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. * The Press and Banner. BY HUGH WILSON. ABBEVILLE, S. VFEMALE SUFFRAGE. THE SUBJECT FULLY DISCUSSED IN THE CONVENTION. Earnest and Able Speeches on Iloth Sides? The Advocates of the Ballot For Women Lose The Fight. Columbia. Oct. 28?Special. The fight over the matter of female suffrage began in the Convention today, when section 3 of the suffrage article came up. Mr. Clayton of Florence offered the following amendment: Amend in line 3 after the word "it" and before the word "shall'" insert the words "and every female citizen of this State and of the United States 21 years of age and upwards, not laoormg under the disabilities named in this Constitution and who, in her own right owns taxable property of the value of $300." Mr. Clayton stated that the amendment just offered placed the convention face to /ace with female suffrage. He had to attack prejudice in doing so. But he would not hesitate to make the charge. He hoped the members would rise superior to prejudice. The women of the State had rights that should be preserved. Give them the right to preserve their rights. . The women once had no legal status whatever. They never bad no political existence. It was their political and not to their social existence that they were now to apply themselves. They now have the right to bold property. The right to hold property is given. Then they should nave the rignt to protect their rights. But it has been claimed that she does not want that right. Who makes that assumption ? What right has any man on this floor to make that assumption? We have here able women who have addressed your body. We have received and there is on that desk petition after petition asking for the right, and if my memory serves me right, there has not been a petition asking that she be denied the right to vote. Then who has the right to say that she does not want it? It has been said that if she wanted it she would get it. That very admission establishes her right before this body and it is our duty to give it to her on the evidence before us that she does want it. The next question is: Will the exercise of that right degrade her? Does the right to vote degrade your manhood? Do you feel that the right of suffrage has lowered you? If it cannot lower you it cannot lower her. It has been argued that she would come into the canvass and go upon the hustings, and that she will seek office. I admit all that If she does she has the right. Are we denying it because we fear that she will exercise that right? I do not think that there is any man who will ask that we should not give her the right for that reason. * It has also been said that she could not do jury duty or road duty, or militia auty, or other duties that have to be performed by citizens. That is absurd! Look at the State of Wyoming and see if they do not perform jury duty there. I was reading some time ago the statement of a Wyoming judge, who said that he had never seen Jnwvwci TV.O+ nnMfinn in nnf juiv/i jluuw v^mwuvu MV. worth debating. Now, the next question: Will she do military duty. I understand that one of the delegates, a member of the committee on suffrage asked that question. Upon inquiry I have found that he was a verv young man, who had not been in the civil war, or he would not have asked such a question. Didn't she do it in the war just passed ? I know by personal knowledge one or two instances when young men who refused to go to the war were presented with a full suit of women's apparel and told if you won't take up arms, take to skirts." They did do military duty. To those men who were old soldiers there is no music so encnanting; no music carried men to a career that will ever be remembered as did "The Girl I Left Behind Me." Every company and every regiment that marched from its native town to the field of glory did so to the strains of that inspiring song. It may not be known to those who are carried away by classical music, but that tune carried more men to flory than any other tune ever nown. She will do military duty. She was an angel in the hospitals during the Jate war and she made all the clothes that the soldiers needed, and exhibited .a spirit of self-denial that has jiever been surpassed by women in any country. Who does not remember how they took the palmetto and the shucks and platted them into hats, and how they "wove their own homespun dresses? And I mean no reflection upon the women of the present day when I say that there were and never will be fairer faces than those of the women who wore the palmetto hats and homesspun dresses. Yes, gentlemen, she has done military duty and she will continue doing it. Now then comes the question, is it expedient to give her the ballot? We are confronted, gentlemen of the convention, with a grave and serious problem. We have Charrvbids on one side and Scylia on the other, and we are trying to steer between them. It is a great task and we should take advantage of every chance that offers itself. The learned gentleman from Charleston, in discussing the legal aspects this hill thaf has been framed bv the wisdom of some of the best minds in the State, says that we are nearby upon sands, but that there is a rock ahead. Whatever may be the division or the fate of the rest of the bill, here is a rock we can rest upon with safety Enfranchise the women of South Carolina, the property-holding women, and they will be a safeguard whenever the occasion