The tri-weekly news. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, August 24, 1865, Image 1
HE TRi WEEK L Y i
VOLUME~ 1.R WINNSBORO, S. C., TNUIRDAY MORNING, AUGUST 24, 165 [N MBER 4
THE TM-WEElKLY NEWS:
isV . 16. DuiltiroN.
THE 'flri-WEEKLY NEWS is publiinhed
on Tuesday. Thursday and Saturday, at ONE
DOLLA r month, in advance. Single
doples Taw ,Xve.
A vertigements inserted at ONE POLLAR
per square, of eight lines or less, for the first,
and SEVENTY-FIVE cente for each sub.e
uentnsertio, invariably in advance
To the People of ireldstriot.
'iraiL.owCrTZsNS : Upon the ap
Ysarance of Gov. PERY'S Proclamation
.apoiiting Life day for the election of
members to the State Convention; my
napie, with others, was submitted to vou
as nominees for the Convention. Con.
sidering that the names of very' worthy
gentleman presented to you, admitted of
a suffciently extensive range of choice,
and not desiring to engage in a personal
cnvass, I thought it advisable respect.
fully to withdraw my name from the list
of candidates. Since 'then I find my
name again iresented for your suffragesl
This, coupled with the fact that severa.
of the gentlemen whose names were sub.
mitted for the position have declinqd,
has induced me to think that under these
circumstances my best course would be
to announce, that while I am - not dis.
posed to seek a seat in the Convention,
by engaging in a personal canvass, yet if
you should think proper to elect me, I
will cheerfully serve you to the beet of
my ability.
I think it proper also to accompany
this statement with a brief exposition of
what I think the Convention ought to
40.
In the interview between the Presi.
dent of the United States and the Com
mittee of the citizens of Charleston, it
wis stited by the President that before
the State could be restored to her politi.
cal rights, it was necessary that the peo
plo of South Carolina should amend
tkeir Constitution so as to provide for
the abolition of sltavery. I consider,
that situated as we are. this antqunce
nkt renders- it imperative on the Con.
vention to abolish slavery. In -oig
into the Convention I shonld'make up
my mind to tis mneasure.
It is scarcely necessary for me to say
to you, that in coming to this conclu.
sion, I vield only to what, I consider an
overrulIng necessity, and in no degree
to what my ideas of social and political
policy would prompt under ordinary oir
cumstances. As there is, so far as I am
informed, a' universal . concurrence of
public opinion on thi point, I thinic it
ubhocessary to say anything further up.
on' it.
. An'ther subject on which it will be ne
cessary for the Convention toact is the
basis of representation in the State Leg.
ilattare.' I think it will he necessary to
make someimportant modilication of the
etisting system. As the' Conaitution
n6w stauds each Paritb in the low coun
try is entitled to ope Sstatot in our
State Senate, The abolioh of slavery,
involving'such an immense loss of gro.
pory irt the low couitry, has disarrang.
ethis'aysttonm, and destroyed .the tuo
tiva for 1lluring it. .inder the peculiar
eireimmtanoes in which. they atewnow
plsbail, I believe our fellow citizens of
the Pariskes with', that, intelligence and
petriotism .ber which thby are distin.
guished, will cheerfully acquiEsce in the
necessity which, -ptA an end to what is
1 t and peculiain their right of rep
setio$n, s adthithemsWlves will de
iht 4oefth.State deposit
ed- ilt i ton"wheretill be safeetk
which-is eir siw vtac4sin the
'greatest aldeni -' -
- In reference to of Governoi,
I think more importa tionas shoold
be-asigned to this o r' thos he
now" professa As" the GOb tin
now standa 'the only importaa w
which thet~overnor possessesis' r
doning power.' H# ought, I think,
have the power.by a~nd- with the advl
4 that Srnte1t isappoint many of she
4dvsnow oleoded by the Legittute
4es4khe*eto owar-s least ina '.a.
4psn" Th'e gislatute shoofde coo.
Atted o itsappropriate faaetions- pas
ila htta bald-rEsolutions. Where ellie
d1iose o:ar.' td by. legisa v
y Wt~ 4o' rise' t~eo
wsa mesa shd
of thle Senate. The practice of many
years har demonstrated this to be a pro.
vision founded in the mgst eminent wis
dom. I would apply the same principle
to the Governor, and I have no doubt it
would be attended with like advantagps.
