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The Press and Banner. BY HUGH WILSON. A 111112711,1,1-:. ft. V. , COUNTYlio' VE RMFeNT. THE CONVENTION DISCUSSES THAT IMPORTANT MATTER. . A Long and Interesting Debate About the Number of Comities?What the Convention Did With the Article. Columbia, S. C., Oct. 22.?Special: The Constitutional Convention began this week with the consideration of a subject that has engaged much of the public attention, and which, in the convention itself, brought about one of the most animated and interesting debates of the session. After i-apidly disposing of preliminaries the convention, on motion of Mr. Otts, took up the report on counties and county government?the paper which bears this peculiar title: "Report of G. D. Tillman, A. K. Smoak, J. W. Kennedy, J. 0. A. Moo^, J. C. Otts and R. R. Stackhouse, who constitute Ihe half of what was once the whole committe on counties and county government, and who have no cHirmau, no clerk, no papera, no resolutions and no name by which to designate their half of the committee," was read as follows: Sec. 1. The several counties of this State are each declared a body politic and corporate. Each county shall constitute one election district. Sec. 2. The boundaries of the several counties shall remain as now established, exceot those of the county of " Edgefield, wnich shall undergo such changes as are made necessary by the formation of a new countv from a portion of Edgefield, to be known as Saluda, the boundaries of which are set forth in a constitutional ordinance. Sec. 3. The general assembly shall have power at any time to organize new counties, by changing tne oounaaries of old ones, but no new counties shall be hereafter formed of lesi> area ' than 400 square miles, nor shall any 1 existing counties be reduced to less ex- , tent; provided, that no old county shall be reduced to less than 10,000 inhabitants, as shown by the last State or national census, nor be reduced to less amount of taxable property than $1,500,000 as shown by the last tax returns. Sec. 4. Whenever 300 freeholders 1 within the area of a proposed new county shall petition for organization of a new county, the governor shall 1 order an election within a reasonable time before the meeting of the next 1 session of the legislature, and if a majority of the qualified electors voting 1 in each part of the county or counties proposed to be dismembered and embraced in the new county shall separately vote therefor, it shall be the ! duty of the legislature to established ' such new county at its next session; I but elections as herein provided shall not be held in any proposed county < ottener tnan once in iour years. Sec. 5. All counties formed in ac- 1 cordance vrtth. the above sections shall 1 assume an equitable portion of the ' debts of the existing county or coun- I 9 ties from 'which its territory is taken. Sec. 6. The legislature may provide ' for the consolidation of two or more 1 existing counties if a majority of the qualified electors of such counties vot- 1 ng at an election held for that pur- ( pose shall vote separately therefor, but ' such elections shall not be held often- ' er than once in four years in the same < counties. 1 Sec. 7. Each county shall elect a > sheriff, a clerk of the court and a cor- 1 oner, whose respective terms of office ( shall be four years, and whose duties 1 and powers shall be defined by law; 1 provided the sheriff shall not be eligi- ; ble to re-election until the expiration ! of four years. Sec. 8. A chaingang shall be estab lished in every county in the State; provided that this section shall not j prevent two or more counties from I consolidating their respective chain- 1 gangs. Sec. 9. Each of the several townships of this State, with names and boundaries as now established by law, shall constitute a body politic; but this shall not prevent the legislature from organizing other townships. Sec. 1U. The freehold voters of each township shall elect at such times and for such terms of office as may be prescribed by law, three discreet persons, to be known as the board of township directors, who shall have charge of the township roads, bridges and ferries, the public schools, appoint the managers of all Federal, State, county and township elections, shall register all qualified voters of the township and Bhall discharge such other duties and receive such compensation for their services as the legislature may prescribe. Sec. 11. The general assembly may exempt any county from such township system of government whenever a majority of the freehold voters of the county shall petition therefor. " ^ - j j mr. urary nau muv cu iu iuucuuuuj postpone it, when the president announced that Mr. Harrison's action in adding his name thereto had made it the majority report; therefore the other report was the minority report and must be considered first. THE MINORITY REPORT. Mr. Otts moved to indefinitely postpone the minority report. The article reported by the minority read as follows: Sec. 1. The legislature may from time to time establish new counties in the following manner: Whenever one-third of the qualified voters within the area of the proposed new county shall petition the governor for the creation of a new county the governor shall order an election within a reasonable time thereafter, by the qualified voters within the proposed area, in which election