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An Independent Family Journal?Devoted to Politics, Literature and General Intelligence. vol. a ANDERSON, S. 0., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1868. NO. 38. BY HOYT & WAITERS. TERMS: tWt> DOLLARS AHB A HALF PEE AHHTTM, IM UNITED STATES COBBKNCT. RATES OF ADVERTISING. ' ?^?rtfeements inserted at the rates of One Dol? lar per square of twelve lines.for the-first insertion 3jH?d Fifty Cents for, eaoh. subsequent insertion. Itibaral deduc??riimade to Lhose.wjho adverti?e by jjgrgg-s For announcing a-candidate, Five Dollars in advance. Beconstruction Convention. THIRTY-NINTH DAY. TJie convention assembled at 10 A. M., i&Stuawdaj^and was called to order by *$be President, A. G-. Mackey. ,-grayer was offered by tbe Rev. Allen Ifrankltn.. The roll was called, and a quorum an? swering to their name, the President an? nounced the couveution ready to proceed, to business. The Journal of Friday was read and Approved. B, P. Randolph, moved to suspend the r?les?ef the House-to take up the Ordi? nance requiring the Legislature to ap? point three Commissioners to investigate What Are the outstanding obligations of the State and their validity. The motion to sospeud was not agreed .to. The consideration of the Judiciary re? port was resumed from the 19th section. Mr-J. M. Kutland offered the following ?s a substitute for the section : ,4Tbe Judges of the Court of Common Pleas shall hereafter be invested with all the powers of Chancellors, to hear and de? termine Equity causes; and the rules of fiactice which now govern Courts of quity in their proceedings shall continue Until changed by law.'' '?There shall bo at least two annual sessions ot the Court of Equity in each Judicial District in the State, to be held at such ti'mes and places as- may be pre? scribed by law." V "it shall be the duty of tho Judges in Equity to file their decrees within ninety days from tho day of hearing euch case respectively." "There shall be one Commissioner in Equity for each Judicial District in the State, to be elected by the people in. such districts, whose term of office ?hall be two years, and whose fees and duties shall fcontiuue tho same as ac the present time, until changed by luw." Ii. C. Drlurge moved tho indefinite post? ponement of the substitute Sir. E. VT. M.'Afacfiey moved a post? ponement of the further consideration of the original section until Tuesday next, lit 11 o'clock, and that in the meantime tho substitute be printed and laid upon i?ie tables of the members. Mr. Rutlaud seconded the motion. R. C. Delarge opposed the motion to postpone simply to print, on the ground that it would establish a bad precedent,, anil before they finished their work on the Constitution they might have to postpone, nearly every other section to give time for printing both substitutes and amendment.-. Tho substitute as read va?* well understood,a8 it proposes to intro? duce into the Constitution what they pro? posed to keep out, "that is Courts of JEquity. Mr. U. II. Chamberlain differed entire? ly with the delegate from Charleston (R. C. iXfrLafge,^ It was at least an important \ And"" open question, whether something in tho nature of the provision proposed by the delegate from Fairfiold (Mr. Rut-' fand) should be adopted, or whether, at ?ne stroke, it would be safe to abolish the Court of Equity and all the officers con? nected with that Court. It wax better, $nd he believed that the majority of the Convention' would be of the same opinion, Chat-Jhe elaborate and carefully prepared substitute of the distinguished member from Fairfield should be printed, and thry sWo<jd,d, have timo to consider it. The question, bemg put, the further consideration of the 19th section was postponed, and- the substitui-i ordered to bo printed. Section 20th, providing exclusive juris? diction "of the Court of General Sessions dver criminal cases, and for three terms every year iu each district, was passed Without debate. Section 21, providing-for ?he election every two years of a Board Of County Commissioners, to have jurisdiction over j roads, highways, ferries, bridges, and in 1 all matters relating to taxes, disburse? ments of money for district or county purposes, internal' improvements and lo? cal concerns of the respective districts, caused some discussion. William MeKinlay though1 the section Conferred'unlimited and dangerous powers upon the board it proposed to create; powers capable of great abuse, and if in? judiciously exercised, calculated to entail rum not only upon the1 district, but upon tlie entire State. They would have the power, if they chose to oxercise it, to pur- ^ chase the right of way to construct main i roads or even railroads where not