arises. I have made out a case here in which I have shown that she has a right. I ask you now by the memories of Lexington and Yorktown and by the memories of the Lost Cause and by the memories of those monuments which the gentleman from Beaufort said would be the gravestones of our lost hopes, I ask you to throw aside your prejudices and give to woman the right which she deserves and which is the only right which will place her upon complete equality with man. Mr. Rogers moved to lay the amen ment on the table, but withdrew to t low Col. John T. Sloan to speak. Cc Sloan spoke from the centre aisle, ai with much energy. He opposed mt earnestly the granting of the sufTraj to women. He was frequently inte rupted by Mr. Clayton, and the wor play between the two gentlemen w, very sprightly. GENERAL HEMPHILL. Gen. R. R. Hemphill then took tl floor, and stated that the gentlems who preceded him indulged in vo< feration and not in argument. He hj taken up the cause of woman yea ago. The more he thought of it tl more he was convinced that it wj right and the only solution of the que tion of suffrage. It did not folio that a woman had to be a policemai if she was given the voting privileg He never expected to see any mo: war in South Carolina. There was r purpose to encourage war. We star T4- ItrtP. Urrvvi tViof Qrti 1 < biius. lb Jaao uicii vucug^u wuau ijuui Carolina had practiced fraud. If the: had been any fraud in this county 1 did not know it. But if there wi fraud, give the ballot to the wome and that would settle the matter. A the plans suggested did not seem 1 solve it. They should remove this r flection on the great State of Soul Carolina. You propose to restrict tt suffrage of men. We went back inl the Union taking the obligation thf no class should ever have its privilegf or immunities abridged or denie< Now all admitted what the Unite States Constitution and amend men said of the subject. Bow are you going to comply wit all this? Why, give the franchise I woman with a property qualiflcatioi There is the solution of the questio before the people of South Carolini This enlarges the suffrage and you ca equality it. His friend had said thj God never intended that woman shoul be on an equality with men. It ma be on the idea that women are n< paid for the work. He mentione several South Carolina women wl nearly 60 years ago demanded th ri?ht of suffrage- They were demani ing it now. They have their represei tatives here. They tell you the w< men will not go to the polls. T1 women of South Carolina had nevi failed to do their duty. The good vt< men and men can vote on one da; the bad men the next. A voice?What about the bad w< men? Gen Hemphill?And the bad womc will not come out at all. No women would ever be insulte in this State at the polls or elsewher Up to 18(58 the women had no righ that the law was bound to respec Now a married woman has the rig] to hold her separate property and ai pose of it as she may wish. Why nt give the women a fair and equi chance? Give the women full chance. This will mal na r?nr.ft more tl UVUIIU V^LWA. X/AA UM ? leading State in the Union. Di appoint those who think we a: going to settle this matter by frau< With the educational qualification tl matter will be settled. In 1880 there were 72,000 white me over 21 years of age who could rea and write. There were 14,200 wfc could not, making a to Lai of 86,2( white men. There were 25,870 n groes who could read and write an 96,010 who could not, a total of 118,8^ negroes. There were 75,OOCL white women wi could read and write and 18,000 colo ed vromen in like condition. The educated white majority wit the women added was 31,000. In 1890 there was a majority of 30,25 negro men over the white men. E then cited the figures as to males an females in Laurens county. In Kiel land there were 592 white women wh would be qualified against 115 negi women. Women now take positions as boo] L-aanc /OaWb-c ctAnntrrsinhers and the WW* - ?.?. are thrown thus publicly with mei Have they been insulted? No. The will elevate our country in all r spects. He would not "fatigue the pi tience" of this convention. Mr. Rogers stated that suffrage wf a duty to be imposed. He wanted 1 know if General Hemphill believe that any considerable portion?half < them, say?want them to put this bu den on their shoulders. General Hemphill said that the wanted it; that was all. They woul do their duty. Mr. Prince wanted to know if tt qualification he gave would not t merely bringing about temporary r lief. General Hemphill stated that he di not intend to abridge any one's priv leges nor could it be done by law. MR. HENDERSON. Mr. D. S. Henderson then took ti floor. He would detain them only few moments. He said no matter whi the female suffragists may say in tr way of argument, the argument mac here tonight shows that the scheme founded upon pure cowardice. Wou] you try to solve the suffrage problei in this way? Let us follow this ma ter like men. The idea of saying 1 the world that the negroes were s numerous that we had to drag the wi men in the State before us to protei us is pitiful. Before we do that, let i do away with the excellent report < the committee, go back, get our sho guns and stand by the polls, and no in the name of heaven, drag our w< men to the ballot box. Take up tt excellent and manly report of tl committee and bring the divided whi people back to the ballot box. Whe and where was the suffrage discuss* ?on the stump