they shall vote yes or no upon the question of creating said new county. Sec. 2. If a majority of the qualified voters withm tiie several sections proposed to be formed into a new county shall separately vote ''yes" upon such question then the legislature shall establish such new county. Provided, that an election upon such question shall not be ordered upon the same proposed newcounly oftener than once in four years. Sec. 3- No county herealter formed shall contain less than one hundred and twenty-fourth part of the whole number of the inhabitants of the State nor shall it have less assessed taxable property than two millions of dollars, nor shall it contain less than 400 square miles. I l ? Sec. 4. No old county shall be reduced to less area than 500 square miles, to less assessed taxable property than $2,000,000, nor to smaller population than 15,000 inhabitants. Sec. 5 No new county line shall be run nearer to an established court house than 10 miles. Provided, that this section shall not. apply to court houses located in counties not proposed to be dismembered. Sec. G. All new counties hereafter formed shall bear a just apportionment of the valid indebtedness of the old county or counties from which they have been formed. THE DEBATE. Mr. Gary took the tloor and denied that he and those with him were opposed to smaller counties, as had been rumored about, but they did not want to see old counties destroyed. This is a matter of deep concern to my people. An enlightened self "interest was the basis of eood government. He wanted to tell them what the effect would be. lie proceeded to tell how the proposed scheme to slice Abbeville county would leave that county?in the shape of a shoestring with the court house at one end. Why destroy Abbeville countv? She had always re sponded to the call of her State in war and in peace. Is that an unreasonable request? He was not for saying anything againstnew counties. Their re{>ort simply put on limitations to alow new counties and there was nothing to protect old counties. Mr. Otts was sorry that the friends of the minbrity report had confined their argument to only one section of the State. They all knew that if Greenwood and'Honea Path counties were formed, the county of McCormick would never be formed. He went on to tell the effect of establishing Florence county wholly out of Darlington. They try to tell you that it costs as much to run a small county as a large one. This is not so. He then gave the figures as to Abbeville and showed that Florence's levy had been below Abbeville's. Florence had increased her taxable property. The main difference in the two reports was that the boundary line should not run within less than 10 miles of the court house. The geographical centre of a county was not the true centre. Look at Richland. The real centre was that most convenient to all the people. There had been no complaint against Richland's county seat. Mr. McGowan thought better results would be obtained by taking up the majority report first. A POINT OF ORDER. Mr. George D. Tillman said that according to all parliamentary rules the minority report should be tabled and then the majority report could be amended by tne minority. The convention decided to take up the minority report. Sec. 1 was amended in a matter of phraseology only. Governor Sheppard ofFered the following as an amendment: "Provided. That the new counties 3hall rot be created so as to increase the number of counties above 50?15 bevond those now existing." He urged that some limit was nec?ssary. Mr. Brice of York opposed this proviso, but took the position tnat the division of an existing county should lepend upon all conditions?area, population, wealth, tic. Senator Tillman moved to insert 62 instead of 50. and SDoke in favor of such change. Mr. Johnstone opposed any mere numerical limit?though he thought 32 a good number. He wanted an squilibrium between the different sections of the State. He said with 50 lounties they could have 600 square miles to the county. If they adopted 350 square miles as the area limitation they would have 54 counties. If you 2an take 500 you will have 60 counties, 22 miles across and 11 miles from the court house to the boundary. If pou have 450 square miles as the limit of the area vou will have 67 counties. If you have 400 square miles you will have 70 counties with the centre 10 miles from the boundary, They should so arrange their scheme that, as the State developed, no one section could come forth and gobble up the control of legislation in the interest of that section. Now it is impossible to have 0170 n( tVio nonnlipe iflpnlipAllv thft same, but they couid protect the interests of the old counties in the general assembly. All interests could be gi?en a reasonable protection if they adopted as a minimum limit 450 square miles and 550 square miles as the maxim and as a matter of fact there would be only 100 square miles at the outside,and as a matter of fact this would be scarely more tban fifty in any case. This would let you reach the same figure practically as proposed by Senator Tillman, not by an arbitrary figure, but by reason and by a plan preserving an equality to the people of all sections of the State. You might go further and have the requirement that the people of the county could not have a new county except on certain conditions. Mr. George D. Tillman was the next speaker. It was a