The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-10-09
THE CONVENTION.
The Suffrage Committee Re.
ports-No Divorces Allow
ed-Regulatlng the Liquor
Tramc-No Recess.

Watson. of Edgefeld. led the fight
against granting divorces. while Mr..
D. S. Henderson favored a provision
permitting divorces for cause. Messrs
Jervey. McGowan, Montgomery. Sbep-
pard, B. Il Tillman and others parti-
cipated in the debate Senator TillmaD
urged that the recognition of divorces
granted 10 other states be permitted by
law, as otherwise children boso of sub
sequsos marriages would be illegitmate
10 this State.
MIR. Ellerbe. Of Marion, called up
his resolution to take recess until
jan. 18th. A lengthy discussion was
followed BY the decided rejection of the
original resolution and all Of the
amendments and substitutes. A large
majority of the delegates are anxious
to complete the work committed to
their hands.
In the afternoon the committee on
suffrage made the following report:
Section /. All elections by the peo-
pie shall be by ballot.
Sec. 2. Every qualified elector shall
be eligible to any Office to be voted for,
unless disqualified by age. Rus no per-
son shall hold two Offices of honor or
profit at the same time except officers
in the militia and notaries public.
Sec 8 Every male citizen of the
United States, 2l years of age. and up
wards, not laboring under the disabili-
ties pamed 10 this Constitution, and
possessing the qualifications required
by it, shall be legal elector.
Sec. 4 The qualifications for suffrage
shall be as follows:
a. Residence in the State for two
years, in the county one year, in the
election district 10 which the elector
offers to vote four mouths, and the
payment of poll tax six months be-
fore any election: Provided however
that ministers Of the Gospel in charge
of au organized church shall be en-
titled to vote after six months residence
in the State. if otherwise qualified.
b. Registration which shall provide
for the enrolment of every elector once
in 20 years
c. The person applying for registra-
ton must be able to read and write any
sr,tion of the Constitution, or must
show that he owns and pays taxes on
$500 worth Of property in this State ::
Provided. That at the first registration
under this Constitution snd up to jan
aary /, 1898, all male persons of voting
age who can read clause in this Con
stitution or understand and explain it
when read to them by the registration
officer shall be entitled TO register and
become electors. A separate record of
all illitera.e persons thus registered.
sworn to by the registration officer, shall
be fled, one copy with the clerk Of court
and one 10 the Office Of the secretary Of
!. of state, on or before January l, 1868.
and such persons shall remaiu during
life qualified electors, unless disquali-
fed By the provisions of section 6 of
this article. The certificate Of the clerk
of the court or secretary Of state shall
soe sufficient evidence to establish the
right of said class of citizens to regis
tration and the franchise.
q. Aoy person who stall apply for
registration after January /, 1898. if
otherwise qualified. may be registered !:
Provided, Tha: be can both read and
write auy section of tbis Constitution
or can show that be owos and has paid
taxes during the previous year on prop
ersy 10 this State assessed at $500 or
more.
e. Managers of election shall require
of every elecsor Offering to vote at
aoy election. before allowing him to
vote. proof of the payment of all taxes,
including poll tax, assessed against bin
for the previous year.
f. Registration certificates when lost
shall be renewed if the applicant is
qualified under the provisions of this
Constitution. or if he has been regis
tered as provided 10 subsection 90
Sec. 5. Any person denied registra-
ton shall have the right to appeal to
any aud all courts of this State to de-
,ermine the question under the limita-
tions imposed in this article, and the
general assembly shall provide by Law
for the correction of illegal or fraudu-
Tent registration and the punishment Of
the same.
Sec. S. The following persons are