In regard to the Governor having at
least a qualified veto, the advantages
are so manifest that it seems only neces
sary to state the proposition to obtain the
consent of every intelligent mind. The
veto power enables the Executive to
protect his department against the en.
aroachment of the Legislative power,
thus tending to preserve the independ.
ence of the separate departments of the
Government. The veto power further
operate as a check on hasty or inconsid.
erate legislation. Those who are famil.
iar with Legislative bodies know that
much of their legislation is crude and ill.
considered. It is clearly the interest of
the people to have a power in reserve
to carefully review and deliberate upon
the action of'their Legislative bodies,
If the Governor be as he should be, a
man of superior talents, his greater ability
to the mass of. the Legislature will enf
ble him, wiLh a higher degree of politi.
cal wisflom, to pass upon the acts of the
Legislature; and his responsibility as
the one-man-power will induce him to
interfere on behalf of the people at large
against what he may consider improper
legislation. The veto power is one
which can rarely do harm, and which
may frequently do good, because two
thirds of the Legislature can pass the
vetoed measures over the Governor's
head. I think therefore this change
should be made in the Constitution.
One great advantage of giving the addi
tional powers I have mentioned to the
Governor, is, that the offlc' will becoine
more an object of smbition, and the first
men in the State will seek it.
Having added to the powers of the
Governor I wodld add to those of the
Lieutenant Governor. As matters nom
stand the Lieutenant Governor is a per
feet blank, uvless the office of Governoi
becomes vacant. I th.r* a - beneficia
change in ths respect would be to niaki
the Lieutenant Governur President o1
the Senate. This would make the posi
tion one of considerable importance, and
secure a higher grade of men to fill tie
office of Governor in case of a vacancy
occuring.
I.would nlso chang' the mode of elect.
ing the Governor and Lieutennnt Gov
ernor. Instead of being elected by the
Legislature I would give the election tc
the people. The advantages of.this, I
think, are very great. Every well or:
ganized government should have it
great departments-the Erecutive, Leg
tslative, and Judicial,--independent ol
each other. This principle is seriou'sly
violated in 'giving the eilertion of Gov
ernor to tifte Legislature. The Govern
or elected' by the Legislature is apt only
to he their echo To insure his entire
iddependence of the.Legislature the only
effeetual way, is to give the election to
the people. Another: adya'ntage of gir
ing the eletio. ofGoyernor to the peo
p ,e, itla't. men of 4iperior ability are
more apt to. be oet.
Before'gssmall body. of men like th'
Legislaturn,*salth, or famuily influence,
or tmanagttipnt, m r 'goduce an oleo
tiohl wthout *i Pgtientarmerit in the
person eligdt bin tfiese inifiuencei
would be of 101 aa 4l b 1fote the people
w16 would, bJi apt tW be influeied by
leue ofmrt or 1. risfg bility, or po
liciol 'reputation. 'e..d, I think i
elevates and dignifles th# people to make
them the elector. of- the .highest dignita
mes of their country. .
A .nother cdang. whii. would uiakce
in the Constitution is thia: I would re
quilre allk eleotions befp the iaegisla
e26 r eqa~voe esop 'foi
tho os e ttein
this point it is perhaps sufficient to say
that the Convention is absolutely with.
out authority, as the Constitution of the
United States expressly provides as fol
lows : Article 1. Sec. 10. "No State
shall pass any law impairing the obliga.
tion of contracts."
This clause absolutely and positively
I closes the door on any such legislation in
the Convention. The 6th Article of
the United States Constitution also
says : "This Constitution shall be the
supreme- law of the land, and the
Judges in every State shall be bound
thereby, anythin in the constitution
or laws ot any btate to the contrary
notwithstanding." How then can the
Convention ordain repudiation of private
debts, or contracts in any form, when such
provisions as I have just cited in the
United States Constitution stare it so
so boldly and unqualifiedly in the face ?
Whatever can be done to ameliorate
the condition of debtors will devolve up
on the Legislature.' Perhaps a practi
cal plan for the Legislature to pursue in
this regard would be to borrow money
on tha credit of the State and loan it on
time with ample security to those who,
by political vicissitudes, find themselves
more in debt than their present ability
to pay,
I would heartily approve of any poli
cy which the Legislature migh pursue
to aid the debtor class within the scope
of the Constitution and a wise foresight.
Pass a liberal insolvent debtors law
homestead law, extend .the stay law,
or any measure that would afford relief
to debtor, will meet with. a hearty
concurrence on my part.