subject near to his heart and he made a masterly speeoh, commanding the closest attention of the entire convention. He said he had never risen feeling more unable to do iustice to a cause or to himself. If he nad not had this smaller county matter at heart he never would have been a member of the convention. He told wny he had come and how his people bad insisted on sending him. He had no axe to grind; no end to attain; he was done with public otlice; he was done with that forever. His public career was behind him. New lights were rising in politics. Men were always for the rising, not for the setting sun. He was not conscious of any mental decay, however. Therefore they could understand that he was here advocating this measure with the purest motives. More good would come from this measure than from the regulation of the suffrage. They did not want to let this settle itself. Thirty-four thousand square miles was the accepted and cattla/I Qr.oo r?f t.Vift Sbitft. If vou limit OVVKiVU Ml VM> w* ~ ^ the new counties to 50, you will give 080 miles as the area, which is more than the present Constitution allowed a county to have. We have an average area of something over 1,000 square miles. My friend says Georgia had to put on a limit after she had 132 counties established. I challenge any member on their lloor to cite to me a single instance -where any county in any State once formed has asked to be consolidated with another. It was a singular fact that for the first 99 years after South Carolina was lirst settled, we had but a single courthouse and that was in Charleston. The people had to go down thereto get justice administered. There were no railroads, Then came the government of regula tors and lynch law in self-defense, was due to this fact that the ance of Mr. Thomas Woodward, of I I field, was assassinated on the n I The long travel to the courthouse miles away, was the trouble?the < ger in having large counties. 1 should be fixed differently. P trips were expensive to the people. The people must make laws to j |ern themselves. They must d< , through representatives. Why elect every body by a vote of the S ' if you are going to have these ' great" counties?60 or 70 miles ac ?to elect them as now, is but li better. If you want the people to the best men let those men be ele< by the people who reside in a sr territory in which all live, and all people know him. The represe: tives of a large county are not car of going against the will of their < stituents like those of a small coui He thought the New England pe< were better and more wisely gover than any people on this earth, anc attributed it to their township sys of government. It was a close c stituency and representation. 1 people knew the men. He mi enumerate many advantages of smaller counties. If it was desire to have large judicial districts, v have but one? Is it right, wise, i per?is it liberty to have every n to go to the expense of attending cc till all other people's cases are tri And, let me say, no other State South Carolina requires it. Just 1 at the cost to the people. Our co ties average nearly 1,000 square, bore no bitterness to the old city the sea. He did, however, during early manhood, because of her pai system, which caused her to con) things pretty much her own way. had led the the fight against and stroyed the system in the 1865 conv tion. South Carolina was originally tied on the coast and at one time ] only six counties?Beaufort, Collet Charleston, Barnwell, Sumter and angeburg, and had 26 senators oui that body's members, and until close of war, and Charleston had ter them. The up-country then had m than four times the population i paid the bulk of the taxes. It see like poetic justice that the low-coun should experience a little of this eqi ity now. There is not a large cou in the State that would be willing see one foot cut off of its territory left to it. The greatest exhibition meanness he had ever seen was wl the question of reducing the area1 present to the people, the newest co ties voted against it. Indeed enlig ened self-interest was the best, some people were so little and so m< that they couldn't come up to t standard, and so he would say that friend from Abbeville should work to that objective?enlightened?Dei using it. (Laughter.) Georgia's average county acre was 423 square miles; Tennessee i 427, with a provision pending to mi it 385; Kentucky's was 318; Virgin 383; none of the counties in th States wanted to consolidate with a other county. They held on to tl counties, to use a vulgar expressi "like death to a dead nigger." there is in it is to allow the peoph govern themselves. Give the peo a chance, in God's name?a cha which they never have had before. Therefore, he contended to all any section willing to erect its bu ings and pay its expenses to form it into a new county. He said the ] jority report had" thrown certain strictions around the methods of fo: ing a new county. The other rep was fatally defective in all essen particulars. He would, theref move to substitute the section of majority report on the subject for section of the minority report. ' parliamentary methods being1 emp] ed in this matter was new to him. He was continuing his argum when the hour for recess arrived. At the night session Col. Tilln concluded his speech, emphasizing points he has already made. Mr. W. C. McGowan then took floor and made an able speech, said he confessed to some interest the matter, as he was proud of j loved old Abbeville, mow menaced all sides by at least six new cou schemes, all wanting to take parts . TT :S J:J ^^4. +V, ner lemtory. xie jmuu no iuu uui w Mr. Tillman's arguments were bo out by the facts. There were no' great many conditions which he ] ceeded to speak of. He supposed venerable friend, for whom he ] the highest respect, but whom he lieved was flying off at a tangent n was as much interested in getting ! Cormick county as he was in hav Abbeville as she was. Mr. George Tillman stated tha lived 20 miles from the proposed i of McCormick county, and had a i road to get there, it was true, bul had no interest in the county sea the prosposed county. Mr. McGowan?But you are an et est advocate of it? Mr. Tillman?No, sir.