Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-05
A RECESS TAKEN.
The South Carolina Constitutional Convention
Has Adjourned Until October 5.
TiIlman interviewed.


till October 15 and the delegates are nowl
leaving the city on every train.
This morning the question of abolishing
the right of dover in this state was de
bated at length 1t was finally decided
by vote of SO to IS to retain the right
OF dover in the new constitution
The following important resolutions,
offered by Mr.. Patton, were Immediately
considered and adopted:
Resolved, That we, the delegates of the
people of South Carolina, assembled in
convention for the purpose of framing
the constitution for free and indepen-
dent people, extend our hearty sympathy
to the Cuban patriots now struggling for
the same rights.
Resolved (2). That we call upon the fed
eral government to recognize the Cubans
as belligerents so soon as the rules of in
ternational law shall permit
The following resolution looking to do
ing away with the session of the general
assembly this winter was offered by Mr.
Ellerbe, and will be acted upon when the
convention reassembles:
Resolved, That with a view to save the,
necessity and expenses of holding the APP
preaching session of the general assem-
bly,, 1t be referred to the committee on
finance and taxation and on legislative
department to frame and present for the,
consideration of this convention an ordi-
nance providing for such tax laws and
appropriation as may be necessary to
carry on the state and county govern
ment until the first session of the general
assembly to be held as provided for under
this constitution.
Nearly all the delegates have gone to
their homes, there being but few remain
ing in the city tonight.
Senator Tillman when asked at the de-
pot for statement of his views as to
the work of the convention thus far and
IN fln ftUf1y Co.. tI.n
ciated Press said:
THE body has eVinced determine ton
to closely examine and ScrutiniZe and
thoroughly analyze every measure pre-
sented, and to do nothing hastily, and,
therefore, 1 am satisfied the constitution
it will make will be durable instrument.
The convention has risen above factional
feeling altogether. The one predomi-
nant idea seems to be the future welfare
of the people of the state. and whatever
the convention does will be well done
l could not pretend to go into details
1 can only give it as my opinion that in
the future we will have better common
schools and absolute purity and fairness
in elections"
Ex-Congressman George D. Tillman
said that the convention reminded him
more of debating society of overgrown
school boys than anything else, talking
all the time and undoing tomorrow what
they do today. He did not care to talk
much about 1t. He said that so far as
that proviso saying amy negro blood"
was concerned, it would be an absolute
necessity to change that and make 1t
"one-eighth part negro blood" or havoc
would be played with property in South
Carolina. He says he will bring this mat
ter up on the third reading. Speaking of
womans suffrage, he said with wise
shake of his head. that there were many
advocates of woman's suffrage on the
floor of the convention, more than any
one thought of, and the adoption of
woman suffrage plank based on prop
erty qualification, was not such an i'm
possible thing as it was generally con-
coded to be. AS to the article of the
suffrage committee, he said that the plan
could not honestly accomplish the de-
sired result 1t was far from getting at
the disfranchisement of the negroes by
honest and fair means. A plan that has
occurred to him to do away with two
thirds of the negro vote without refusing
the ballot box to any negro complying
with the honest requirements, is to take
advantage of the migratory habits of the
negro. BY having township managers
and boards and requiring a voter to live
in the same township for two years to bel
eligible, two-thirds of the negroes would
be disfranchised honestly and no white
man would be hurt, for the white people
are chained to the land. He does not
think the convention will leave the ap-
pointment for commissioners and mana
gers of elections to the governor. What
they wanted was the government of the
people by the people. Who were better
to Judge of the qualifications of the vo-
ters than the people of townships where
In the voter resides This was local self
government. The scheme reported was
to perpetuate one man power
When asked for his views, Mr.. George
Johntowne, one of the leading conserva-
tive members, said: Il am pleased with
the conduct of the convention up to
this time. 1t has struck me as being
a body of really patriotic men, striv-
ing to do what they honestly believe
to be for the best interests of the state.
1t has struck me. from all the circum.
stances by which we are surrounded,
as being remarkably free from partisan
bias. and think this Is shown in the re-
suit of the deliberations. The articles
so far adopted, I think, will be found
free from reasonable objection. can
recall but one principle engrafted into
the constitution that 1 think open to
serious objections, and that is the one
granting to municipal corporations the
right to exempt manufacturing enter
prises from taxation. This l conceive to
be a vicious principle. A good portion of
the serious work of the convention re-
mains still to be done. The articles on
finance and taxation, on corporations
and the judiciary are all yet to be
considered. Of course. 1 cannot say
WUdl the dCtloH III TeSdTu 10 tHeH1 Will
be. but the convention has allowed the
first debate, which has been conducted
in candid manner free from passion
and from prejudice until this time.
Whenever vicious principles have been
pointed out they have, after debate, been
eliminated. and l cannot help but feel
that the same will be their conduct in
matters yet to be considered. AS yet
l have not had an opportunity to fully
consider the plan considered as to the
suffrage amendment, therefore / am aot
qualified to criticise 1t. The same is
the case as to the articles on finance and
taxation and on corporations.
This adjournment will give the men,
bers an opportunity to investigate these
matters, and look for great good as the
result of the recess. 1t would be idle to
attempt to predict the length of the ses-
sion after the recess, but am tempted to
imagine that there is a months work
still ahead. The opportunity to study
given by the recess may shorten 1t.
think 1t will probably have that effect
Congressman Talbert, the vice-presi-
dent of the convention, who has been pre-
siding some days said ne is disguised at
the idea of taking recess. They should
have worked day and night and stayed