or in the canvass c this subject? How would the peop have spoken on this subject? In b half of the mothers of South Carolir and our dear old dead mothers wl have taught us that woman's sphei is the home, keep woman there, an not mako her a tramping voter at tt ballot box. Do this and receive tl nlaudits of men. Mr. Clayton asked him a questic as to who was to protect the womei He replied: "It they have no hu bands let them find sweethearts I protect them MR. BURN. Mr. Burn took the iloor as St Rogers was demanding the roll ca on his motion to table the amendmen Mr. Burn spoke with his usual feelin and energy. He grew veryeloquei on the subject of women. He int mated that Colonel Sloan had ver little chivalry if it was to be judge by his speech. Why should not woman be allowed to vote? If woma did not want the ballot Bhe would n< use it. Take care you may need w< man's vote. I will say no more, know that woman is superior to mai He rung in a quotation from the Bar of Scotland, and then spoke of th peerless markmanship of "that little d- woman in Buffalo Bill's show." This A1 il- was a centre shot. He felt it a duty, Ai >1. however, that he owed to his constit- Be id uency to vote against it. (Prolonged Br ist laughter) Prejudice was a dangerous Bi sre thing. * Ct sr- Miller?How can you make such a D( d- speech like that aud then say you D< as can't vote for it? (Laughter and con- F1 . fusion). Gi Mr. Burn said he always tried to GK ie represent by his vote the will of his Hi in people; that was all. w< ;i- Mr. Clayton wanted to have the H< id further consideration postponed until so: rs tomorrow morning. This caused a I. ie volley of "oh! no's" from all parts of /W as the house. Mr. Rogers renewed his M< s- motion to table, but withdrew to al- m< w 10w Ur. Ximmermuu wj apea&. iur a iu, q, few moments. M< e. dr. timmerman Pfl re began to speak amid a roar of laughter, P. 10 but it quickly subsided, for he stood on Hstrong ground. He said he advocated :b the cause of woman's suffrage because |1: pe it would contribute to the moral status ?n ie of the men and would improve the Sn 15 moral tone of the suffrage article. He !rj was somewhat surprised at the distin- ^ " guished gentleman from Aiken saving ^ t0 that the men wished to hide behind ^ ?" the women. no voting women there. ie Mr. Rogers said he went home the "1. to other day and he made a special can" vass, finding not a single woman who 1 wanted it. or( " mr. m'white. ad, L Mr. McWhite got the floor as the f vote was about to be taken and he pro- Sti v ceeded to state that the women of of ~~ Florence did not want the ballot, dei f* When they want it I am willing to sti " give the ballot to them. He did not tio , know until tonight that his colleagues ele *: were in favor of this scheme. He at- ] - tacked the argument on the other side, vo 1 j Mr. Burn started to ask him a ques- ad tion. du Z Mr. McWhite?"Why, I understand wa ^ you are going to vote with me; its no tio use to answer any question from you. Sli That little organization of women ? over in Florence has about a dozen " women in it, and the president of it _ * is a New Englanderl He had never , " seen anything in Mr. Clayton's paper in favor of woman's suffrage. Vo, " 'Mr. Clayton?There have been sev- rr' eral editorials therein. " Mr. McWhite?I have never seen anything else in it except some little local or show notice, outside of some :? _ poor people's land advertised to be n sold. (Laughter.) j After some little debate, the further " ' consideration of Mr. Clayton's amend- , t ment was postponed till tomorrow- *f t whereupon the Convention adjourned. f , I A FINAL APPEAL. * 7" Just before Mr. Mc White began to / speak the following petition from the , women of Fairfax was read to the convention: Mf* To the Hon. John Gary Evans, presi- ^ dent, and the members of the Con- , stitutional convention. We, the undersigned women of j Barnwell county, earnestly urge upon ? * you to give the ballot with a property or educational qualification. We base our appeal on justice, we j being subject to the burdens and pen- Jv ? altiesof government, and because as )0 taxpayers we have a right to reprea sentation by vote. j (Signed.) Mrs. Virginia D. Young, -/j L Mrs. Marion Morgan Buckner, Mrs. ] ' Dora Wilson, Mrs. Rivan Lipsey, Mrs. Pauline Brunson, Miss May p Brunson, Mrs. Matilda Knight, Mrs. Eliza Allen, Mrs. Iola K. Besenger, an . Miss Edna Kearse, Mrs. Lizzie M. th< Preacher, Mrs. Mamie P. Wilson, loi )0 Mrs. Ida G. Jarral, Mrs. Elliott G. [J: Kessler, Mrs. Anne A. Bassett, Mrs. boi f Lucia B. Knight, Miss Ida M. Hair, Be Miss Minnie B. Hair, Mrs. Geneva ha ' Barber, Miss Lily Kearpe, Mrs. Mar- W tha A. Craddock, Mrs. Hettie M. Fen- De nel, Miss Maggie Fennel, Mrs. Sallie E? Moye Ogilvie, Miss Minnie Fennel, Fr Miks Rhodft Fennel. Miss Laura Fen- J. J nel, Mrs. Nettie B. fennel, Mrs. Min- Hi ^ nie Ogilvie Lanier; Mrs. Mary Z. King, D. Mrs. Lewis P. Sindersine, Miss Ada Je: L. Sindersine, Mrs. Mary E. Connolly, Ge Mrs. Elizabeth. Connolly, Mrs. S. J. Kc Grayson, Miss Ada Brunson, Miss mi Maude Sindersine, Mrs. Rebecca S. an Williams, Miss Donnace Fennel. Mt the amendment defeated- Ml ' Columbia, Oct. 28.?Special: The Pe Convention, with ?reat promptness, Re resumed, this mornine, the considera- sel ? tion of the article on tne right of suf- Sn frage?the pending question being Sn on the motion to give women, Sb ? under certain limitations, the right to B. 7 vote. W The debate