The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-04-03

citizenship OF tie otate IN electlng
delegates to the Constitutional con-
vention, is no small honor. / appre-
ciate it and thank you most sincerely,
gentlemen of the convention, for the
unsought and unexpected distinction.
If, in the providence of God, shall
be permitted to lend my humble aid
and influence to no other worthy
object besides this-the reconcilia.
ton of political difference and alien.
atoms between ellow-Democrats of
this, my native State, I feel that |
could we'll rejoice that this be the
crowning act of my political life, be-
lieving that no higher testimony Of
my devotion and patriotism could be
transmitted to my posterity and peo-
pie than in thus laboring for peace
and good will in the common interest
of all. I have lived TOO loug-l
have advanced too far to the short
side of life-to be impelled by any
other motive than the promotion Of
the highest good Of all, morally,
socially, materially and politically y.
And | trust that the same sentiment
of patriotism which pervades my
own bosom finds ready Judgment in
the breast of every member Of this
convention. These I the times
which try mems souls, The dark
pail of financial gloom canopies this
broad land from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, from Maine to Texas. Every
consideration Of home, Of progress,
of expectation for common good,
demands that we sink self and selfish
ends out of mind-jhat we forget, SO
far as may be. the past look to the
future that we be brethren again,
socially and politically, and dwell
together in peace and harmony.
Let the guiding star Of our actions
to-day be moderation, mutual for
bearance and concession, wisdom
and patriotism, and we will dis
charge the duties acceptably and
know the high purposes which have
called US together"
The roll Of the convention was
made up and a motion adopted, Civ
ing each county three votes.
A committee on platform and reso-
lutions consisting Of two men from
each Congressional district was APP
pointed. The committee was as fol
lows:
First District-W. P. Murphy, l..
G.. Walker.
Second District-M. B. Nc
Sweeney, J. c. Sheppard.
Third District. T. Robertson,
Geo. tombstone.
Fourth District-O. c. Fuller, W.
S. Mauldin.
Fifth Cistrict-C. E. Spencer, 7.
j. Kirkland.
Sixth District. E. Ellerbe, G. S
McCall.
Seventh District-H. P. Abbott, S.
P. Wingard-
Dir. Finley's motion that the con-
vention take a recess till s o'clock
was adopted.
All were asked to present their
resolutions to the committee at once.
The convention, after taking the
recess, was called to order again for
a few moments.
After several recesses the confer
ence was called to order at 9 o'clock
and Mr. Robertson submitted the re-
port.
THE PLATFORM.
The platform was then read as follows
by Secretary Thompson. AS be read
the quiet was SO intense that a pins
fall would have seemed a great
noise. The reading was greeted with
applause:
To tbe People of South Carolina-This
conference of Reformers and Conserva-
tives of the Democratic party Of this
State. me, in response to the call issued
January 23rd. 1895, by the executive
committee of the Reformers, who put
fortI, the address of December, 1894,
notes with pleasure that leading repre-
ssuta,ives Of the two factions have be-
gun work to the ends expressed in that
call and address.
We cordially welcome other aid and
invite the cooperation of all who favor
a combination of the wisdom and patri-
otism Of the State, regardless Of fac
tons, 10 the task of reconstructing our
organic laws. In common with all pa
,riotic people of the State, We lament
that the Democratic party of the State,
so long united and invincible, has been
torn asunder by strife and its unity en-
dangered by the bitterness of factional
spirit. The causes which have led to
these unhappy results need not now
be considered aud should not now be
discussed. In view of the coming Con.
stitutional convention, in order that the