The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-09-18
THE STATE CONVENTION.
THE WORK OF MAKING A NEW CON-
sTlTUTIoN BEGUN.

picIously Begun.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Sept. 10-The State
Constitutional Convention assembled
TODAY at a few minutes after Il
o'clock. As the hands OF the clock
pointed to five minutes past IL, Secre
tary of State, D. Fl. Tompkins, raped
the convention to order and announc'
ed that it was ready for business.
Congressman Wilson of Spartan
burg arose and said that he had the
honor to nominate as temporary CHAIR
man of the convention, representing
the whole people of the State assem-
bled for the purpose OF framing. Its
organic law, one whose eloquent voice,
forceful pen and lofty abilities had al
ways been employed for the welfare
of the State. whose great heart beats
in sympathy with the masses OF the
people-Col. Robert Aldrich, of Barn
we'll. ,,
No other nominations being made
Col Aldrich was unanimously elected
and in taking the Chair he said in
mart: I deem it high honor to be
connected with this august body IN
any capacity, but desire to make ac'
knowledgement for the honor con-
ferred upon me. This is the most inn.
portant convention that has assembled
in South Carolina in a century. IL Is
the second time in the history of the
State that the people have assembled
to frame and adopt the organic law.
There has been other so called constl-
tutional conventions, but with one ex-
ception this is the only one that has
ever met as the exponent of the un-
trammelled will of the people. we
have what is known as the constltu'
tional convention of 1T6-7S, but their
acts were nothing more than the acts
of a General Assembly. Then came
the convention of 1890 and that OF
1860 which passed the ordinance OF
secession and made such other changes
as suited the changed conditions. The
conyertio of 1866 was called by the
proclamation of the provisional Gov.
ernor appointed by the President OF
the United States and who had no
more authority than any other citizen
to call such a convention and 1t Itself
had no more authority than mass
meeting of citizens. The convention
of 1868 was called by reason OF the Re
construction Acts of Congress, which
were VIGOROUSLY without constitution.
al warrant and were consequently null
and void. This Constitution was de-
signed to humiliate the State, degrade
her pleand subvert her civilization,
and to the shame of South Carolina
her people lived under that instrument
eighteen years after they regasned con-
troll of the government. 10 the last
inp honor Of the people they have now
assumed charge and intend to right
that grievous wrong. Col. Aldrich
said that the Constitution of 1880 was
made by the people and under it the
prosperity, greatness and glory or
South Carolina developed and IN his
Judgment this convention could 90
nothing better than take it as a basis:
It has been bred in the bone, blood
and sinew of the State. We could
not do better than follow in its foot
steps, he said, making such changes
as different conditions demanded. He
congratulated the delegates that they
had assembled in the peace OF God and
trusted that their deliberations would
be guided by wisdom from above, for
they were TO make laws that we must
live under, work under and enjoy to
the remotest period of our existence.
He then announced the convention
ready for other business.
On motion of Lieut.. Gov. Thinner
man two temporary secretaries were
appointed by the Chair, they being
Col. Jones, of Richland, and Mr.. j. P.
K. Bryan, of Charleston. ,
Then began the call of counties and
presentation of credentials, which, if
continued through all the counties,
would have consumed an immense
amount of valuable time. and on mo-
ton of Mr.. Stanyarne Wilson the call
of counties was dispensed with and
delegations were instructed to hand IN
their lists later.
CALLING THE ROLL.
The roll of the Convention was then
read by Secretary Jones and showed
the following duly elected delegates:
Abbevillee eWmt. G. MCGOWAN, I.
81. McCalla, J. G. Klugh, r. r.
Hemphill, Frank B. Gary, 4. +. Nc
Casian.
Aiken-John Gary Evans, F. P.
Woodward, R. L. Gunter, D. S. Hen
derson.
Anderson-J. P. Glenn, L. o. Har-
rison, J. E. Breazeale, D. H. Russell,
G.. E. Prince, j. NJ. Sullivan.
Barrwell-Robert Aldrich, G. D.
Bellinger, G. M. Hires. w. @. Smith,
A. II. Patterson, G.. H. Bates.
Beaufort-Robert Smalls, James
Wigg, Thomas Miller, Isaiah R. Reed,
"s BerkeieyEJ. B. Morrison, J. B.
Wiggins, E. ]. Dennis, William Hem
derson, A. 81. DELAY, Fl. 81. Murray.
R. G. McMakin.
Charleston-T. G.. Barker, J. P. K.
Bryan, J. N. Nathans, A. S. Farrow,
Julian Mitchell, G.. F. Won Kolnitz,
Jr., w. M. Fitch, Joseph L. Oliver,
w. st. Julien Jervey.
Chester-T. J. Cunningham, J.
Lyles Glenn, G. w. Gage, R. o. At
kinson.
Chesterfeld-E. N. Redfearn, F. P.
Taylor, E. j. Kennedy.
Clarendon-J. NJ. Sprott, j. s. Can
tey, D. J. Bradham, J. w: Kennedy.
Colleton-M. P. Howell, Q. W.
Garris, D. II. Behre, M. R. Cooper, l..
f. Parler.
Darlinpton-H. G.. Burn. J. N. Par.