was opened by Mr. Tal- W d bert, who made a strong speech wfl ? against the proposition. ] Next came Mr. J. A. Sligh of New- As berry. He was sorry to see a disposi- CL tion to choke off debate. He was De te heartily opposed to the scheme, as an a now^presented, but if it should be de- wc it feated he would offer an amendment M( ie allowing every woman to vote who Me le should own $300 worth of taxable Mc is property. Ot id Mr. McCalla called for the previous Sh n question, which was then ordered by a Ta t- vote that was verv nearly even. W x> Mr. Berry of Marion then took the soi jo floor for five minutes, in order to pre- i d- sent the views of the ladies of Marion, cal ct who has presented the petition the sui is convention has before it He wanted pr< )f to speak in reply to Mr. Henderson's ] t- statements He would vote for the wo- chj t, men at a sacrifice of his feelings. The inj o- plan suggested by the committee could an ie not do more than be temporary in its ? le operations. He would not like to wt te see fraud fastened on the people. chi :n Mr. Clayton then said he desired to id have Mr. George D. Tillman close for m his side. He asked the other side to ( le proceed. wb e- He gave Miller five minutes, and the col ta colored member pleaded for universal enl lo suffrage for both sexes and said he was wa re willing to accept it even with a prop- a r id erty qualification upon it. He hoped tux ie that they would take this thing as it spt ift was and spftlpi it smmrfllv and fftirlv. There was f u rther debate. Mr. Geo D. the ?n Tillman now made a lengthy and ear- tor a. nest speech in favor of female suffrage, an* s- Mr. Bryan closed the debate, arguing the to against the amendment. wa Mr. Clayton moved to reconsider ths the vote whereby the previous question by r. had been called. This was voted down, cal 11 HOW IT WAS KILLED. del t. Mr. Rogers then withdrew his mo- ful ig tion to table, and a straight vote was ma it taken on the amendment offered by lik i- Mr. Clayton. The amendment was sid y lost by the following vote: vil sd Yeas?Clayton. Cooper, Cunninga ham, Dudley, Ellerbe. Evans, W. D.; n Hemphill, Jones. Wilie; Keitt, McMa- I 5t han, Meares, Miller, Montgomery, J. wo 3- D.; Montgomery, W. J.; Moore, tra I Nicholson, Parler, Rosborough, Shu- sta 1. ler, Smith, W. C.; Stackhouse, Tay- tra d lor, Tillman, GK D.; Timmerman, goi te Whipper, Wigg?26. citn Nays?John Gary Evans, Aid rich, iexander, Anderson, Ashe, Atkinson, ustin, Barker, Barton, Bates, Behre, illinger, Bobo, Bo wen, Bowman, adham, Breazeale, Brice, J. S.; ice, T. W.; Bryan, Buist, Burn, intev, Carver, Connor, DeHay, mnis, Dent, Derham, Douglass, J >yle, Efird, Farrow, Field, Fitch, oyd, Fraser, Gamble, Garris, Gary, lland, Glenn, J. L.; Glenn, P.; >oding, Graham, Gray, Gunter, imel, Harris, Harrison, Hay, Hayns- ( )rth, Henderson, D. S.; Henry, 1 5user,_Hutson, Irby, Jervey, John- i a, T. E.; Johnstone, tteorge; Jones, j H.; Kennedy, E. J.; Kennedy, J. j Klugh, Lee, Lowman, Lybrand, :Calla, McCaslan, McCown, McDer- 1 atte, McGowan, McKagen, McMak- t , McWhite, Matthews, Mitchell, t Drrison, Mower, Murray, Nash, Otts, e irrott, Patterson, Patton, Peake, c irritte, Prince, Ragsdale, Bead, J. c ; Redfearn, Reed, K.; Rogers, Row- i id, Russell, Sheppard, Singletary, i igh, Sloan, Small, Smith, A. J.; t nth, Jeremiah; Smith, R. F.; a oak, Stokes Stribling, Sullivan, g lbert, Tillman, B. R.: vonKolnitz; e aters, Watson, Wells, Wharton, t hite, A. H.; White, S. E. Wiggins, ilson, Stanyarne; Wilson, W. B.; c inkier, Woodward?121. i rhe convention then took a recess t 17:30 p.m. 1 THE NIGHT SESSION. When the convention .was called to c ler at 7:30 p. m., Section 3 was ? opted as follows: 3ec. 3. Every male citizen of this 1 - -i -3 Ol lie ana ui me uuiicuoutua, ^xjcaiu a*e and upwards, not laboring un- j r the disabilities named in this Con- j tution, and possessing the qualificans required oy it, shall be a legal sctor. Mr. Sligh moved to reconsider the e te whereby the section had been 1 opted in order to allow him to intro- 1 ce an amendment. A division vote 1 is taken on this motion and the lho- ( n prevailed. 65 voting with Mr. , < MR. SLIGHTS PLAN. ( Mr. Sligh then offered tho following j lendment: i "The general assembly may at any i ae after the first day of January, ] 98, by legislative enactment provide ' it every female citizen of the United i ites 21 years of aire and upwards not >oring under the disabilities named j tills Constitution and in addition to a qualifications required by it own? property in this State assessed at 00 or more shall be a legal elector." Mr. Sligh spoke to the amendment, iting in substance what he had statin the morning why this matter us necessary." It could not do any rm and it might do a good deal of od. The wisdom of the body did it rest in one committee. He hoped it could do no harm that this matp would be allow to go through. Mr. Henderson said the difference tween the proposition already deited and this one was merely an efrt to shift the burden from the conntion to the general assembly. He ought this was the worse proposition the two. If the women were to be ?en the ballot they should giro it to em in the organic law. Mr. Wharton stated that this thing >uld bring about a perpetual row? t only in elections for members of b general assembly, but before the fislature. KILLED. Mr. K. J. Kennedy moved to table d the roll was called, resulting in 9 DroDOsition being killed by the fol iving vote: J ?eaa?Aldrich, Alexander, Ander- i a, Austin, Barker, Barton, Bates, ? hre, Bellinger, Bobo, Bowen, Brad- < m, Breazeaie, Brice, J. S.; Brice, T. f Bryan, Cantey, Carver, Connor, < iHay, Dennis, Douglass, Doyle, ? ird, Farrow, Field, Fitch, Floyd, t aser, Gage, Gamble, Gary, Glenn, L. jGoodmg, Gray, Gunter, Hamel, i ims, Harrison, Hay, Henderson, ? 