitutional lawyer:
Section 2. The House of Representatives
shall be composed Of members chosen by
ballot, every fourth year.
Section 3. Each county in the State shall
constitute one election district.
Section 4. No new county shall be formed
OF less than, and no existing county shall be
reduced below four hundred square miles.
Section Z. All taxes upon property, real or
personal, shall be laid upon the actual value
ot the property taxed as the same shall be
ascertained by an assessment made for the
purpose OF laying such tax. And the Legis-
iature shall have power to raise revenues
other ways than by taxes upon property.
Section IL. No person shall bs eligible to,
ortake or retain Il seat in, the House of Rep
resentatives unless he is white man who
hath attained ths age OF 81 years.
Section 13. No person shall be eligible to
or take or retain Il seat in the Senate nnlcss
he Is white man, who hath attained the age
OF II years.
Section Ia. The Legislature shall meet on
the second tuesday IN January, bi-annually.
Section %. The members OF the General
Assembly who shall meet under this Consti-
tuition shall be entitled TO receive out of tho
public treasury for their expenses during
their attendance on. going to and returning
from the General Assembly five dollars for
each days attendance and twenty cents for
every mile Of the ordinary route OF travel
between the residence of the member and
the capital or other place Of sitting of the
General Assembly, both going and returning.
and The same may be Increased or dimiu-
Ishcd by law ii circumstances shall require
but no alteration shall be made to take effect
during the existence Of the Gencial Assem-
by which shall make such alteration
M. hall
hold his Office for four years
Section 8. No person shall be eligible TO
the othc" Of Governor unless he shall have
attained the aS" of 80 years and hath beea
citizen ani resident oi this State for the Icu
years next preceding the day OF election
Section 10. the Governor shall be COM
mandcr-in-chief OF the army aud navy OF
this State, and of the militia, except when
they shall De called into the ac,ua! service 0i
the United States
See. H. The Governor, together with the
Secretary OF State, Comptroller Gen
era!. AdIutant and Inspector Genrr;li and
state Treasurer, shall constitute a board Of
public pardons, aud they under such reyula-
lions ;ts may be provided by law shall have
power to grant reprieVcS and parIOus after
conviction. except in cases Of imrearh-
m"nt.) i'll such manner, on such terms and
under such restrictions aS they shall ihink
proper. aud they shalt have power to rrmi.
lines and IorititUrcs unless otherwise direct
eu 10y law. 1t shall be their duty TO rcpor.
L. the General Assembly at the next regular
session thereafter all p;,r,.unS granted by
them. with u iGil statement 0! each ease au,.
the reasons moving them thrrcuuto
Section ~ lnr-c shall be elected by the
Tihililed voters Ci she state ut every general
election u Secreta.y OF State. Il Comptroller
General. "A Treasurer, Al Attorney General
an Adjutaut and Inspector General and n
superintendent oil Education who shall
Eold their respective Offices for the term OF
iour wears and whose duties and compensa-
tIUa shall be prescribed 10y law.
A. lc!c 8. Section /. The Judiciary mower
OF this State bal! be vested in Il Su,rems
Court. III two Circuit Courts, to-wit:
Court of Common Pleas having civil juris-
G!i!"h. and [ rrt Of General Sessions.
with criminal Iu:I- fiction only, and in Pro-
ate Courts. The General Assembly NAV
also establish such municipal and other in
ierior Courts us may be deemed nc, ,.ssary.
Section .. No person shall be ri..,ibl,. to
The office OF Judge OF the Supreme Court or
Circuit Courts who - not al the time OF his
election II citizen Of the United States and
has not attained the axe oi 30 ycrrs and
been resident oi this State for five years
ncXt preceding hi: election, or from the
&dortiOn oi this Constitution.
See ion IL. In all cases decided Nv the Su-
rt"mc CoHrt concurrence -! three Of the
Judges shall he necessary 10 = ,Ccisiuu
! Actlc." 1. In all elections 10 hc made by
the people OF this State. or o!auy part there
az. Tor civil or political Offices every person
shall be- entitled to vote who h3,. the follow
ing qualifications, to WI: .ir shall be a
free man Who mas attained the axe OF 81
years. ana II NOT laur|r. nor IA non-rOm-
! E.l-SiOr"t oitirrr ol ,tlNats Spiiirr 0f the
. ".ny. nor II H''amcn ar 'GarIE" >! iU- i,GYy OF
;ls Cn!tcd States. ii. Saii .@r the TWO
EcI:s E"Xt preceding ;hc day of election
! have been n citizen Ol this STAGE or !or lh-
! s%u" period aa e'ni grant from Eurrlr. who
has declared his iI:vHtlul TO become 4
! o.;igru OF the United State, a,rorliI., To the,
I Constitution and laws q! the United states
! Il" shall have resided in this state
! i"r At least two years next preceding
! ,Et day of election. and the the last
* months OF that time in the county
I III which hr oilers H. vote. and who can read
! a"i write in the English language: Pro-
! Y::"d. that an Act cf the Legislature derlur-
: In- any person OF sufficient intelligence to
! EXERCISE III" right o! suffrage shall be deem
, Ci III" equivalent Of ability To read and
/ write in the EnSlsh language: Provided
! further. that IN" General Assembly may, by
, requiring registry Of voters. or other
! sGitau.n legislation. guard against frauds
! in elections ahi usurpationS al the right of
suffrage. may Impose disquaIi iii"ation to vote
! a. punishment for crime, and may
= !.-r~'rit" additional qualifications for voters
/ in municipal elections.
Section !. All civil officers whose author
! ~ = .';i!t"! 10 a single judicial county a
~.Is," r...,il..n district or part of either shall
/ b." p;.",u;.. hold their Oilicr. be removed
! ir..u uh!r" and. in addition to liability 10
. 'mI"I hm"nt. may be punished for official
. Ia.,'ondcnt. in such manner as the General
Assembly. r:ovious to their appointment
Lay provide.
Section. , II nnv civil , III .,- ,hou d.,