The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-03-04
COUNTIES TO PAY
LYNCHINC CLAIMS
HOUSE TURNS DOWN RESOLU-
YON BY BUCKNGHAM.
Hot Debate On Issue.
Constitutional Principal Of Law and
Order Sustained by Overwhelm-
ing Vote.

Columbia, Feb. 27.-The house
last night by vote of 81 to % voted
to continue the resolution by Mr..
Buckingham, of Aiken, to have the
constitution amended so as to relieve
counties in which a lynching occurs
to damages to the amount of $4,000
to relatives of the victim of the mob.
This action kills the resolution. The
measure precipitated warm debate
at the morning session. Only one
speech was made when the resolution
was called up again late last night.
This was by Mr.. Stone, of Anderson.
Those voting for the resolution
were: Ashley, Barnwell, Berry, Buck
1ngham, Coney, Dreher, A. c. Ellerbe,
Evans, Fairey, Fulmer, Gray, Hall,
Harmon, Hart, Kelly, Leopard, Miley,
Oliver, Orr, Pursley, Sprott, Stone
and Turner.
MIR. Stone, of Anderson, said hu-
man life was cheap in South Caro-
lima. eve can lynch man and ST.
900 is all We are called on to pay"
This was too small q premium Or a
human life and the law was a dis
grace to South Carolina.
Some Commend Measure.
Mr. Buckingham said he had re-
ceived many letters commencing the
measure and few which were of an
opposite character. He knew the peo-
pie of the state were against the Sec
tion of the constitution and would
support the amendment if it were re-
ferred to them.
Mr.. Hanahan, of Fairfield, opposed
the resolution and made strong
plea against it. This section Of the
constitution embodied the basic prin-
ciple of law and order. To vote for
the resolution would be for the MEM
bers of the general assembly to put
the stamp of their approval on law
lessness in the state. The section
was not made for negroes or for
whites, but to protect the families
of any man who had been the victim
of q mob, regardless of race or color.
The only question at issue was that
of right and wrong. Everyone would
admit that lynching was wrong, and
he wanted to uphold the principles OF
right, of truth and of justice.
Mr.. Hart, of York, which county
last year was made liable to $4,000
because of a lynching, was for the
resolution. The $4,000 was an at
tractive fee for lawyers, who always
got one-half the amount and the rela-
tiyes of the man killed the other half.
1t was not right to make the taxpay-
ers foot the bill for the mob's action
and he wanted the people to vote on
fhe amendment.
Would Oppose at Any Cost.
Mr.. Davis, of Barnwell, said that
for the representatives to vote for
he resolution would be saying to the
mob, eve, your representatives, ap-
prove your conduct" The provision
in the constitution was to protect the
families of men killed by mobs,
many white men had been thus
slaughtered, and the supreme court
had held that three persons constitut-
ed mob. He would stand there and
oppose the resolution in the name OF
righteousness and in support of the
constitution if it cost him his right
arm to do so.
Mr.. Belser, of Sumter, thought
those who framed the constitution
were wise in putting in this section tc
preserve the law. To strike out the
section would encourage lynching
No county was liable to damages un'
less it made itself liable.
Mr.. Bellamy, of Beaufort, said he
thought it was time to discard this
principle of the English law and tc
enact law that would be modern and
in keeping with the economic condi
tions of the present.
Dreher Arouses Members.
Mr.. Dreher, of Lexington, was bolo
to say that he favored lynching fol
some crimes, and he thought citizens
were negligent in their duty wher
they failed to lynch in some instances
His statement brought several repre-
sentatives to their feet.
Mr.. Wingard, also of Lexington
called on Mr.. Dreher to give the house
the benefit if his observations in thi:
direction. Mr.. Wingard asked wha
crime would have to be committed il
which he thought the man ought to b.
killed before he had been tried by {
fury hefore which conviction all me1