8.; Henry, Houser, Hutson, Irby, e rvey, Johnstone, T. E.; Johnstone, i orge; Jones, Wilie; Kennedy, K. J.; a innedy. J. W.; Klugh, Lee, Low- t in, McCalla, McDermotte, McGow- f , McKagen, McMakin, McWhite, c itthews, Mitchell, Morrison, Mower, ^ irray, Nash, Parrott,- Peake, e rrittee, Prince, Ragsdale, Redfeara, t ed, J. R.; Rogers, Rowland, Rus- t 1; Sheppard, Singletary, Smalls, \ nth, A. J.; Smith, Jeremiah; I lith, R. F.: Smith, W. C.; Stokes, s ribling, Sullivan, Talbert, Tillman, R.; vonKolnitz, Waters Watson, j harton, White, A. H.; Wiggins, | ilson, Stanyarnei Winkler, Wood- t ird?99. c STays?(Governor John Gary Evans, i he, Atkinson, Bowman, Burn, f ? ? On nnin/vViom 4 ay toil, VUUIIOI ) vuamugun m, j, rham, Dudley, Ellerbe, Ev- c s, W. D.; Gams, Graham. Hayns- 1 irth, Hemphill, Jones, I. B.; Keitt, ( iCaslan. McCown, McMahan, ( ?tres, Miller, Mon^omery; J. D.; j mgomery, W. J.; Moore, Nicholson, Is. Parler. Patton, Rosborough, t uler, Slign, Smoak, Stackhouse, t ylor, Tillman, G. D.; Timmerman, s ells, Whipper, White, Wigg, Wil- ( 1, W. B.?42. s Smalls stated, when the roll was a led, that he was in favor of woman's j frage, but he was opposed to the s jperty qualification. s Sir. Johnstone then made a verbal s mee at the end of the section chang- r j the last words, "a legal elector," t d making them read an elector." s Section 3 was then adopted as a ? iole as presented, save for this 1 ange. a s A Graceful Deed. t Columbia. Oct. 31.?While Wigg, a lo is a rather corpulent Mustee the t lor of coffee with cream and appar- d tlv with a trace of Indian blood, c 3 speaking, Mr. Evans,of Marlboro, u ampant- reformer, noticed that the C nbleronthe desk in front bf the "v iaker had been emptied. He step- g 1 gently from his place and handed n > tumbler to Mr. Cooper, of Colle- tl i, another red hot white supremacy a & Ben Tillman man, who took it to si > table, filled it from the pitcher of v ter there and returned it quietly so \ it Wigg might not be interrupted ti thrist or be compelled to stop to 1 1 a page. It was a very small mci- t] it, but I thought it was very grace- f< and an illustration of a spirit of I* gnanimity and good will which I e e to see, especially from the strong v e to the weak.?A. B. W.,in Green- v le News. P d An Unknown Woman Killed. p Ulanta, Ga., Oct. 28.?An unknown o man was killed by an Exposition p in today at Ella street crossing. She rted to cross just as an incoming tl in passed, and was struck by an out- tl Jig train. She was a stranger in the si f, and has not been identified. q I THE RIGHT OF RIGHTS. THE CONVENTION CONSIDERS Tl SUFFRAGE CLAUSE. tnimated and Interesting Debate on t Most Important Subject?What V Said and Done. Columbia, Oct. 28.? Special: 1 Convention was not slow in reachi ,he most interetsine of the matt psrhich are to be settled by that boc md which are to form parts of the janic law of the State. The article was the special order f :30 this evening. The galleries, jether with the spectators' space he floor, were well filled. The fi ipeaker was R. B. Anderson, the c >red delegate from Georgetown. ! ii- ?J n ?j ? leiivereu a, wen urepanw DjArcvu, vhich he pleaded for justice to I legro as a citizen and as a factor he development of the country. Mr. Burn made a strong and imp ion ate speech in favor of the pu smbodiea in the report of the comn ee on suffrage. Next camd I. R. Reed, one of t colored delegates from Beaufort, -w nade a speech of considerable leng aking the same positions as his>c eagues. Whipper's substitute was then vol lown, only the six negro memto lupporting it. The following sections of the arti vere then adopted: Section 1. All elections by .t jeople shall be by ballot, and el ions shall never De held nor the I ots be counted in secret. Section 2. Every qualified elec ihall be eligible to any office to be \ id for, unless disqualified by age, prescribed in this Constitution. I 10 person shall hold two of honor jrofit at the same time, except offic >f the militia and notaries public. the patton plan. Columbia, October 29.?Special f soon as the Convention haa dispoj >f the matter of female suffrage, as ated elsewhere in this corresponden t proceeded to take up section ivhich embodies the regulation of 1 -J-Vi ~e ii,A ri?Ub UI OUUIO^C, vu tuc DVT\xu 'Mississippi plan," with certain mc 3 cations. Mr. Patton of Richland offered i following substitute: 1. Every male citizen of the State South Carolina of the age of 21 yes lot laboring under disabilities nan in this Constitution, who shall hi resided in the State two years, and the county in which he offers to v 5ne year next preceding any electi* ind who shall have paid all poll Dther tax due by him to the State the fiscal year preceding that in wh lie shall offer to vote: and who, in j lition thereto (a) shall be able to n the Constitution in English pr :>r sien his name; or (b) sh shall nave been engaged in the act military or naval service of the 1 Confederate States of America, or the United States of America duri the late war between the States; or shall be the lawful lineal descend] )f