I am not without hopes, too, if the
Southern States manifest wisdom and
moderation in the present. juncture of our
aflairs, that the United States may
be brought to reimburse, in part at least,
the owners, for the emancipated slaves.
It is a well-known fact that Mr. Lin
coin proposed, in the peace conference
at Fortress Monroe, to pay the South
four hundred millions of dollars for their
I slaves. I don't despair but that some
such measure a this may.yot become
r the law.
I have thus, fellow-citizens, laid be
fore you an outline of my views. as to the
action of the Convention. If they meet
'with your approbation, and you think
proper to assign to me the duty of being
one of your members in the approaching
Convention I will accept your mandate
with a due sense of your kindness, and
do all in my power to advance your jn
terests, and secure your rights, so that
our State may soon be in perfect pes.
sessign of her political franchises, and on
entire equality with.every other State in
he Union.W. R. ROBERTSON.
Winnsboro;, 23d August, 1865.
GENERAI, YIEAGHER ON NEGRO
SUFFRAG.-General Thomas Francis
Meagher made a speech at St. Poul's,
Minnesoft, last week, in which lie
advocated the right of voting for his
"black bomrades in the field," and said
that the Democrat who would; i4eng
them that right is "unworthy to parti
dipate it the greatness of the nation."
FOR SALO.~
THE ENGINE, Boiler; Shafting,
Gearing, &a,, connected' with the
Witiaboro Steam' Mill. The engine iis 25
horse-power. Apply to '
Pa. R. A. BUCHANAN.
ag 24'66--2pd'
Hsornsees-2& Ieward;
N Iton Gi-ay Horse,'about svo
Ayeat's old, no marks recolleot#4 ex
cep6 be b'Ing'fresh shod "all rodad," was
stoletu frots my ~lantatla near Losgtoiras
on the night ,f t e.20th anst. A meard of
twent ~.dollars win be givea fot. the re
t is~ph Horas, pr of his, being left at.
- a sotha4% 01n get bim.
92'64 * 14.H. RLL.
*, QUART5tAS BJ. QFVIO
'~ * &,o, T .,,Awzg T4S56
BY the Provistonal Governor of the
State of South Carolina.
A PROCLAtRATIONI
W HEREAS, His Excellency, Presi
dent Johnson, has issued his pro
clamation, appointing me (Benjamin F.
Perry) Provisional Governor in and for the
State of South Carolina, with power to pro.
scribe such rules and regulations as may be
necessary and proper for convening aCon
vention of the State, composed of delegates
to be chosen by that portion of the people of
ald State who are loyal to the United
States, for the purpose -if altering or amend.
ing the Constitution thereof : and'with au
thority to exercise within the ;mits of the'
State all the powers necessary and proper
to enable such loyal people to restoro said
State to its constitutional relations to the
Federal Government; and to present ruch a
Republican form of State Government as
will entitle the State.to the guarantee of the
United States therefor, and its people to
protection by the United States against in
vasion, insurrection and domestic violence :
Now, therefore, in obeffience to the pro.
elamation of His Excellency, Andrew John
son, President of the United States, I, BEN.
JAMIN F. PERRY, Provisional Governor of
the State of South Carolina, for the purpose
of organizing a Provisional Governmont in
South Carolina, restoring civil authority in
said State, under the Constitution and laws
of the United States, do hereby proclaim
and declare that all civil officers in South
Carolina, who were in ofhce when the Civil
Government, of the State was suspended, in
May last, (oxcept those arrested or under
prosecution for treason,) shall, on taking
the oath of allegiance prescribed in the
President's Amnesty Proclamation of the
.0th day of day, 186, resume the duties of
their offices and continue to discharge the
under the Provisional binverninent till fu.
ther appointments are made
And I do further ptoolaim, declare and
make known, that it is the duty.of all loyal
citizes of the State of Souti Carolina to
pror.ptly go forward and take tie oath of
allegiance to the United States, before some
magistrate or military officer of The Federal
Government, who may be qualifed for ad
ministering oaths; and such are hereby au
thorized to-give certified copies thereof to
the 'persons respectively by whom' they
were made. And such magistrates or offi
cers are horeby required to transmit the
originals of inch oaths, at as early a day as
may be conveoient, to the Department of
State, in the city of Washington, D. C.
And I do (uriher proclaim, declare and
make known, that the Managers of Eleco.
tions throughout the State of South Caro.
lina will hold an election for members of a
State Convention. at their respective pre
cincts, on the FIRST MONDAY IN SEP.