needed. Pf they deemed"it expedient for the bene? fit of. their district, they could undertake to clean out rivers and make navigable streams that no ships or vessels can reach. They would also have the power to collect taxes. He moved to amend tlic seel ion by "establishing a Board of Count}' Com? missioners, which, under the authority of the General Assembry, shall supervise roads, bridges und. ferries,, and. discharge such other duties, appertaining to their Bounties as may be authorized by law." F. L. Cardoza opposed the section as Bntirely unnecessary to-the completeness of the judicial'report, besides tying up the bands of bhe Legislature and preventing ihem fjom; making laws more adapted to jiouniry purposes. He thought they uhould not enter into details, but only specify general principles for the Legis? lature to acl upon. Such a matter as providing a Board of Commissioners to |ake charge of roads, bridges and ferries,, he thought should be left to the Legisla? ture, and if they made a law one year that did not work well, they could repeal i-t the next. He moved, therefore, that the amendment be laid on the table, which would carry the section with it. Mr. Bo wen said there was great neces? sity for the section remaining as it was. rCho only objection seemed to b? raised was as to giving these Boards jurisdicti in matters of fine and disbursements. '. wished to add that under the laws South Carolina, subject to no alt?r?t i by the Legislature, there are three diff ent Boards of Commissioners havi power in oach district to assess taxes a be responsible to no ono.. They cot assess taxes under the Sheriff and nobe had any business to open their mouth to- the propriety of the assessment where the money goes-to. The provisi proposed in the section can be found nearly every State Constitution of t Union. In some they aro styled Boar of Com missioners ; in others, Beards of S pervisors.. In regard to the constructi jot railrouds he would state that he pi sumed no body or set of men would j tempt such an enterprise without havii that indispensable instrument and cht ter from the legislature. This Board would ouly hare jurisd tion of county matters. He hoped t i section would be adopted with the folio ing amendment : "Provided that in all cases there sin be the right of appeal to the State Courts R. C. DeLarge offered the followii substitute for the section, and as an oli branch to stop discussion : "The Legislature at its first sessi< shall make provision for the election three Commissioners for each county, ni shall prescribe their duties and powers.1 R. B. Elliott called lor the previo question which was sustained. ? The question being put on the amen mont offered by Mr. Bowen it was agroi torand the 21st section pussod to ita th i reading. Section 22,. establishing a Court of Pr bate in each Judicial District, and pr viding for the election ot a Judge of sa Court by the people every two yeal after an unsuccessful motion by B. Randolph to give the election of Judge the General Assembly, passed to its thii rendir, j*. The Special order, being an ordinam providing that minor children shall m be deprived- of their teal estate, tran ferred for Confederate securities or cu re ney, was called up. Mr. Duncan offered tho followin which was adopted, and the subject mai the special order for 12 o'clock Monday. Resolved. That thin report of the Con m it tee on Miscellaneous Matters, toge th? with the Ordinance, be referred to the Ji dietary Committee, with instructions I consider tho propriety of inserting a bo< (ion in the Constitution to protect minot and other c.estui que trusts against tru tees, guardians and other fiduciary agent who invested the funds of their ?trusts i Confederate f?r State bonds during th wur. Also to consider the propriety c annuling all debts still unsettled, eitht puliiic or private, made in aid of the r< hellion, or order of the Confederate tu thorities, or by order of the State author ties during the war. Also to considc the propriety of inserting in the Colistin tion a section annulling all obligation contracted for slaves, aud laking from th courts jurisdiction over all claims of lld nature. Section 2o? providing for the eleetio by the people of each District ? com pt tent number of Justices of the Peace an Constables, to hold office two years, pas.1 ed to a third reading without debate. Sections 24, 25 and 26, defining tho ju risdietion of Justices of the Peuce, wer also passed to a third- reading without di bate. Section 27th, relative to the compensa tion of Judges of Probate, District Cour Judges, Justices of the Peace and Con stables, passed to a third reading withou debate. Section 28th, prohibiting anjr persor who bas arrived at the age of seventy years being appointed or elected to th< office ot Judge, was taken up. R. C. DeLarge moved to strike out th? entire section.' Mr. Wbittemoro moved to Substitut? 