a person who was engaged in si service, and shall be alive at the ti >f the adoption of this Constitute shall be a qualified elector of t State, and, when duly registered, sh De entitled to vote for all officers t] ire now or may hereafter be elecl oy the people, and upon all questic lubmitted to the electors at any el ion. 2. The general assembly shall en just and equal laws for the accur egistry of the qualified electors of t State, and they shall also establ :onvenient, fair and impartial tribi tls to pass upon and determine I lualifications of persons offering the lelves for registration as qualified el ors. 3. A popular government cannot < st without a pure ballot: the gene: issembly, therefore, shall enact strii >nt laws for the regulation of the r stry and elections of this State, w evere penalties for the violation he same. Any person who shall vi ully violate such laws shall, up :onviction to such penalties as t general assembly may impose, be f< iver disqualified from voting and < >aired from holding public office his State; and the disabilities impos >y this section shall not be remov >y the pardon of the governor or ict of the general assembly. Mr. Patton first made a scathing : >ly to the speeches of the negro ae 'ates, and tnen proceeded to consic he scheme reported by the suffra lommittee. He took the position tt f it were fairly enforced it would d ranchise between ten and twel housand white men. If it" should Lisbonestly employed, then we shoi' Lave the same troubles which t Convention was expected to cu Coming down to the discussion of 1 >articiuar plan. Mr. Patton said: The people of South Carolina ha he rignt to give the ballot to any ch hat we see nt, and we as their rep: entatives are the people of Sou Carolina. We are limited by nothii ave the fifteenth amendment. I ha .ffirmed that military service is a p] >er ground for the bestowal of t uffrage. It is no novel idea. T tatutes of the United States ha omething akin to it. They require esidence of only one year, instead wo, for naturalization if a person h erved in the army. Again, sir, t State of (Connecticut, rrom 1818 845, when the Constitution w .mended, had this provision that hould reside so long in the State, ai hat he should have property of t' nnual value of 17 sterling, or the i ernative that he should nave do; .uty in the militia for one year. Nc onsult your Constitutions and Ich inder the head of the Connectic Constitution and you will find th ?r-ir thine that so manv of the del ates are shy about. It went in Co lecticut and no one there thoug here was anything new or startln bout it The great State of Massach etts, which was certainly equipp ?ith as fine a bar as any State in t] Jnion has adopted into her Constit ion a provision exactly similar to the "here is difference in the propositi fciat I propose. I also grant suffrai or service in the Confederate arm To one in the legislature ever hesitf d to vote for pensions because tl rords "soldiers of the Confederacy rere used. They tax Ihe colored pe le to help pay pensions for the sc iers of the Confederacy. No, sir, v ay $3,000,000 a year to the pensioi f the northern soldiers. If we cou ay up our own soldiers as much j re have to pay the Federal soldie iey would Be able to qualify und le property qualification. He cou *ve up the pension one year ar ualify. Not being able to give hi r the money, is it not reasonable to give an him a vote ? It is exactly the same sid thing as giving him a $300 bond, non- ' HE interest bearing and non-taxable. We the give him a bond that enables him to ott qualify. thi Now we also allow any one who kn hU has fought in the Union army qualify, sol eaa but that will not affect many votes. ren As a rule those who have come here fro from the north were men of property J wo or education, and the negroes who ing ng fought on the Federal side have, as a cor ers rule, more intelligence than their fel- tog lv lows. In this county there are num- wo or- bers of negroes who are called white by men because they entered the Confed- fed for erate army with the understanding on< to- that they would be recognized as white VL on men if they did so. los ret Now, sir, is it constitutional ? Well, ser ol- there is no way of demonstrating that ' He as you can that two and two makes pla in four. There is no decision upon re- too the cord that would indicate that it is un- w! in constitutional. The only provision of rea the Constituion that it might infringe ' as. upon is tfce fifteenth amendment. The wt ms suggestion of the gentleman in the toe lit- caucus that the hereditary feature of wi] it was contrary to the rights of nobili- 4 he tv clause, etc., won't do. The revised wh ho statutes give pensions to the sons of noi th, soldiers. I will say that Connecticut chi ol- and Massachusetts nave had the same provisions in their constitutions and fat ted thev have never been attacked. an< Brs The greatest argument of all is that int it will give a true and honest ballot, noi cle Then, sir, the dark cloud that is hang- 1 ing over our State will burst asunder noi he and we will walkout into the sunlight gr< ec- and get out of the miserable slough, 4 ,al- where the fanatical hate of the north- to1 em people and the ignorance and in- pa* tor competency of the southern negro wt ot- Have placed us for the last 30 years, kil {IS julcro la an u^pvikuuitv \aj uiuau ooiuu v* Jut these clouds and walk out and look or the world in the eye. As