The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-11


COLUMBIA, Dec. 4.-Special: The
Convention reassembled last night, tc
hear the report of the committee on
"order, style and revision, and tc
ratify the new Constitution. The at
tendance of delegates was surprising,
ly large. The committees work had
been completed-and we'll done. Their
suggestions were made in clear and
systematic manner. :,
The convention first decided to adj
iourned sine die some time today.
Then the Constitution was taken up,
section by section. The amendments
offered by the committee (relatlng IN
almost every instance, TO forms OF ex'
pression) were, one by one, adopted.
In this way several articles were
disposed Of.
This afternoon thereading was COM
pleted. Then an aye and nay vote was
called for on the adoption OF the Con
stitution as whole.
The roll was called, being entered
upon at 4:10 p. m, and resulted as fol-
lows: 4,
Yeas-Gov. John Gary Evans, AL
drich, Alexander, Ashe, Atkinson, Aus
tin, Barry, Barton, Bellinger, Berry,
Bobo, Bowen, Bowman, bradham'
Breazeale, Brice, T. w., Bryan, BUST,
Burn, Cantey. Carver, Clayton, Con
nor. Delay, Dennis, Douglass, Doyle,
E6rd, Estridge, Ellerbe, Evans. w .
D.: Field. Fitch, Floyd, Fraser, Gage,
Gamble, Glenn, J. l. ; Glenn, j. P;
Gooding, Graham, Gray, Gunter,
Hamel, Harris, Harrison, Hay, Hayns-
worth, Hemphill, Henderson, D. s.;
HERS, Houser, Jervey, Johnson, L. =. ;
Johnstone, George; Jones, Ira B. ;
Keitt, Kennedy, E. j.; Kennedy, D..
w. Lee, Lowman, Lybrand, McCalla,
McCaslan, McCown, McDermotte, NC
Mahan, McMakin, McWhite, Mat
thews, Meares, Mitchell, Montgomery,
J. D.; Montgomery, w. j.; Moore,
Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nash, Ma
thans, Nicholson, Otis, Parrott, Peake,
Prince, Ragsdale, Redfearn, Rogers,
Rosborough, Rowland, Russell, Scar
borough, Sheppard, Shuler, Single
tary, Sigh, Sloan, Smith, A. j.;
Smith, R. F.; Smith, w. c.; Smoak,
Stackhouse, Stribling, Sullivan. Tay'
lor. Tillman, G.. D. Zimmerman, Won
Kolnitz, Waters, Wells, White, A; H.,
Virgins, Wilson, w. B.; Winkler,
Woodward-Total 116.
Nays-Anderson, Dudley, Miller,
Read, J: H.; Reed, I. R.; smalls'
Wipg-Total
Mr.. Dudley explained his nay vote
by saying that there were some feat
ures of the Constitution to which he
could not assent.
Mr.. J.H. Read explained that he
objected to the suffrage provisions.
The colored members made no ex-
plantations.
The following delegates asked to be
recorded as voting aye, j. q. klugh,
R. L. Henry, Frank B. Gary, @. j. g.
Hutson and R. B. Watson.
Mr.. Mitchell of Charleston rose, and
asked that the motion to print his re.
marks on the education article be
Withdrawn. He appreciated the COM
pliment. but thought there should not
be this discrimination in his favor.
The motion was withdrawn.
ALL READY.
Judge Fraser at 7:37 p. m. sent up
to the desk the copy of The Constltu-
ton all put together with sheep skin
backing, ready to be signed. Presl-
dent Evans took it and announced
that the delegates would come up and
sion the document by counties.
THE FIRST SIGNATURE.
At7:3S President Evans affixed his,
the first signature. Vice-President
Jones followed. Then Abbeville coun-
ty was called and at 7:43 p. m. Mr..
Frank B. Gary affixed his signature,
being followed by Gen. Hemphill.
Then the work of signing the docu-
nlent went ahead. Many members
brought their own pens to sign the
document.
In the gallery there were one negro,
one white man and three colored
women. On the floor there were fotr
ladies, one being Miss Hemphill OF
Abbeville.
THE NEGROES DON'T SIGN.
When Beaufort county was called
all of her colored delegates save Gen.
Smalls were out of the hall. lie
stated that he was the only one present
and he did not care to sign anyhow.
Shortly afterwards Mr.. Austin intro
duced resolution that no member be
given his per diem until he signed.
Gen. Smalls rose and pretty warmly
declared that he did not care. The
resolution was withdrawn.
THE END REACHED.
At two mir utes of 9 o'clock the
president announced that the work of
signing the Constitution had been
completed. He declared it the organic
law of the State.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
On motion of Mr.. Patterson the con-
vention then resolved itself into a
committee of the whole, and Mr..
Johnstone was called to the chair.
Mr.. Patterson then offered the fol-
lowing resolutions, which were adopt
ed:
Whereas, The Constitutional con
vention is now about to adjourn sine
die, be it
Resolved, That the convention here,
by testifes its highest appreciation OF
the able, dignifed and courteous man
ner in which the Hon. John Gary Ev.
ans has discharged the duties of the
high office of president of the conven'
ton, and also to express the wishes
of the members for his continued pros
perity and happiness.