80 for 70. B. F. Randolph moved to amend by making it 100. B. Byas moved to insert 75. Mr. Parker moved an indefinite post? ponement of ali the amendments. During the consideration of these mo :tioris,'t!ie hour of one arrived, the conven? tion adjourned to il P. M. afternoon session. The Convention re-assembled at 3 P. M., and was called to order by the Pres? ident. Mr. Dill rose and asked the privilege of the Convention to conclude his remarks made on section 21, in reference to the election of Judges by the people, in which he had lake'.j vccabiuii to blinde to titi Mercury-. Permission being granted^ Mr. Dill re? sumed his speech in favor ol thc election of all Judges by thu people, and defended himself from the charges made by tho Mercury upon his personal character, characterizing the assertions made as ! false, the sheet that published them as in? famous. The consideration of the 2Sth section was resumed. R. C. DeLarge took the floor, and con? tinued to speak in favor of striking out the section. The section he said was in? consistent with the principles of justice I and equity. Some of the most prominent and leading men in the country . were those whose minda were brightest and their intellects shone with the greatest brilliancy at the a<ro of severity, lie re? ferred lo the President of tho Convention, i who he said had arrived at the age of j sixty, whoso presiding over the delibera? tions ofthat body was of linell ono oftlie strongest arguments against the suction 1 being retained. One ol the most learned , men of this State?one of the ablest Sou th Carolina jurists and judges who have I graced the bench of this State, though differing with them in politics, is Chief Justice Dunkin, now over seventy years of age, retaining and exercising his full intellectual powers?an ornament to the bar and the Slate. Turning to the past history of his native State, he might refer them to the late Chief Justice O'Neall, Chancellor Johnson and othon, who, during their time, rendered the ablest de? cisions at seventy years of age, and who, as far as ability aud learning wore con? cerned in tho dispensation of law, had'no supoiiors. That any of their learned judges on the bench differed with them iu politics was not to du taken in ques? tion in tho administration of law. Ho knew it would be argued that men at that age become imbecile and childish, but in the present Constitution which they were framing, they had a safeguard iu having restricted the term for which a judge is elected to six yearn. But to send forth 6uch a doctrine, that to be old, to bo experienced,, to be- wise, is a crime, wan certainly not in accordance with Re? publican principles, which they all desired to perpetuate. One of their most ardent advocates was Mr. Thaddeus Stevens, now over seventj'-five years of age. He hoped the section would be stricken out. Mr. Bowen suid the cases cited by the last speaker were not analogous to the Judges to bo elected here, and who were expected to go over the circuits and hold at least five terms a year in each county. The State of New York, he said, retired their Judges at sixty-five. It was to avoid any necessity to impeach or try a Judge for inability or infirmity in the discharge of his duty that this section was inserted. The question being taken on the vari? ous amendments, the motion of Mr. Whit tern ore, to insert 80 instead of 70 years of age, was agreed to. Tho question was then taken on the motion to strike out the entire section, which wk6 agreed to, aud tho- aection. stricken out. I Sottion 29, providing that Judges shall ? not charge Juries in reapeut to mutters of lact, but may stale the testimony and de? clare the law, passed to a third reading 1 without amendment or debate. Section 80, providing for the election of Clei ks of Courts of Common Plotis, passed to a third reading without debate.. Section 31 wan amended ko as to give the election of tho Attorney General of tho .Slut* to iho people, instead of to the General Assembly, and fixing tho term of olnee at lour years. Section 32, providing for the election by the people of a Solicitor for each cir? cuit, after some verbal amendments, pass? ed to a third reading without debate. Section 33 provides for the election by the people, of a Sheriff and Coroner for four years, and was passed to a third reading. Some debate arose on this sec? tion iu reference to- the retention ot tho otlico of* a District Surveyor reported by the Committee in the tirst clause. It was, however, finally stricken out. Sections 31 and 35, relative to writs, processes, prosecutions, the publications