The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-09-19
FRAMING THE CONSTITUTION.
THE STATE CONVENTION MAKES
A GOOD BEGINNING.

A GOOD BEGINNING.
Governor Evans Was Chosen Prcsi-
dent-He Makes Valuable Sugges'
tiOns as to the Changes Needed
The Members Get to Work PrOmpt-
ly. }
The representatives of the people
met in convention ut Columbia on the
10th inst, for the purpose OF revising
and changing the organic law OF Inc
State. The members came together
in an orderly and d,gnited manner,
and with q profound senso of the re-
sponsibility resting upon them. Inc
Register says that Gin u task of so
great and far reaching Importance IL
is natural that every citizen should OK
hibit the deepest concern, ana some
time before tho convention was calied
to order the galleries began to be NIL
ed mn with spectators. There were 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 solemnity
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
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 full view was to sec at
once that the delegates were fine.
sturdy, sensible, patriotic set Of men.
They are men of keen intellect, and
calm, sober judgment, and the people
of the State can hold up the represen-
tatives In this convention as the peer of
similar purpose"
On the speakers desk stood a mag
nifcent pot Of lovely flowers tied with
yellow ribbon, to which was attached q
card bearing the name Of Mrs. Viola
Neblett, the vice president Of the
South Carolina Equal Rights Associa
tiOn.
Hon. d. H. Tompkins, Secretary of
State, called the convention to order,
and declared that it was ready for
business. Stanyarne Wilson, OF Spar
tanburg, said he had the honor to
nominate us temporary chairman Of
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
q brief speech. He deemed ita high hon
or to be connected with this august body
in any particular, and he desired to re-
turn his heartfelt thanks to the Nom
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 century. 1t was indeed but the
second time that the people ever as
sembled to frame al organic law for
the State. True, other so-callcd con
stitutiOnal conventions had been 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 APP
proved OF them. Then there came
the convention Of 1890, Of which he
would have moro to say In 1860 they
had the convention which was called
the constitution according to the
changed condition of things. Then
they had the reconstruction conven-
tiOn in 1865, which was called by the
military governor appointed by the
President, who had no more power to
appoint such q governor than any one
else, and a convention was hold which
had no more authority than any other
assembly of people ever had. Then
4l> l,n If II
was not held upon u 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 tho body to be
u constitutional one. That convention
was designed to humiliate South Caro-
linas people, and to the shame OF
South Carolina it must be said that
her people, though having reclaimed
the government had consented to live
under the constitution then formed
for eighteen years, Ut finally, to the
lasting honor of the ,e0ple 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 1890 was
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 q constitution that IS understood
the courts have construed it; its pro-
visions have been eXp0undcd. We
could not do better, il we do nothing
else, than to follow in the footsteps OF
our fathers who we're in that conven-
tion. He again thanked the convcn-
tiOn for the honor conferred upon him,
and he trusted that their lab0rs would
be 80 guided by the hand of the AL
mighty, and honor would extend to
the convention even into the remotcst
period of history. The convention, he
said, in conclusion, was ready to pro-
coed with its temporary organization
The enrolment OF delegates was
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. J. p. x. Bryan, OF Charleston,
and Col. Willie Jones, Of Columbia.
On motion of Congressman Wilson
the list OF delegates was read, as made
m md declared to be the roll of dole