The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-09-25
The Convention.
Resume, of the Work of the
Past Week.
COLUMBIA, S. C.. Sept. %. 1895.

COLUMBIA, S. C.. Sept. %, 1895.
The Constitutional Convention spent
last week letting Its surplus eloauence
off. There seemed to be series OF un-
important and petty squabbles. which
in the end amounted to but little.
Whatever factional feeling or debate
that has shown itself up to this time
has been connected with these trivial
questions. The naming of county or
the censuring of newspaper fortu-
nately bore in 90 way on the uew Con-
s.itution that is now being made for the
government of the people Of South
Carolina. Up to this tine the entire
work on the Constitution has been done
ia the committee rooms and this week is
expected to witness the first real work
on the new organic Law. Up to this
time DO partisan or factioual feeling is
said to have crept into the committee
rooms and the Conservative members
say that they have been treated With
the utmost consideration and courtesy
10 all Of their committees. The COM
mittee reports that have been thus far
submitted to the body show liberality
of spirit aod general acceptability.
Mondays battle over the revocation
of the pame of t.Butler" county was
one Of the great field Gays that will
mark the history OF the Convention so
far as the future politics of South Caro-
lima are concerned. The presumption Of
Senator Irby and Congressman Wilson
10 taking the position they did has been
much talked of. Both Senator Tillman
aad Senator Irby were on their mettle
aud gave the Convention the very best
that they bad in their storehouse of elo-
queace aud thunder. There can be no
question of the vast influence of Sena-
tor Tiilman over certain of the mem
bers of the Convention, but in this par
ficuiar case it seemed from the prepon-
deranoe of the argument that the peo-
ple Of the immediate section wanted the
new county named Saluda and that fact
perhaps more than anything else iu-
Huenced the action of the Convection.
The second occasion or which ''things
broke loose" was 10 the vote viodicating
President Evans from the charge Of
Intentionally" falsifying vote IN
connection With the Saluda- Butler
county matter and ceasuriog Tile State
newspaper on account of sn editorial
that vas pu blisbed io that paper. Mr..
Patterson, Of Barowell, introduced a
resolution in which it vas resolved
s.aod we do declare the statement 10
she aforesaid editorial 20 be unsustalued
BIZ the facts and untrue ~ After a Sc
ries of vigorous speeches. chief anoug
which. vas that of Senator Tillman. the
resolution vas passed by vote of 1913
to % It was during this debate that
saere was lively tilt between Senator
Tilluan aud Maj Theo. Barker, of
Charleston, who 10 the 1.ost collected
manner possible called Senator Tillman
30 order for questioning bis motives and
charging him With injecting fsctiona'-
ism. Senator Tillmau, after the vote
apologized to any member whom be
might have offended in the heat Of de-
bate.
The general expectation now is that
the skirmishes are all over aud that the
sCoovention will get down to hard work.
Several of the important committees
have reported and the proposed sec
t,oos for the new Constitution are now
ready for consideration.
The committee on the legislative de-
partment is one of the FIRST that pro-
posed section for adoption. It recon-
meuds four year terms for members of
the House aud Senate. with annual ses-
siops Of tie General Assembly. The
committee wants to get the salary mat
ter out of the way of the stump speakers
and proposes to 6x it in the Coustitu-
ton aod has suggested that member
salaries be sxed at So Another prop