of tho decisions of the Supreme Court, after being amended so as to provide that alt prosecution be conducted in the name of the people of South Carolina, passed to their third reading. This being tho closing section of the judicial department, on motion, the con? vention adjourned.. The consideration of the report of the Committee on the Judiciary will next be resumed, with tho Article on Jurispru? dence. FOHTIKTII HAY. Tito Convention assembled at 10 A. M., und was called to ordor by tho President, A. G. Mac key. Prayer was offered by Rev. J. M. Run ion. The roll was called, and a quorum an? swering to their names, the President an? nounced the Convention ready to proceed to business. The Journal of Saturday was read and approved. Air. J. M. Rutland presented the peti? tions of sundry citizcus of Fairfield Dis? trict, praying the Convention to recom? mend the removal ol their political disa I bilities. Mr. Duncan called for the report of the Committee on Franchise aud Elections. The members, ho said, were getting very anxious to have tho report of the Com? mittee before them. They regarded it as oneol the most important questions, with which they have to deal, and wanted time to consider it. Ho moved the Committee be required to report Wednesday morn? ing. R. C DoLurjreaaid tho Committee were ready to report, but to-save time had not sought to in trod uco it, before the houso was ready to act upon it. J. J. Wright moved'to amend the mo? tion, so as to require the Committee to report Tuesday morning, which was agreed to and the motion carried. Mr. K G. Holmes, of Beaufort, made the report of the Special Committee of Five appointed to consider a proposition tor the establishment of a Board of "Land Commissioners. Tho Committee report? ed an Ordinance and askod that it be drafted into the n*w Constitution. The Ordinance provides for the establishment by the General Assembly of a Board ot Commissioners of Public Lands, with au? thority to purchase, at public sales or oth wise, improved and unimproved real es? tate within the State. The Commission? ers are also authorized to cause the lands to be surveyed and laid off in suitable t racts, to be sold to actual settlers on con? dition that one-half be placed under cul? tivation within three years from dato of purchase, the purchaser paying interest upon tho amount of the purchase money at the rate of seven per cent, per annum. Tbe titles to tbe lands thus sold are to re? main in tbe State until the principal and interest is paid. Mr. Whitteruore moved that the Ordi? nance be printed and copies laid on the tables of the members. On motion of L. S. Langley, the Ordi? nance was made tbe special order for 4 o'clock P. M. Wednesday. R. Smalls called for tho unfinished bus? iness. Tho unfinished business, which was tho consideration of Articlo 5th. on Jurispru? dence, in the report of tbe Committee on tho Judiciary, was taken up and passed to a third reading without debate. ThisAr ticlo, which comprises three sections, pro? vides that the General Assembly shall pass all necessary laws, and appoint some suitable person or persons to revise, sim? plify and abridge the rules, practice, pleadings and forms cf. tho Court now in use in this State. Article 6th, on Ejninent Domain, also comprising throe sections, gave rise to a lively debate. Mr. Duncan introduced an amendment, giving tho Legislature such control over all rivers and other streams aa ma}T bo necessary to keep them clear, and for drainage purposes. This power, he urged, the Legislature should have, as in many parts of the State it had been found im? possible to keep the streams clear, undtthe lands in tho low country especially were constantly overflowed, prevented them from being put under proper cultivation, besides producing sickness. Mr. Bowen stated the first section mado full provision for such cases, and there was no necessity for the amendment. W. B. Nash objected to the first clause of the first section giving the State con? current jurisdiction on all rivers border? ing on the State, tho United States hav? ing decided, lie believed, in the case of tho City Council of August?, aguinat Shttitz, that the boundaries of the State of Geor? gia came over to this side of the river, and ho thought it this clause was passed it would cause a conflict betweon South Carolina and Georgia iu regard to tho Sa? vannah river. Tbe question being taken on Mr. Dun? can's amendment, it was lost, and the first ?ection passed to its third reading. Section 2d, providing that tbe tillo to all lands and other property heretofore accrued to the State, shall vest in the same as though no change had taken place, passed to a:third, feuding without amendment or debate. Section ?d was amended, on motion