TEMBER NEXT, accordjng to the Inwo- of
South Carolina in forde ifore the secession
of the State, and that each Election District
in the State shall elect as many nembers
of the Convention as the said District has
members of the House of Representatives
the basis of representation being populetion
and ta'ation. This will give one hundred
and twenty-four members to the Convention
-a number suffloiently large to, represent
every portion of'the State most fully.
Eveky loyal citizei who had taken the
Amnesty oath, and not wishin the excepted
classes in the Presidents proclamation,
-will be entitled to vote, provided he was a
legal voter under the Constitution as it stood
prior to the secession of South' Carolina.
And all who are within the excepted classes
must take the oath abd apply for' a pardon,
In order to entitle tbm to vote or become
members of the Convention.
The atembers of the Convention, thus
elected on the irpt doeday in, September
next, are hersby 4qured to convene in the'
city of ColimbIa, .-du WEDNESDAY, the
18th day of September, 1865, for the pur
pose of alterlnt and amending the pros*it
Contitution of Soulka Cseolina, or remodl
lng-and makin; aew onenwbieh willicon
form to the g'a ohabges wbl'oh have taketa
place in h Staje, and be' moela aeoord
en wi5th UepaWilcan p iop)##ad eqalaity
of 'peation,
.adI #o further' pa'oclaim 'atid n(it'
ben. th~gt this Constitution ad' 1 lwg
ef il~c' t south .Carolina pr to the
s WiIfhq .Stt are bare d of4 .
qreea oets~ Provisional' ff~er t,
gesw
4mmna Jase ,t ban
era of freed persoW iill kP to;
and not turn off the chI rent or aed to.
perish; and the fred men ani women i e
earnestly epjoined to :i*rabe,.conat, jest
and fair, for remainIng lwith their former
owners.
In order to facilitpte w much as ipossi,
ble the applIcationsgp, pardons, under the.
excepted setione of the Preodo" e:mn.
nesty Proclamation, it Is stetjdjo anfor
mation that all applications must iS. by pe
tition, stating the exceptien, and accom
panied with the oath prescribedo This- p.
tition must be first approved'ty t11e Prois
ional Governor, and then forwarded' to- the,
President. The headquarters of the Pro..
visional Governor will be at Gkeenvilis,
where all communications to him must, be
addressed.
The newspqpers of this State will publish
this proclamation until the elect-ion for Une
bers of the Convention'.
In testimony whereof, I have hereuntas
set ay hand and seal. Done at the
[r,. s.]'town of Greenville. this 20th day of
July, in the year of our Lord 184
and of the independence of the U1
ted States the ninetieth.
* B. F. PERRY.
By the Provisional Governor:
WIL.AM H. Pay. Private Soorotary.
july 29'65-tsep4.17
AN NOU N OEM EN TS.
1o40saation.
MV, ,DITOR: The near approach of the
day appointed for the election of members to
the State Convention, renders It properfor us
to consider who we shall select for that po
sition. The - declensions which have teken
place very much rebtrict the range, of *sle
tion. At thisimportantjunetureofou;affu-,
itis desirable that those wo arepeculiarlyA t
ted to setve the people should b called forth.
I know of no one more suitable in all respeats
than Mr. WILLIAM It. ROBIRTSON.
His well known good sense, his moderation
of opinions, his busiaess t..lents, hI antir
ing energy and pr mai aagacuty, point him
out asp man who can do us good service. I
therefore beg leave to present ib.s name to
the people ; and I feel satisfied that'while
he does not seek the position his.public qlr
it will induce him to obey the mandate of his
fellow-citizens, who desire his services.
aug 22'65--te BROAi RivXs.
For the Converstols.
"Choose for the Convention your best and
truest men ; not those who have skulkedip
the hour of danger-nor those who bare
worshipped hiammon, while their soun.
try was bleeding at every. por--nor
the politician, who after urging war, lared
not encounter its hardships-but those who
had laid thpir all upen the altar of the coun
try. Select such men, and iaake tAMa serve
as your repiresentatives."
Ma.. EDITOn : Deeply Ipressed with -the
immense importance of. the above-. advice
of the noble HAmPTow;. I .propose as meam
bars of the Convention for Fairfield
JQHN -RA'TON,
JAMES H. RION,
adg 65O6-te *Amon PAmW;
GRAND
AUCTION SI
COMPRISING
HORS,ES
-AI YA-WA-Go-N 8