Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-12-11
TO BE CONTINUED.
aatisesllaneous 8eadins.
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.

| The NEW CUNSlilUllUN.
Some of the More Important Changes as
Compared With the Old.
The new constitution of South
Carolina, as adopted by the recent
convention, was published in full by
The News and Courier and Columbia
State of Thursday, the 9Th instant.
The Register published it in two iu-
stallments one on Thursday and the
other on FRIDAY. The instrument is
quite lengthy, and in view of the fact
that it has already been published in
full, and is easily obtainable by those
who may want il, for the small sum of
five cents copy, THE ENQUIRER does
not feel warranted in going to the
expense of its republication. We
think that brief synopsis of some of
the more important changes will prove
just as acceptable to majority of
our readers, who would hardly care to
undertake the labor of reading it all
anyway: {
Article is devoted to declaration
of rights. The provisions Of this artf,
Gle are about the same as in the old
constitution. Among other things, it
guarantees equality before the law,
uniformity of taxation, the right of
trial by jury, liberty of the press, free
and open elections, the privileges of
the writ of habeas corpus, and the
prohibition of corporal punishment
and imprisonment for debt except in
cases of fraud.
Article 2 relates to the right of suf:
frage. Nobody is to be allowed to
vote except male citizens of the State
and United States who are 81 years of
age and over. They must have resid-
ed in the State two years, in the coun-
ty one year, andin the polling precinct
four months. They must also have
paid, six months before an election,
any pclI tan '.th.- may have been due
and payable. Ministers and teachers
in active service are entitled TO vote
after six months residence, when 9TH
erwise qualified. All voters must be
registered, and the principal other
reuuir, nients for the securing of reg
istration certificate is ability to read
the constitution of the State or under
stand it when it is read. This con-
tinues of force until January l, 1898.
After that time those who are not 9TH
erwise disqualified will be required to
be able to read and write, or they must
pay taxes on property to the amount
of $500. All persons convicted of any
of the following crimes are disqualified
from being registered or voting: Burg
larry, arson, obtaining goods or money
under false pretences, perjury, forgery,
robbery, bribery, adultery, bigamy,
wifebeating, housebreaking, receiving
stolen goods, breach of trust with
fraudulent intent, fornication, sodomy,
incest, assault with intent to raw
ish, miscegenation, larceny or crimes
against the election.
Article 8 relates to the legislative
department. This is to consist, as
heretofore, of house and senate. The
members of the house are TO be elected
every second year and the members OF
senate every fourth year. The house
is to consist of 124 members, divided
among the counties in proportion to
population, and the senate is to consist
of one member from each county. The
time of holding the sessions of the
general assembly is fixed to begin on
the second Tuesday in January OF each
wear. For the first four sessions, there
is no limit as to the sittings. After that
time the members will not be entitled
to compensation for more than 10 days.
The general assembly is required to
enact a homestead law that will secure
TO heads of families exemption from
attachment, levy and sale, real proper
ty to the value Of $1,000, and per-
sonal property to the amount of 5000.
In addition to this, those who are not
heads of families are to be entitled to
exemptions to the amount of $500 in
necessary wearing apparel and tools OF
trade, etc. The marriage Of white
person to a person having more than
one. eighth Negro blood is null and
void, and no unmarried female who
has not attained the aye Of IA years,
shall legally assent to sexual inter
course. The general assembly is not
allowed TO enact local or special laws
in any case where a general law can
be made applicable The general
assembly is required to limit the num-
Der of acres of land that may be owned
by an alien, or corporations controlled
by aliens.
Article 4 relates to the executive.
1t does not show any important
changes from the old article on the
subject. The governors term of Office
is to be two years, and he is to be elll-
gible to reelection. No person, how
ever, is eligible to the office ex-governor
who denies the existence Of Supreme
Being. The governor has the right to
grant reprieves, pardons and commu-
tations, and when he shall deem it de-
sirable, call extra sessions of the legis-
lature. There is no change i'll the
names or duties of the various heads OF
departments provided for in the old
constitution.
Article relates to the judicial de.
partment. The judicial power of the
State is to be vested in supreme
court, circuit courts of general sessions
and common pleas, and such county,