of L. S. Langloy. by striking out the words ."in their sovereignty," so as to read that "the people of the State are declared to possess the ultimate properly in and to all the lands within the jurisdiction of the State," &c, instead of, "tho people of tbe State iu their right of sovereignty are de? clared to possess," <fcc. The hour lor the special order having arrived, being an Ordinance to divide the State into four Congressional Districts, on motion of Mr. Duncan tho considera? tion of the special order was postponed until half-past ten o'clock Friday. Article Zth, on impeachments, compri? sing three sections, vesting tho solo pow? er of impeachment in the House of Rep? resentatives, was passed without debate. The President then announced tho Ju? diciary Report, with the exception of tbe section reported by tho delegate from Fairfiold (Mr. Rutland; in roialion to Courts of Equity, passed to a third read? ing. On motion the report of the Committee on Education was taken up for its second roading. Section 1st, providing for tho election by tho people ol a State Superintendent of Education, with powers, duties and compensation to bo defined by tho Gene? ral Assembly, passed to a third reading without debato. Section 2d provides for tho election by the people of each District or County, of* one School Commissioner, tbe said com? missioners to constitute a State Board of Education, of which the State Superin? tendent shall be Chairman. . The section, after the adoption of some verbal amend? ments, passed to its third reading. Section 3d confers the power on the General Assembly to provide for a liberal and uniform system of Free Schools, and the division ol the State into suitable school districts. The section passed to a third reading without debate. The 4th section making it tho duty of the General Assembly to provide for the compulsory attendance at either public or private schools of all children between the ages of six and sixteen years, was taken up. R. C DoLargc moved to strike out the word "compulsory." 11. E. Hay no moved a postponement of the consideration of the 4th section, in order to refer it back to thecommittee. F. L. Cardoza assigned as a reason for postponement of tho section, that ono of tho members of the committee who pro? posed to defend it, not having supposed that the report of tbe committee would come up so soon, was not prepared to dis? cuss it. Mr. Duncan moved that tho further consideration of tho whole report be post? poned until 12 M., Tuesday, which was agreed to. On motion, tho report of tho Commit? tee on Finance was taken np for its sec? ond reading. Section 1st, making it the duty of the Legislature to provide for a uniform and equal rate of assessments and taxation, passed to its third reading without debate. Section 2d, giving tho power to tho Legislature to levy a poll tax, to bo ap? plied exclusively to the Public School Fund, and prohibiting t he levying of any additional poll tax by any municipal cor-1 poration, passed to a third reading with-j out debate. ' Sections 3 and 4, relative to the levying of taxes by the Legislature to meet tho estimated expenses of the State for each year, passed to a third reading without debate. Section 5th, exempting from taxation all public schools, institutions of learning, and charitable institutions, excepting property ot associations and societies, passed to its third.reading. Section 6th, making it the duty of the Legislature to provide, by a State Board, for the valuation and assessment of lands, passed to a third reading without debate. Section 7th, relative to tho contracting of public debts by the State, elicited con? siderable discussion and opposition in con? sequence of a provision prohibiting all State debts from exceeding in the aggre? gate 8500,0.00 beyond that already in? curred. It was urged-that this would be tying the hands of the Legislature, and prevent that body from lending the faith and cred? it of the State to perhaps the moat im? portant and profitable public enterprises. It was contended that they should leave it to the good senso,.judgment and patri? otism of the Legislature to provide for such contingencies that were impossible for the Convention to anticipate. On motion of Mr. Bell, the restrictive provision was stricken out, and the sec? tion passed to its third reading. Section 8th, conferring thepoweron all corporate authorities of counties, town? ships, school districts, cities, towns and villages, to assess and collect taxes in their several corporate jurisdictions, ex? cept on property heretofore exempted, passed to its third reading. Section i)th, prohibiting tho credit of the State being granted to, or iu aid of any person, association or corporation, on motion of Mr Bell, was