^ Mr. McGown?Well, you are favor of it. Mr. Tillman?I would vote for i There was further colloquy betw Mr. McGowan and Mr. Talbert. Mr. McGowan presented a le from Maj. Wm. T. Gary. This le said: ''The small counties of Geo: have not been a benefit;" that the penses of goverenment had been creased; that the offices yielded poor pay; that good officers could be secured. He also read a letter from 1 Hammond of Atlanta, which along the same line. Mr. McGowan tKen devoted him to the discussion of the ten mile 1: matter. He thought this limit just. They spoke of Columbia b< right on the bank of the Cong This was really the best argumen his side. Suppose the limit was placed there, couldn't the line of a: county be run up to Columbia's tern boundary and make Rich! county a little strip. This ten i limit was in the original law of following State: Arkansas, Illir Kentucky, Missouri. Pennslyvania Texas. He wanted this limit to tect his county seat, he was fre I ^ APO VVU1UOO* Senator Tillman spoke earnestl < favor of his amendment, Messrs. Gowan and George Johnstone sj . on the other side. The president then put the Till) i amendment while Mr. McCalla , yelling out a motion to adjourn, i was declared killed a division waj manded. Great confussion ensued, and w ' it continued the unfavorable repoi the committee of having the presii of the convention appoint a succe to the late Dr. Byrd, was adopted. It Then another division vot# on the stor new county matter was taken, result- tt fair- ingr in the proposed "62 limit" being fi: oad. killed by a vote of 80 to 4'no further "1 i, 30 count demanded." A lan- The Convention then adjourned till Chat this morning. vi uch FORTHER DISCUSSION. W When the Covention met this morn- th jov- ing, there was no time lost in resum- al 0 it ing the consideration of the matter pi not pending?the article on counties and ta itate county government. big, The 6rst section which had been un- m ross der consideration all of the previous in ittle ! day was again called up. sa get' Mr. Ira B. Jones renewed the molted tion made by Mr. Talbert the night be- ar nail fore to table the minority and take up ai the the majority report first. * ta nta- Mr. F. B. Gary said that this propoeful sition was a serious matter; there were ;on- matters in this report which should be m lty. considered as they stood. To pass in >ple Mr. Jones' motion would be to reverse qi ned the action of the convention already ti< 1 he taken. It was merely a new scheme af tem to dispose of the minority report. He ion- moved to table Mr. Jones' motion. M The This was carried by a vote of 63 to 52. ght Mr. Prince then offered an amend- ed the ment to strike out the word "qualified" tic tble before the word "voters1'and 6ay "free?hy holder" instead. I move to lay this in pro- amendment on the table By a vote of se nan 63 to 56 the amendment was tabled. "1 >urt Mr. Buist offered an amendment to th ied? section 1 to strike out the word "legisbut lature" on line 1 and insert "general ook assembly." This was adopted. m; un- Mr. Gage offered this amendment th He which was adopted: Amend by addby ing of line 7 after the word "county" his the following words: "And at the J. *ish same election the question of a name in; trol and a county seat for such county tw He shall be submitted to the electors." etl de- Mr. John B. Jones offered to substi- gi en- tute section 4 of the majority report no for section 1 as amended. co set- This motion had been made out of aad order by Mr. G. D. Tillman the night an on, before. ca Or- Mr. B. R. Tillman moved to table, wt t of but withdrew to allow Mr. G. D. Till- m| the nian to speak. i of Mr. Tillman said he wanted make a sti ore few remarks in reply to Mr. McGown's sq *nd speech last night. He gave some of ;ms strong statements in regard to the rea- on ,try son why the term "pauper" counties I ^al- had been applied to certain counties pe oty in Kentucky, quite different from sic * to what the convention had understood, an * if He "merely rose, he said, to take the "d of sting out of his frined's "pauper coun- to tv" argument. Jlis young friend had eri aras made statements that he should be dii un- ashamed of. rht- MR. OTTS ON ROSTATION. im but Mr. Otts said, in this State people ' ?an seldom "rotated," Edgefield, tneold bo hat monopolistic county, had dominated his the second district, and she had con- m; : up trolled the State offices for years. ve ore Senator Tillman?Whv don't you speak to the question? Ti age Mr. Otts?The gentleman from hii was Edgefield does not always speak to the ! ike question. He has set me the example, ia's (Laughter.) ose Mr. Johnson of Sparntanburg op- se< my posed the substitute. Mr. Burn sopke "t m favor of a minimum area of 500 in; on, square miles. All Mr. McGrowan stated that he did not. I 3 to do or say things that he was ashamed rei pie of. He thought his friend from Edge- mi nee field was unjustified in such a position, tw Then he quoted what Governor Brown po iow of Georgia had said in the Constitu- 1 ild- tional convention which put a stop to lit 3elf the formation of counties in Georgia: Ti na- "There is a considerable number of sa; re- counties in this State now, I believe "W rm. about 137. There are a number of pr >ort them that do not pay as much money co tial into the State treasury of the State as i ore thev draw out. They do not pay a se< the dollar of the public debt, nor the ex- TI the penses of the government, nor even as th The much money as the government is tic 0y- compelled to pay out on their account, he This matter of making up counties has io] ent g<>ne far enough." sh There was a spat between Messrs. G. wj lan D. Tillman and McGown, out of which Hi the neither seemed to make much. Mr. nc Tillman said he would like to hear of ac the any two counties anywhere that ever w< He asked to be consolidated into one when to t in once formed. esi md _ Mr. D. S. Henderson asked Senator C< on Tillman if mere was any way Dy wmcn iei n?y counties could consolidate. he ] of Mr. Tillman?Yes, sir. m: ink Mr. Hendersoi?Where? rne Mr. Tillman?In the Mississippi, in T1 w a the Georgia and other Constitutions, go )ro- and I defy you to find an instance Jiis where any county ever asked for a of had consolidation. sei be- Mr. Patterson then stated that this 0W) convention had expressed itself in this vi Me- matter pretty fully and he thought m ing this substitute should be tabled. There tei was no use to put in this new matter, pr t he They had already amended the section $5 seat to suit- he ?ail- The substitute offered by Mr. Jones ha t he was then killed. H t of H0W it g0t thhough. al Section 1 was then adopted as a ^ irn- whole in the following shape: lu Section 1. The general asssembly te; may, from time to time, establish new w: i in counties in the following manner: Whenever one-third of the qualified t. voters within the area each section of in een an old county proposed to be cut off m to form a new county shall petition ,tter the governor for the creation of a new }i< tter county, setting forth the boundaries hi rgia and having complied with the require- o'< ex- ments of this article, the governor ar in- shall order an election, within a rea- to but sonable time thereafter, by the quali- m not fied voters within the proposed area, in which election they shall vote b( ilaj. "yes" or "no" upon the question of th wa^ creating said new county, and at the st same election the question of a name of Lgelf and a couty seat for such county shall sh imit he submitted to the electors. us Was SECTION TWO. ling Section 2 was then taken up, readree. ing thus: th ton Sec. 2. If a majority of the qualified cc ? ? xi 1 flp noi voters wumu me several seuuv-uo jjiu- ? new posed to be formed into a new county eas- shall separately vote "yes" upon sucii P* and question then the legislature shall es- la nile tablisli such new county; provided, the that an election upon such question Lois, shall not be ordered oftener than once in and in four vears. pro- . Mr. McGowan offered to amend by J* e to striking out the word "majority" in the ty first line and inserting "two-thirds." V in ne gave ma reusuiis iur mis, aajmg ? Mc- that he had found this provision in joke nearly every Constitution. ^ Mr. Otts said it was undemocratic th nan and he moved to table, demanding the ^ was roll call on this motion. It resulted as It follows, the convention refusing to j de- table: Yeas 58, nays 78. al Having refused to table Mr. Mc- fc hile Gowan's amendment, Mr. Otts moved m rt of to substitute four-fifths, which was cc ient lost. b< issor The McQowan amendment was then 7: adopted. Senator Tillman moved to strike out le word "sections" at the end of the rst line and insert instead the words townships or parts of townships." dopted. Mr. J. S. Brice then offered this proso to go at the end of the section, hich was rejected: "Provided furler that the general assembly may ter or change the the lines of any oposed county or may refuse to esblish the same." Mr. Ira B. Jones offered an amend, ent to strike out the word "voters" . line 1 and insert "electors voting in id election." Mr. McGowan could not see where ly good could come from such an nendment. He moved to lay on the ble, but witnorew. The amenment was adopted. Mr. McGowan then offered, amid uch opposition, to amend by insertg the words "and one-third of the lalified voters in the remaining por)n of the couaties affected thereby," ter the word "county" on line 2. Mr. Johnstone moved to table, and r. McGowan thereupon withdrew. The section was then read as amend1 for the information of the conven>n. Mr. Prince offered an amendment to sert just before the proviso in the ction as reported, the following: Provided, the precedent provisions of is article have been complied with." This was adopted. On the suggestion of Senator Tillan the section was passed over for e present. SECTION THREE. When section 3 was taken up, Mr. E. Kennedy offered to amend by strikg out the words "one hundred and enty^fourth," and