The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-11-13

COLUMBIA, Nov. Especial: Ihe
Constitutional Convention reassem-
bled last night.
Mr.. Wells offered an ordinance to
POSTPONE the next regular session OF
the general assembly from the
fourth Tuesday in November, 1895, to
to the second Tuesday, in January,
1896. This ordinance was placed on
the calendar.
Mr.. Henderson moved that No. %,
his ordinance to provide for an issue
of State bonds be printed as amended
and laid on the desks of the members.
This was agreed to.
Mr.. Kennedy's ordinance relating
to Chesterfield County's railroad
bonds was called for, but it was passed
over.
SECTION FIVE.
The suffrage article was then taken
up, and section was read.
Mr.. Bryan offered the following
amendment:
Insert on line 8, after the word "ar.
ticle," the words, land on such appeal
the hearing shall be de novo."
MIR. Jones wanted to know if the
words "de novo" were intended to ap-
ply to the supreme court, too.
Mr.. Bryan said they were to apply
to all courts.
The amendment was agreed to.
The whole section was then adopted
as follows:
Section 5. Any person denied regis,
tration shall have the right to appeal
to the court of common pleas, or any
Judge thereof, and thence to the Sill
preme court to determine his right to
vote under the limitations imposed in
this article, and on such appeal the
hearing shall be de novo, and the gen
eral assembly shall provide by law for
such appeal and for the correction OF
Illegal and fraudulent registration,
voting and all other crimes against
the election laws.
SECTION SIX.
Section 6 was then taken up, and
Mr.. Bellinger offered the following
amendment, which was adopted:
Amend section by adding after the
word ''bigamy" the following words:
"Housebreaking, receiving stolen
goods, breach of trust with fraudulent
intent, assault with intent to ravish,
miscegenation and larceny" and by
striking out the words theft" and
"embezzlement," on lines 3 and 4.
Senator Tillman made the motion
to add "miscegenation."
Miller wished to know if the term
larceny" included petty larceny also.
He got no answer.
The whole section was then adopted
as follows:
Section 6. The following persons
are disqualified from being registered
or voting:
First, persons convicted of burglary,
arson, obtaining goods or money un-
der false pretenses, perjury, forgery,
robbery, bribery, adultery, bigamy,
wife beating, house breaking, receiv-
ing stolen goods, breach of trust with
fraudulent intent, assault with intent
to ravish, miscegenation and larceny
or crimes against the election laws.
Provided, that the pardon of the gov
ernor shall remove such disqualhca-
ton.
Second; persons who are idiots, in
sane, paupers supported at the public
expense, and persons confined in any
public prison.
SECTION SEVEN.
Section 7 was adopted, without any
tro,,hle at all as follows:
Section Z. For the purpose of voting
no person shall be deemed to have
gained or lost residence by reason of
his presence or absence while en-
ployed in the service of the United
States. nor while engaged in the navi-
CATION of tie waters of this State, or
of the United States, or of the high
seas, nor while a student of any insti-
tuition of learning.
SECTION EIGHT.
Section was then called up.
Governor Sheppard offered the fol-
lowing amendment:
Add to section s ''for the first regis
tration to be provided for under this
Constitution the registration books
shall be kept open for at least SIX con-
secutive weeks and thereafter from
time to time, at least one week in each
month up to 80 days next preceding
the first election TO be held under this
Constitution.
Governor Sheppard explained what
the effect of the amendment meant,
and answered some questions in re-
gard to it. It was then adopted.
Mr.. Gage moved to strike out the
words provided, further, that this
section shall apply to all municipal
elections" He said that it was i'm
practicable to apply the section to mu-
nicipal elections.
Senator Tillman said the best thing
to do was to put in separate section
applying to municipalities. MIR.
Cages amendment was then adopted.
Nh. w. D. Evans moved to strike
out the entire first proviso of section
8, which allowed the two political
parties representation on the boards OF
managers and canvassers.
Mr.. Evans thought that it was best
to leave the whole matter of details to
the general assembly.
M. Johnstone said he wanted the
ayes and noes. He went on TO say
that if the convention did not bring
about pure and honest elections it
were better that it had not been held,
and that if the convention did not do
away with the incompetent and vi
cious vote it had better never have
been held; and that honest elections
were not possible if this amendment