ers Mr. Patton concluded thus: "If the As plan of the committee is unconstitu- Pr tnnal you have a direct educational ' As and property qualification. If my wa jed plan is unconstitutional we will be in it i re- exactly tlie same fix. But we can go cet to our people and tell them that we Ue 4( have done the best we could, and if the Fo the Federal courts will not let us, it is not W led the first time in the history of South ,di- Carolina that she has been forced to 4 call upon aer sons to sacrifice their tor tke private interests to the public weaL" wi Robert Smalls, one of the colored ] deletes from Beaufort, rose to a sp< a question of personal privilege. He tio referred to Mr. Patton's statement ( that he (Smalls) had, in 1877, been vol ^ convicted, in the Richland court, of til] ote having received a bribe whilst Sena5n tor from Beaufort Smalls indignant- i ' ly denied his guilt?said his case was ay< for pending in the Supreme Court of the f0r j-i. United States, when the governor of ] a(j_ South Carolina, without nis solicita- De ^ tion in any way, granted him a full Kli int pardon. " J. ; if. rr tv tt' gj2 111 r? JJAjruavruibu v/i uicuuvauo ?? n. e tached Mr Patton's plan and warmly mi te supported that of the suffrage comf mittee. He declared that the latter ? n contemplated no fraud, and was, un- on J? der all existing circumstances, the am the best that could be devised. me lck Miller of Beaufort had something ] me to say about Mr. Patton's reflections fol upon the Republican administration < his from 1868 to 1876. ( Several amendments to section 4 tra ^ were handed up, to be printed for the an; te(j information of the members. None mi of them was acted on. gei ^ reducing clerical force. wh Owing to the fact that there was no off ci. work for the engrossing clerks to do, ] ate the convention passed a resolution dis- to < r- missing them, and providing for their tio kk pay at $2 a day and 5 cents mileage pi$ each way. rep ue " The convention then adjourned. coi _ patton's plan rejected. to ' Columbia, Oct. 30.-^-Special: The 18? 4Uio mAwirny imonmoH fViA II WUYUUUVU II1U0 UiViiUUg *vmv j consideration of the suffrage article est 3xj the subject in hand being the substi- He ^ tute offered by Mr. Clowper Patton of 1 ltS' Richland. ] mr. mcgowan's points. am of Mr. McGowan of the committee got Ba rQ. the floor at the outset and stated that Ca on in his opinion the attack on the report He last nigntwas uncalled for. The com- Ro or. mittee had worked hard for three sor je. weeks and they had giyen it the most 1 ;n careful consideration. The Conserva- wh jgjj tives and Reformers had all agreed and all ^ reported the matter unanimously. He cer ^ proposed to show that the attack was lea y unwarranted in every respect; he an< pg. wanted to show that Mr. Patton was 2 je_ wrong in his facts and his law. I deny abl [er that the committee contemplates that at 1 e the plan shall be fraudulently en- {jei forced. aei jg. The object was to enfranchise illiter- cor ' ate white men. I don't care who bg knows it! And we can do it without J Qd trouble. He denied that it was the in- am be tention of the committee to have the tioi re requirement enforced dishonestly. I ^ Mr. Patton had said nine-tenths of the anc poor white people would be disfran- tha __ chised. i;deny tins: lean say tnat of: j-g they can understand. If they know hel re_ so little that they cannot understand, 189 they are bordering on idiocy and lun- J __ acy. This clause should and will be in i ? administered honestly. My friend not ... based his entire argument on this thii "impossibility to understand." I rep say that he has built his argument on frai ve a false basis. His purpose is to get 1 k these men in who snould not be ais- 1 ojf qualified. This State's old soldiers Jer had been called off to war when they 126 u. should have been learning to read and mei write. The argument of my friend Du< must fall to the ground. It cannot J. ^ stand. Now where is my friend's fig- R.; j ures and statistics to prove what he asbe serts? * il- Mr. Patton?Now, where are yours? ^ Qe Mr. McGowan?I get my statements g (W from my knowledge of the poor peo_1_ nln in m-rr Aorr /"rtiinfr I Jtt. |/1V *** [p ut Mr. Patton?I did the same ce(j: at Mr. McGown?Then they are differ[e. ent from the people of my county. yea n. Then followed a long running deht bate particpated in by Messrs. Patton, Day ig McGowan and others. jnc] u. The previous questions was then ored dered by a vote of 94 to 47. /j txe Messrs. Farrow and Burn spoke for u. against the Patton substitute, and onc it. Messrs. Sheppard and Parrott in its ^ >n favor. or s ye ANOTHER ADVOCATE. prQ. y. Mr. Clayton advocated the Patton (c it- plan in a five minute speech. Under qui] tie the committee plan he thought many vot< p" white men would be disfranchised, hiir o- He appealed to the Confederate soldi- taxe >1- ers, the vote of many of whom were asse ve in danger. yea: as A VETERAN SPEAKS. (e Id The next speaker was Mr. Bradham lost as of Clarendon, who said: is q ra It was a strange coincidence that this er the speaker who took the tloor just af- C Id ter Governor Sheppard had ooncluded has id his one-leg story was Mr. Bradham, a ? m Confederate veteran with only one n. He spoke on the committee's e. He said in substance : 'I am not a lawyer and do not know ) constitutionality of this nor of any ler measure, but I do know someng of the people of my county, I do ow something of the Confederate dier. If as my friend from Horry narked, the dead soldier could arise m the battlefields of Virginia, I uld meet them and with that greet; that can only be understood by nrades who have shed their blood ;ether in defense of their country. I uld say by the measure proposed the suffrage committee every*Conera te soldier is provided for. As s, a part of whose body is buried in rginia. I would say that I would e my others arm before I would conit to disfranchise any one of them. 