inserting "sixti a." The effect, ne saia, wouia De 10 ve at least two members in the >use?and one in the senate for each unty. Mr. Patterson moved to lay the lendment on the table, and on that 11 for the ayes and nays. The vote is; Yeas 88, nays 51. So the amendsut was tabled. Mr. W. B. Wilson then moved to ike out the provision for the 400 uare mile limit. He spoke in favor the motion. The amenment was, motion of Mr. Brice of York, tabled. Senator Tillman, in referring to the culiar way the extremes on both les were fighting, working into one other's hands, made use of the phrase iamnable combination " likening it the unholy alliance of the barkeep-" 3 and the prohibitionists to fight the spensary law. Mr. Ira B. Jones?You are using iproper language here. Tillman?If I am treading on anydy's toes all right; I am sorry. Mr. Jones?You are not treading on v toes; you are insulting this conntion by talking of a combination. After a few more remarks Senator llman took his seat after explaining 3 words. Section 3 was then adopted. SECTION FOUR. *r- Dm'nAA tVk/vri rvfi-'ovo/l t/> Q1YIAT1/1 11 Li* X 11UWO IUUU VMV1VV* wr ition 4 by striking out "two" before nillion" mthe second line and inserts' instead "three." The section as amended read: Section 4. No old county shall be iuced to less areA than 500 square Lies, to less taxable property than o million dollars, nor to a smaller pulation than 15,000 inhabitants. This proposed three million dollars' nitation was opposed by Senator llman. He moved to substitute by jring one and one-half millions, ith such a provision as had been oposed tbe new county of Saluda 'aid never have been established. (Jen. Hemphill said that everybody jemed to have it all down wrong, ley talked as if all were in favor of e small county idea, as if the salva>n of the State depended on dividing r up. He was opposed to any divisa. That this State was not in better ape than Georgia, so far as taxes is concerned, was a misstatement, a nitofl Atlanta's nnndition. He did ?t charge any man here with being tuuatea by any unjust motive. They ire all there with the best motives adopt measures for the best interts of the people. When the city of )lumbia advertises herself as a winp resort does she say she has a court ?use. No she says she has a fine cliate, factories, good water, etc. Mr. Patterson?A point of order, le gentleman says Columbia has od water. (Laughter.) Gen. Hemphill was drinking a glass it when the interruption came and emed to like it. Then he cited the advantages Abbelle would present" He cited also the atter of the troubles to be encounred by new counties. The taxable operty of Georgia had fallen off 2,000,000. That was the argument i presented. It was not necessary to ive new countiesi n order to prosper, e was satisfied to let well enough one. Mr. W. D. Evans moved ta postpone e further consideration of this matr till 10 o'clock this morning. This as agreed to. A MARK OF RSPECT. Mr. Evans then offered the followg resolutions which were unaniously adopted. Whereas, a member of this convenDn, the Hon. R. F. Hodges, died at s home in Bennettsville, S. C., at 5 clock this 22d day of October, 1895, id whereas we as a body have learned value and appreciate his worth as a an and a member; therefore be it Resolved, first, That we can but )w to the will of Him who doeth all tings well, yet it is nam to unuerand why one so full of vigor, both f mind and body, in the prime of life, lould be so suddenly called from a seful and honorable career. Second. That in his death this conjntion has lost a useful member, Le State a valued citizen and the >unty of Marlboro an able repreintative and faithful official. Third, That we will morun his deirture, cherish his money and emute his virtues. Fourth, That a page of the journal ' this convention be dedicated to his emory. Fifth, That a copy of these resoluons, suitably engrossed, be forwarded j the secretary to his family. As a further mark of respect to his emory I now move that these resoluDns oe made a special order for hursday next at 12 m, and that lis convention do now adjourn for Le day. a caucus proposed. Mr. Talbert, as the president was jout to declare the body adjourued >r the day, asked that the announceient be made that there would be a mference of the Democratic memirs of the convention in the hall at :30 p. m. Columbia, October 24.? Special: The Convention was very prompt yesterday morning in taking hold of the pending business?the article on counties and county government. The matter pending was Senator Tillman's amendment to make the taxable property in any proposed new county one and one naif million, which was an amendment to Mr. Prince's amendment to make it three million, the committee's report recommending two million. This was the matter under discussion the previous day. Mr. Parler, favored this amendment whilst Messrs. Howell and Behre opEosed it. There was quite a lively hit etween the former and Senator Tillman. Mr.Talbert said all these matters should be left to the Legislature, with due consideration for the will of the people and their convenience. Mr. Jeremiah Smith of Horry favored new counties, but thought there should be limitations. Mr. D. S. Henderson then called the previous question on the amendment of Senator Tillman. Senator Tillman said he was willing to let the matter come to a vote. He did not care to have any more talk about it. Mr. Prince said that when he offered his three million dollar amendment he did not know all that had been brought out in the debate. He wished to say that if Senator Tillman's amendment was tabled he would withdraw his and let the committee's recommendation of two million stand. Mr. Bellinger moved to table the Tillman amendment, which was done on a division vote of 74 to 67. A CHANGE OF HEART, v Senator Tillman insisted on having the roll call on this matter, and it was allowed, resulting in a vote directly the opposite, the convention refusing to table?thus by a vote of 76 nays to 68 yeas. The amendments offered by Senator Tillman and Mr. Prince were then adopted. Mr. W. B. Wilson offered this amendment: "Resolved, That when there is embraced within the limit ot the proposed new county a city having the population of 5,000 inhabitants or more, then such new county shall be formed with an area of not less than 300 square miles." Mr. J. S. Brice moved to table. Rpfnra this cnuld be nut. Mr. RaffS dale got the floor and stated that unless something like this was done, Rock Hill would become the county seat of York county any way. It would vote itself so in the course of time. The amendment was tabled by a vote of 81 to?"no further count demanded." Mr. E. J. Kennedy moved to amend by making the minimum territory 500 instead of 400 square miles. Lostnays 92, yeas 53. Mr. McWhite moved to make the limit 450 square miles. Lost?nays 74, yeas 69. Mr. George Johnstone offered an amendment to make it 550 square miles, but withdrew it after some talk had been indulged in. Section 3 was then adopted as a whole as follows: Section 3. No new county hereafter formed shall contain less than onesixteenth part of the whole number of the inhabitants of the State, nor shall it have less assessed taxaDle property than one and one-half millions of dollars as shown by the last tax return, nor shall it contain less area than 400 square miles. Section 2 was then taken up in its crazy-quilt shape. Several amendments being forthcoming, it was found that it was so patched up already that it could not be straightened by amendment. Consequently the section was passed over to be taken up at the night session. SECTION FOUR was then called up and read as ioilows: Section 4. No old county shall be reduced to less area than 500 square miles, to less taxable property than $2,000,000, nor to a smaller population than 15,000 inhabitants. Mr. Johnstone moved to amend so as to make old counties certain to have at least 550 square miles. He said this was a safe figure and would preserve the status of these counties in the house and senate. Senator Tillman said that he did not want too much discrimination in favor of old counties. * Mr. Prince moved to table. This prevailed by a vote of 67 to 44. The section was then adopted as it I stood. section five. Mr. Patterson tried to have section 5 passed over until 8 p. m., as it was late in the day and was a very important matter they were about to take up. The convention declined to do this. Mr. W. D. Evans stated that if the gentlemen desired to attend the circus, he move that he be excused. The president rushed this suggestion through as a motion, and the laugh was on Mr. Patterson. The section was then taken up reading thus: Sec. 5. No new county lines shall be run nearer to an established courthouse than 10 miles: Provided that this section shall not apply to courthouses located in counties not proposed to be dismembered. Mr. Talbert moved to strike out the section. Mr. Connor moved to add except when such lines are natural barrier to trade. Mr. McCalla spoke at some length on the subject of new counties in general. His opinions had been formed from experience. He knew a great deal about Georgia. Adopt Georgia's f/iVinmo ond T7/111 ixrill hrino- ruin and OUilVmW UUV4 J VV% ll?M w>.-0 expense on the State. He was at the same time for the reduction of the area to 500 for old counties. Give the old counties ample and just protection He wanted justice for every old county seat in the State. What man would like to see his old county dismantled . Don't leave it to the people as they will tell you to do. There's too much self-interest in the matter for that. He wanted them to consider this matter seriously. He wanted them to take care of the old county seats. Mr. Patterson made some pleasant references to the circus, and said there were doubtless a good many there who would like to be excused now, as only 10 minutes more time remained. He therefore moved to take a recess till 8 p. m. Mr. Breazeal had this changed to 7:30_ p. m., and the recess was taken. * In the afternoon a large number of [CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUK.j THE PEOPLE'S CARNIVAL, THE COMING STATE FAIR WILL BE A GREAT SUCCESS. Secretary Holloway Expresses Great Satisfaction with the Oatioolc?The Entries Already Coming In?New Features. Columbia, S. Cm Oct. 26.?Special: The active work of those in charge of the arrangements for the coming fair of the State Agricultural and Mechanical Society is sure to bear good fruit, not only in finer and fuller exhibits but in large crowds to see and enjoy them. The purpose of the management to have a good fair is fully recognized by the people of South Carolina, and they are co-operating to an extent whichis very gratifying. Conditions now are altogether dfiferent from those which so injuriously affected the