stricken out. Section 10th, prohibiting the State from subscribing to or becoming interested in the stock of any Company, Association or Corporation, was taken up, but before taking the question on its passage to a third reading, the hour of one having ar? rived,the House adjourned to three o'clock. ATTERN'OOX SK8SION*. The Convention re-assembled at3 P. M. On motion of Mr. Bunion the rules were suspended for five minutes for the purpose of offering the following: Resolved, That this Convention fix the 11th of March as the day to adjourn, at 12 o'clock. Meridian, sine die. . R. C. DeLargo moved the indefinite postponement of the resolution. The ouectien being taken on the adop? tion, it was not agreed to. The Convention resumed the conside? ration of the 10th section of the report of the Committee on Finance. Mr. Bell moved that the section be stricken out. The hour for the special order having arrived, it was taken up. The special order being the petition to Congress, praying thai the present im? port duty on rice be not repealed, was taken up for consideration. Mr. Jenks obtained the floor, and was followed B. Byas, both arguing in support of the petition,' E. C. DeLarge called for the previous question, which was sustained. The question being takeu on the pre? amble and resolutions, they were passed to a second reading. On motion of R. G. DeLarge, the rules were suspended for the purpose of pass? ing tho petition to a third reading. The petition then received its third reading, and on motion ot Mr. B. F. Whittomore, the preamble and resolu? tions wero ordered to he engrossed, and copies cent to the Presidentof the United States Senate and the Speakor of tho House of Representatives at Washington. The special order being discharged, tho consideration of the 10th suction was re? sumed! L. S. Langley moved to lay tho amend? ments offered on the table, which was agreed to, carrying the section with them. Section 11, relative to the incorpora? tion and organization by the Legislature of cities and towns and restricting their powers of taxation, borrowing money, contracting debts, and loaning their cred? it, and Section 12 prohibiting the Legisla? ture from issuing scrip, certificate or oth? er evidence of State indebtedness, except lor bonds, stock. &c, or those previously issued, or for such debts as are expressly authorized in the Constitution, passed to a third reading without debate. Section 13th, requiring an accurate statement of the receipts and expendi? tures of the public moneys to be publish? ed with the laws of each regular session of the Legislature, was taken up. Mr. Whittemoro moved a substitute, providing that the statement shall be published in at least one newspaper the first week in November, which was not agreed to. Mr. E. W. M. Mackey moved to amend by inserting "that the statement be pub? lished by the General Assembly in such manner as may be provided by law." Airreed to. The section then passed to a third read? ing. Sections 14th and 15th. relative to ap? propriations and the commencement of| the fiscal year on the 1st of "November, I passed to a third reading without debate. | Section 16th, providing for the assess-! ment and collection of a tax of two mills j upon each dollar's worth of taxable prop? erty for a sinking fund, was, with the amendments offered, laid upon the table. Section 17th, prohibiting any county from subscribing in any incorporated com- j pany, unless paid at the time of subscrip-1 tion, on motion of R. B. Elliott, was j stricken out. Section 18th was amended by striking! out a provision requiring State bonds to j bo not less than ?500, after which itpasa-i ed to its third reading. / riie Intelligencer Job Office;. Having recently made consideraba additions ta? j?is department, we are prepared to execute JJflDIB TO&K ?IP MJL EnHiOS" In the neatest Btyle and on the most reasonable, terms. Legal Blanks, Bill Heads, Posters, Cards, Handbills, Pamphlets, Labels, and in fact every styi?j cf work usually done in a country Printing Office. SSif* In all cases, the money will be required upon delivery of the work. Orders, accompanied with the cash, will receive prompt attention. Section 19th, providing for the disburse? ment of State, county and school funds, after an amendment offered by Mr.Whit temore, to strike out the word Legisla? ture wherever it occurred and substitute General Assembly, passed to ita third reading. . L. S. Langley offered the following aa an additional section, which was agreed to and passed its first and second reading:.. Section 20. No debt contracted by this State in behalf of the late rebellion, in whole or in part, shall ever be paid. Mr. E. W. M. Mackey called for the second reading the report of the Commit-' tee on Miscellaneous Provisions of the Constitution on tho Militia. Before taking the question the Convel?