The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-12-19
THE NEW STATE CONSTITUTION
A SUMMARY OF ITS PROVISIONS

"A SUMMARY OF ITS PROVISIONS
Some Of the More Important Changes
as Compared With the Old Con
stitution.
The now constitution Of South Caro-
lima, as adopted by the recent conven
tion, Is quite " lengthy document, and
would occupy too much space In our
columns, SO that brief synopsis with
the more important changes will prove
just as acceptable to q majority Of oul
readers, who would scarcely undertake
to read>tha entire constitution. This
synopsis has been carefully prepared
by the YorHYille Enquirer, and gives
all the cha gcs and notifications in
our organic law:
Article | is devoted to declaration
of rights. The provisions OF this arti-
Gle arc about the Same as in the old
constitution. Among other things, it
guarantees equality before the law,
uniformity - taxation, the right Of
trial by jury, liberty Of the press, free
and open elections, the privileges of
the writ of habeas corpus, and the pro-
hibitiou OF corporal punishment and
imprisonment for debt except in cases
of fraud.
Article relates to the right of suf
lidSS. NOUouS Is 10 DC hllOWCU 10
vote except. male citizens OF the State
and United States who arc 81 years of
age and over. They must have resid-
ed in the State two years, in the coun-
ty one year, and in the polling precinct
four months. They must also have
paid, six months before an election,
any poll tax that may have been due
and payable. Ministers and teachers
In active service are entitled to vote
after six months residence. when
otherwise qualified. All voters must
be registered, and the principal other
requirements for the securing of q
registration certificate is ability to
read the constitution of the State or
understand it when it is read. This
continues of force until January 1,
1898. After that time those who are
not otherwise disq lalifed will be re-
quired to be able to read and write, or
they must pay taxes on property to the
amount of 5000. All persons convicted
of any of the following crimes are
disqualified from being registered or
voting: Burglary, arson, obtaining
goods or money under false pretences,
perjury, forgery, robbery, bribery,
adultery, bigamy, wifebeatlng, house
breaking, receiving stolen goods,
breach of tru It with fraudulent intent,
fornication. sodomy, incest, assault
with intent to ravish, mscegenat on,
larceny or crimes against the election.
Article 3 relates TO the Legislative
department. This is to consist, as
hretofore, of house and senate. The
members OF the house are to be elected
every second year and the members
of Senate every fourth year. The
house is to consist of I2f members,
divided among the counties in proper
tion to population, and the Senate is to
consist Of one member from each coun-
ty. The time of holding tho sessions
of the General Assembly is fixed to
begin on the second Tuesday in January
of each year. For the first four
sessions, there is no limit as to the
sittings. After that time the mem
bers will not be entitled to compensa
tion for moro than 40 days. The
homestead law that will secure to
heads of families exemption from
attachment, levy and sale, real pro-
perty to the value Of $1,000, and per-
sonal property to the amount Of $500.
In addition to this those who are not
heads of families are to be entitled to
exemptions to the amount of 5000 in
necessary wearing apparel and tools Of
trade, etc. The marriage of a white
person to a person having more than
one-eighth Negro blood is null and
void, and no unmarried female who
has not attained the age of If years,
shall legally assent to sexual inter-
course. The General Assembly is not
allowed to enact local or special laws
In any case where q general law can
be made applicable. The General
Assembly is required to INIT the
number Of acres Of land that may be
owned by an alien, or corporations con-
trolled by aliens.
Article 4 relates to the executive.
1t does not show any important
changes from the old article on the
subject. The governors term of Office
is to be two years, and he Is TO be eli
giblo to reelection. No person, how
ever, is eligible to tho Office of COVER
nor who denies the existence Of a
Supreme Being. The governor has
the right to grant reprieves, pardons
and communications, and when he shall
deem IL desirable, call extra sessions
of the legislature. There is no change
in the names or duties Of the various
heads of departments provided for in
the old constitution.
Article relates to the judicial de-
partment The judicial power of the
State is to be vested in q Supreme
Court, Circuit Courts of general ses-
siOns and common pleas, and such
county, municipal and other courts as
the Legislature may deem it desirable
to establish. No county court can be
established except on the consent OF
a majority of the qualified voters of a
county and no court inferior to that
of the general sessions shall ever be
vested with jurisdiction to try cases OF
murder, manslaughter, rape, arson,
burglary, bribery, or perjury.
The Supreme Court shall consist OF
q chief Justice and three associate JUS.
tices, oil Of whom shall serve for torms
OF eight years. The concurrence OF
three Justices shall be required to re.
verse the Judgment of q court below
Where the justices arc equally
divided, the opinion of the court below "
must stand. In special cases, all tho
circuit judges may be called la to act
as associate Justices. An exception
must be made in the case of the iudge
who originally tried tho case unde,
consideration. If the full court IS
made up OF an even number, one of the
circuit Judges, to be CHI sen by lot
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