fair last year. The crops are better?the spirits of the people are better. The whole outlook, whether for farmer or merchant or manufacturer, is altogether brighter than it has been in the past three years. This the people are not only in better mood to look a little after recreation and pleasure, but they r^fcinore alive to the benefits' which Attendance on the fair must surely bring. They are cominff ir\ pAlnnnmQ IUa i ^ fTlL A iu^ vvr vviuutvia ivx tuo iail", JL JUt? low rate of one cent a mile for the round trip makes it very cheap, and lots of people who have been constrained to stay at home for the past year or two are coming along this timo. The schedules, too, will be so arranged as to extend the best possible ^ opportunities to people all along the lines. Accommodations in Columbia will be better than ever. A good sign just now is the fact that the entries are coming in very satisfactorily. Col. Holloway, the secretary of the Society, Is altogether pleased with the indications in this respect. In the course of a talk with a representative of the State newspaper, he said that the entries are coming in well, and in a few days the work of making entries will be in full blast. The first entries of consequence were made by that veteran farmer and stock raiser, Col. J. Wash Watts of Laurens county. "What is the outtook as to the at- , tendance of visitors?" "The low rates offered by the railroads will induce a very large attendance, especially from several sections ! of the State I have heard from." "I notice the grounds and buildings | are to be opened at night. What are the reasons therefor?" "Himnlir fr? allow fViA hundred a r\f clerks and other employees of the city an opportunity to attend the fair, and to offer those who desire it an opportunity to enjoy themselves dancing, etc. The second story of the old building will be gi ?en the young people to enjoy themselves in this year. It is hoped those who engage in this innocent diversion will see that suitable music is engaged for Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday evenings. I might ' add that arrangements being made for flrstclass attractions for fair week." There are those who thinks that the Atlanta Exposition will hurt our fair. From all that can be gathered on this subject, there is little if any ground for any such apprehension. Many people from South Carolina will of AUAM/] +V* A HWAfll AvVllkUlAn in UUUIHO cVLliCUU uio glean VAiumuuu iu the Gate City. But these same people will take in our fair as well. Thousands of others, who have no idea of going to Atlanta mav be counted on to come to Columbia during fair week. A large section of the State will be fully represented at the fair, whose people will scarcely be seen aoout Atlanta. . : There is something jolly?something inspiring?about a big crowd of people, all bents on the one object of having a good time. The assurance * ?/ of a fine attendance on our fair will ? i ? i # .11 bring numbers 01 people irom au over South Carolina. Not thelpeastof the attractions during fair week is the theatre. For this time manager Eugene Cramer has arranged a fine selection of performances. All in all, the promise of a good fair?good in every particular is stronger every day as the time for the opening approaches. The fair.opens on the 11th November. Drowned LIke.Pupples. London, Oct. 24.?The Standard will tomorrow publish a dispatch from Constantinople confirming the reports of the summary disposal of many of the young Turkish party, who were arrested on the charge of seditious practices. After trial they were conveyed at aight to the beach and thence to a warship. The boats of this warship then took the prisoners to the place in the Bosphorus where the current runs ' the strongest, and they were then dropped overboard. The dispatch also confirms the reports that the severe measures taken by the porte has broken the spirit of the revolutionists. Hassan Pasha, the minister of marine, is under suspicion and he is kept under f InsR surveillance at his residence at Ortakeni. The Water Famine. , King wood, W. Va., Oct. 25.?The West Virginia Northern railroad has abandoned all trains but one a day, because water cannot be procured for locomotives. The water famine in this section of the State has become alarming. In order to make one train a day the railroad takes one of the locomotives twenty miles east on the Baltimore and Ohio to procure water. Wells are nearly all dry here and creeks and springs have been dry for weeks. nhpAt and Mononeahela rivers can be waded by children at any point. Boats cannot reach Morgantown, and a U the city has is slack water. Quickly Convicted. Abbeville, S. C., Oct. 22.?The case of the State against Tom Peterson for the murder of Constable Moseley, began last Saturday and was concluded last night, the jury rendering a verdict of "guilty. The case was hotly contested by defendant's counsel. The speeches for the defense, by D. H. Magill and Ellis G. Graydon, were among the ablest ever heard in this court house. Ti,r?? Killed. East Radford, Va., Oct. 23.?A fast through freight 011 the Norfolk aud Western Railroad was wrecked by a herd of cattle, three miles West of Malison at 3 o'clock this morning. Engineer O'Neill, Fireman C. P. Lindamood and Front Brakeman Ed Ilouseton, all of Bristol, Tenn., were instantly killed. Conductor Lewis Moore and two other brakemen were seriously injured. \