*? tion adjourned. forty-first dat. The Convention assembled at 10 A. M.. and was called to order by the President. A. G. Mackey. Prayer was offered by Rev. B. F. Han-, dolph, (colored.) ... Tho roll was called, and a quorum an? swering to their names, the President an-, rounced thc Convention ready to proceed* to business. The journal of Monday was read and approved. B. F. Randolph made the following re? port of thc Committee on Miscellaneous Provisions of the Constitution : Whereas, No constitutional and legal assembly of tho General Assembly of this State has been convened since the.. com? mencement ot tho rebellion against tb? authority of the Government ot the Uni? ted States ; and whereas the body assem? bled from time to time at the capitol of tho State, since tho commencement of said rebellion, assuming to possess and exercise the powers of the General As? sembly ot the State, had no authority to pledge the faith and credit of the State for the benefit ot any corporate body or private individual, and its actions can be. validated only by the confirmatory au? thority of the legal government of thia State; and whereas it is expedient that when the credit ol the State is advanced or pledged for the benefit of public enter? prises and works in which the people o? the State are interested, that power should! be lodged in the General Assembly to ex? ercise a salutary conti ol over such public enterprises and works, to the end that the commerce and industry of the State should be adequately fostered aud promo*, ted. Therefore be it Ordained, That all Acts or pretended Acts of legislation purporting to have been passed by the General Assembly of the State, sinco the 20th day of Decem? ber, A. D., 1800, pledging the raith, and credit of the State for the benefit of any corporate body or private individual, are hereby suspended and declared inopera? tive until the General Assembly shall as? semble and ratify or modify the same. Mr. Holmes moved that the report be made the special order for Thursday next, at 12 o'clock, which was agreed to. R. C. DeLarge, Chairman of. the Com mitlco on Franchise and Elections, made a verbal report, stating that the Commit? tee would bo ready to report to-morrow morning. Mr. N. G. Parker offered the following resolution, which was agreed to: Resolved, That the President of this convontion be instructed to request Gen. C?'nby to draw from the Treasury of the. State the sum of 838,000 for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Conven? tion. Mr. Craig called np the report of tbe Committee on Miscellaneous Provisions of the Constitution, on atv Ordinance provi? ding for tho organization of the Militia of the "State. The article on the Militia, comprising, threo sections, was taken up. Mr. Parker moved to amend the 1st section by substituting 21 for 18, as the. age at which all malo residents shall be? come subject to militia duty; and, also, to exempt all persons not electors. Mr. Parker said he did not think boys or those disfranchised should bo ptaood in, the militia. Mr. Holmes opposed tho amendment, the section as it stood being similar in its .provisions with that of other State Con? stitutions, which usually enroll all male inhabitants between the ages of 18 and 45 in the militia. They would be obliged, to depend upon volunteer independent companies, which might be largely com? posed of those eighteen years of age. L. S. Langley also opposed the amend- . ment, and stated that, in thc march of fitly miles of thc Fifty-fourth Massachu? setts Volunteers from Jacksonville to. Olustio, Florida, soldiers of eighteen and even fifteen years of age boro the fatigue, march better than old soldiers. J. J. "Wright opposed tho amendment excluding those who wore disfranchised from serving in the militia. a. J. Ransier movod to amend po as to provide that the militia of the State shall j consist of all who arc or may become I electors. The object was to make pro ! vision for those now disfranchised, but ? whose diaabiliiios thoy boped to see re? moved. Before tho question was taken the hour for the special onior arrived. Tho special order, which was the con? sideration of thc substitute offered by the member from Fairfield, for the 19th sec? tion of tho Legislative part of tho ?onsti tulion, was taken up. Mr. Rutland look the floor and argued that the adoption of the section as it stood would croate inextricable confusion in abolishing the Courts of Equity and transferring tho records to the Court of Common Pleas. The Court of Equity, im some form, must exist in. this country, if they intended to administer justice. lt. B. Elliott moved that the snbstitnt: