The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-09-17

ability and research.
This was distinctively q day OF pre-
liminary work. The committees have
all beeu arranged and given clerks
so far as deemed advisable, and the
committees can hardly have any
excuse for not going promptly to work
The various measures give good idea
OF the sentiments of some of the dele
gates and the multitude of schemes ol
those who are here. One significant
and, perhaps, the most important move
OF the day, was the Introduction of the
two ordinances for the creation of new
counties. 1t is clearly shown that
Tillman and the friends of the new
county idea are going to make a fight
for the creation of certain new counties
by the convention, and not to leave
the matter so much to the discretion
OF the Legislature as it was thought
Senator Tillman will find considerable
opposition to doing anything about
new counties at this time except per-
haps to arrange for smaller counties.
The convention was again taken in
| charge by President Evans, who in
troduced the Rev. Mr.. Abney to offer
| the opening prayer. The old-time
motion to dispense with the reading
| of the journal was made with good
motives, but President Evans sug-
gested that it would be we'll not to
dispense with the reading on account
of the Importance of the work and the
necessity of having an absolutely cor
rect journal. The reading OF the Jour-
A variety of corrections were re-
quested, especially as to getting
straight on the So per diem vote.
Everyone wanted to have his initials
and name correctly spelled.
After the Journal had been COR
rected Ex-Governor Sheppard, who is
taking "a most active part in the pro-
ceedings, submitted the report of the
committee on rules. Governor Shep-
pard had gone to great trouble at
nome in his leisure moments to pre-
pare set OF rules for the government
of the body, and they were adopted by
Mr.. Sheppard, on the part of the COM
mittee, moved the immediate consid-
GRAFTON of the report.
Mr.. Ragsdale, OF Fairfield. said that
the convention had gone along smooth.
ly with its work thus far without
rules, and that he saw no occasion for
unnecessary hurry about the adoption
of the rules. 1t would be far better to
have the rules printed in order that
the members might better consider
what they were voting for. The con-
vention could very we'll afford to go
day longer without any fixed rules.
Mr.. Sheppard anticipated any
further discussion by accepting the
suggestion, and moving that the COM
mittee's report be made the special
order for tomorrow after the adoption
of the journal. This was entirely
satisfactory to all parties, and 80 the
rules went over until tomorrow.
The rules are quite explicit and de-
tailed, and so far as can be seen cover
every contingency.
The time was occupied mainly with
the introduction of various measures,
among them the draft of an entire con-
stitution by Col. Robert Aldrich, of
Barnwell. The following are the most
striking parts, and shows close study
on his part as constitutional lawyer ::
The House of Representatives shall
be composed of members chosen by
ballot, every fourth year.
Each county in the State shall con-
stitute one election district.
No new county shall be formed Of
less than, and no existing county shall
be reduced below four hundred square
miles.
All taxes upon property, real or per-
sonal, shall he laid upon the actual
value of the property taxed, as the
same shall be ascertained by an assess
ment made for the purpose of laying
such tax. And the Legislature shall
have power to raise revenues other
ways than by taxes upon property.
;YNo person shall be eligible to, or
take or retain seat in, the House of
Representative unless he is white
man, who hath attained the age of 81
years
No person shall be eligible to or take
or retain q seat in the Senate unless he
is a white man, who hath attained the
age of Il years.
The Legislature shall meet on the
second Tuesday in January, bi-annu.
ally.
The members of the General Assem-
bly, who shall meet under this constitu-
tion shall be entitled to receive out OF
the public treasury for their expenses
! during their attendance on, going to
| and returning from the General AS
sembly five dollars for each days at
| tendance and twenty cents for every
mile of the ordinary route of travel be.
| tween the residence of the member and
the capital or other place of sitting ol
the General Assembly, both going and
returning; and the same may be in
creased or diminished by law IL cir.
cumstances shall require, but no alter
alton shall be made to take effect dur
| ing the existence of the General AS
sembly which shall make such altera
tion.
The Governor shall hold his Office
for four years.
No person shall be eligible to the
office of Governor unless he shall have
attained the age of 30 years and hatf
been q citizen and resident of this State
for tho ten years next preceding the
day of election.
The Governor shall be commander
in-chief of the army and navy of thi
State, and of the militia, except whel
they shall be called into the actual ser
vice of the United States.
The Governor, together with tn,
Secretary Of State, Comptroller Gen
eral, Adjutant and Inspector Genera
and State Treasurer, shall constitute
board of public pardons, and they un
der such regulations as may be pro
vided by law shall have power to gran
reprieves and pardons after conviction
Except in cases OF impeachment Ii
such manner, on such terms, and un
der such restrictions as they shal
think proper, and they shall hav
power to remit fines and forfeiture
unless otherwise directed by law.
shall be their duty to report to tn
General Assembly at the next regula
session thereafter all pardons granite