'My first objection to Mr. Patton's ,n is that all white voters who were i young to go into the war and lose farthers did not, and cannot id and write would be disfranchised. 'My second is that the sons of men 10 died before the war and who were ? young themselves to go into it, [1 be denied the ballot. 'My third objection is that those iose fathers were invalids and could t go into the war will be disfransed 'My fourth is that those whose hers were too old to go into the war i all good people who have moved o the State since the war and cant read and write will be shut out 'The better element of negroes do b want the ignorant and vicious ne> to vote. 'I remember when a boy in going Charleston with a load of cotton we ssed a place where a young man iile runninc a horse race, had been 1. His tombstone was by the side the road and on it these lines: Ye living men as ye pass by, S fou are now so once was I; am now, so you will be, epare for death and follow me-' 'A man who was something of a g, came qlong and after looking at awhile, wrote: To follow you I am not content, iless I know the road you went, r they do fork and no ohe can tell, hether you have gone to heaven or hell.' 'And th&t the way with Mr. Pati's plan; we do not know where it 11 lead us." (Loud laughter.) Jlr. Bryan made a very strong sech, pointing out the the constitunal objections to the Patton plan. )n the suggestion of Mr. Patton the a te on his substitute was postponed [ the night session. ? ' V HOW It DIED. Che vote by ayes and noes stood? 3s 20, noes 117. Those who voted 1 the measure: llessrs. Bates, Brice, T. W. ; Burn, nt, Graham, Jervey, Jones, Wilie; ugh, McDermotte, Montgomery, W. Parrott, Patton, Perritte, Bead, J. ; Russell, Sheppard, Smith, Jereah; Stackhouse, Sullivan, Wigg. THE "MISSISSIPPI PLAN." Several amendments were offered, behalf of the committee on suffrage i ordered to be printed. They were wtly changes in the wording only. Hr. Stanyarne Wilson offered the lowing amendment: Strike out (c) and insert subdivision c.) The person applying for registion must be able to read and write y section of this Constitution, or ist be possessed of sufficient intellilce to understand and explain it ten read to him by the registration leer. Che effect of this substitute*would be J. !i.l_ .11 1 12D qo away wnn an property (juauncans, ana to extend the ''Mississippi in" indefinitely?whereas the article torted by the suffrage committee 1 templates that that plan shall cease operate after the 1st of January 18. Sir. Wilson made a long and earnspeech in favor of this proposition, i was answered by Senator Tillman. Che vote stood?yeas 18, nays 129. Chose who supported the Wilson endment were?Messrs. Alexander, rry, Bobo, Bowen, Brice,T. W.; rver, Gray, Hamel, Harrison, ? nry, Johnstone, T. E.; Otts, Peake, wland, Wilson, Stanyarne; Wili, W. B.?16; ulr. Jervey offered an amendment ich would preserve the suffrage to voters now holding registration tihcates, and exclude all others un3 these others should be able to read 1 write. dr. Jervey made an earnest and e speech in favor of his proposition the same time pointing out tne dan] s and wrongs that he thought inci it to the plan reported by the suffrage omittee. mr. Bellinger's plan. Ir. Bellinger offered the following endment to Mr. Jervey's propositi: nserting between the words "same" 1 "be" uie words "or upon proof t he voted at the general elections L892 and 1894, or at the election d on the 20th day of .August, 5." Ir. Bellinger spoke at some length nmriAwf s\f tViia moacnra TTo TX7QQ )UL/^V& b Vi |rUlVtttJUAV. "V M MM ; pledged to anything. He wanted 3 matter of suffrage placed above roach, above the charge of nd. 'he amendment was lost. 'he vote was then taken on Mr. vey's amendment: Yeas 12, nays . Those who favored the amendat were Messrs. Anderson, Bates, iley, Fitch, Jervey, Miller, Read, H.; Reed, I. R.; Smalls, Smith, F.; Whipper, Wigg. STILL ANOTHER, [r. Dudley offered the following statute for the whole matter: ection 4. The qualification forsufje shall be as follows: i) Continuous residence next preing any election in which the elecoffers to vote, in the State two rs. in the county one year and in ~A: ? ,) j 1.1 ? J eicuuuu uisinut si a. ixiuiiLua, uuu rnnet of all legally assessed taxes, iuding poll tax, by those liable to ition, next prior to such election. >) Registration, which shall provide the enrollment of every elector e in 10 yeurs. s) The Australian ballot system, ome modification thereof shall be vided by the general assembly. I) Managers of election shall rere of every elector offering to b at any election before allowing l to vote, proof of payment of al including poll tax, when due, ssed against him for the previous r. i) Registration certificates when shall be renewed if the applicant ualified under the provisions of Constitution. OLUMBIA, Oct. 31.?Special: This been a day of great debate in the [CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR.]