The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-09-17
FRAMING THE CONSTITUTION.
THE STATE CONVENTION Makes
A GOOD BEGINNING.

A GOOD BEGINNING.
Governor Evans Was Chosen Presi
dent-He Makes Valuable Sugges
tiODs as to the Changes Needed
The Members Get to Work Prompt
".
The representatives of the people
met in convention at Columbia on the
10th inst, for the purpose Of revising
and changing the organic law of the
State. The members came together
In an orderly and dignitied manner,
and with profound sense of the re-
sponsibility resting upon them. The
Register says that % in task OF SO
great and far reaching Importance 1t
Is natural that every citizen should ex-
hibit the deepest concern, and some
time before the convention was called
to order the galleries began to be fill
ed up with spectators. Thcre wore q
number of ladies present besides many
gentlemen from this city and other
parts Of the State. There was no ex-
citement or enthusiasm displayed by
members as they filed to their seats.
In fact, there was Kind OF sOleinnity
about the whole assemblage which be-
token the deep responsibility felt by
them in the work in which they were
about to be engaged. Men prominent
in State and national politics took
their places besides those not known
to fame and apparently attracted no
more attention than their colleagues
There appeared to be no place for any
hurrah, but only for solid, substantial
work. To get a full Wow was 10 s 'e ut
once that the delegates were IL fine.
sturdy, sensible, patriotic set cf men.
They are men of keen intellect aad
calm, sober judgment, and the people
of the State can hold up the represen-
tatives In this convention as the peer OF
any ever assembled in the country for
o similar purpose"
On the Speakers desk stood mag
nificent pot OF lovely flowers tied with
yellow ribbon, to which was attached
card bearing the name Of Mrs. Viola
Neblett, the vice president Of the
South Carolina Equal Rights Associa-
tion.
Hon. ID. III. Tompkins, Secretary of
State, called the convention to order.
and declared that it was ready
business. Stanyarne Wilson, of Sp
tanburg, said he had the honor
nominate as temporary chairman
the convention, representing the whole
people OF the State assembled for the
purpose Of framing it's organic law,
one whose eloquent voice, forceful pen
and lofty abilities had always been en-
ployed for the welfare of the State,
whose great heart berts in sympathy
with the masses OF the people-Col.
Robert Aldrich, Of Barnwell. No other
nominations being made Col. Aldrich
was unanimously elected.
In taking thechair, Col. Aldrich made
brief speech. He deemed it a high hon
or to be connected with this august body
in any particular, and he desired to re-
turn his heartfelt thanks to the mem
bers for calling upon him to act in the
capacity of temporary chairman. This
was the most important convention
that had assembled in South Carolina
for q century. 1t was indeed but the
second time that the people ever as
sembled to frame an organic law for
stitutional conventions had beon called
and held, but this was really the only
convention ever called to express
the unrestrained will OF the people.
They had two conventions which had
adopted constitutions that were moth
ing more than acts of the Legislature,
for the Legislature had enacted each
OF the constitutions, or rather ap-
proved of them. Then there came
would have more to say. In 1860 they
had the convention which was called
to pass the ACT of secession and remodel
the constitution according to the
changed condition of things Then
they had the reconstruction conven-
tion. in 1885,, which was called by the
military governor appointed by the
/ President, who had no more power to
: appoint such a governor than any one
else, and convention was held which
had no more authority than any other
assembly Of people ever had. Then
there came the convention of 1868. 1t
was not held upon call based upon
any authority of the people. One
member of that convention had said
that there were only two fools in
America who believed the body to be
q constitutional one. That convention
was designed to humiliate South Caro-
lina's people, and to the shame of
South Carolina it must be said that
the government, had consented to live
under the constitution then formed
for eighto years, but finally, to the
lasting honor of the people in South
Carolina, they went to work short
time ago to give the people an organic
law draughted by her own sons, whom
you are. The convention OF 1880 was a
notable ono. The constitution was
formed by the intelligence of the
State, and under It came our period of
greatest prosperity and development.
It is a constitution that is understood
the courts have construed it; its pro-
visions have been expounded. We
could not do better, IL we do nothing
else, than TO follow in the footsteps of
our fathers who were in that conven-
tion. He again thanked the conven-
tion for the honor conferred upon him,
and he trusted that their labors would
be 80 guided by the hand of the AL
mighty, and honor would extend to
the convention even into the remotest
period OF history. The convention, he
= said, In conclusion, was ready to pro-
ceed with It's temporary organization.
The enrolment of delegates was
7 called for, but this was passed over to
allow the appointment of two tempo
rary SECRETARIES suggested by DR..
Zimmerman. The chairman appoint
ed Mr.. p. X. Bryan, of Charleston,
and Col. Willie Jones, OF Columbia.
On motion Of Congressman Wilson
the list of delegates was read, as made
up, and declared to be the roll OF dele
gates to the convention. All the dele
gates, without few exec ptions, answer
ed TO their names when called.
1t was decided to do away with the
appointment of a committee on creden-
tials, as there were no contests.
THE PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
On motion of Stanyarne Wilson the
convention decided to proceed with the