Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE CONVENTION AT WORK. MANY IMPORTANT MEASURES INTRO DUCED AN REFERRED. The Committees Hard at Work on the Sev eral Matters neferred Outline of the New Ordinances Proposed. COLIn3IIA, S. C., September 17. Special: This is the eighth day of the session of the Constitutional Conven tion. Up to date there has been oily one ordinance passed-that creating Saluda County. But it is not to be inferred that either the Convention or its several committees have been idle. In fact they have been industriously at work. There seems now to be a general understanding that all meas ures, as they are introduced, shall be referred to the appropriate committee, and that these committees will not re port, at least on the more important matters, till after the 23rd inst. That day marks the limit of the time in wLich ordinances may be introduced. The committees will consider, com pare and digest all the measures sub mitted, and out of these report one (on each of the several subjects) in the shape cf an ordinance. Then. in the course of the discussion of the meas ure, the different delegates may sub mit their views in the shape of amend ments. In this way the entire subject matter embraced in any proposed or dinance will come up for review at one time. This plan, it is believed; will not only save time buJ. *-(ill pro mote intelligent work. - There were.qite' a number of new measu Atrduced today, some of te~o"f very great importance. TO RUN COUNTIES ON A CASH BASIS. Mr. Henderson, of Aiken, has pre sented a plan to run counties on a cash basis: Whereas, in most if not in all the counties of the State the taxes are never realized until a year after the levy, and consequently the contracts for ordinary county purposes and for the running of the schools have to be made on a credit instead of on a cash basis; and whereas, this is an evil which ought to be remedied: 1. That a commission be, and is hereby, appointed, consisting of his Excellency, the Governor. the Comp troller General and the State Treasur er, whose duty it shall be to ascertain what money would be necessary to place the various counties of this State on a cash basis as to their ordinary county and school expenses at the be ginning of the next fiscal year. 2. That said commission when they have ascertained said amount be, an~d they are hereby, authorized and em powered in the name of the State to prepare and have issued coupon bonds, payable to bearer, which shall be reg istered with the State Treasurer ac cording to the custom in such cases, to the amount necessary to raise the amount needed for said purpose and the necessary expenses of floating the bonds: That said bonds shall be in such denominations and due at such time as said commission may deem ex pedient, and shall draw a rate of inter est not to exceed 4J per cent. per an num. That said bonds when prepared shall be signed by the Governor and Secretary of State and sealed with the great seal of the State and the credit of the State is hereby pledged for their payment. 3. That said bonds when so executed and issued shall be sold at not less than par by said commision, and the money derived therefrom, after pay ing expenses of the issuance and sale, shall be paid into the State treasury; that the same shall be paid out by the State Treasurer to the various county treasurers of the State as soon as prac ticable in the amount ascertained by the commission to be needed by the counties to run the county and school business on a cash basis, and when so paid said funds shall be subject to the check of the county and school au thorities to meet the expenses of the ensuing fiscal year, 1895-96. 4. That the General Assembly at its next session shall authorize a levy for ordinary county and school purposes in their reso~ective counties to be col lected at the end of the .fiscal year 1895-96, to be used for running the counties on a cash basis during the fis cal year 1S96-97. 5. That on and after the time when the State Treasurer shall have paid into the respective county treasuries the proceed bonds as funded for afore said, all contracting officials of their respective counties whether for ordi nary county expenses o: for school vurposes shall be held responsible for all contracts entered into by them over and above the cash they may have to their credit to meet the same, and their official bonds are hereby de clared bound for the same. 6. That the said commission shall report their actions and doings as to said bonds to the next General Assem bly and its successors be and is hereby authorized and required from year to year, according to the length of the issuance of said bonds, to levy upon each county which shall receive the benefit of said fund a suitable amount to repay the amount of said bonds to the State, and the said funds so re ceived from the various counties shall be used by the State Treasurer as a sinking fund to py said bonds under such Act of the Gneral Assembly as may be passed on the subject. TWO SUFFRAGE PLANs. By Mr. D). H. Russell, of Anderson: To regulate the right to vote. This ordinance confers the right to vote on all male persons, except pavpers and convicts, who are citizens of the State and of the United States, who can readany part of the State Constitution mn English, who has lived in the State two years and in the county. one year, and who has duly paid his poll tax: Provided, that no person shall be de nied the right to vote who has been engaged in any capacity of the land or naval forces of the United States or of this State or of any other State or of the Confederate States in any of the wars in which this country has been engaged since the Declaration of Inde pendence, nor their male descendants mn either the male or female line. By Mr. W. B. Wilson, of York: To regulate the right to vote. This pro posed ordinance is a modification of the Mississippi plan. The voter must be a male citizen, and a resident of the county six months and of the State twelve months. He must have paid all taxes. He must be able to read any section of the State Constitution or to give a reasonable interpretation of the same when read to him, or he must have paid taxes on $500P worth of Both schemes provide for registra ion. The Wilson plan p~rovides for separate ballot-boxes for the different offices as now provided in the "eight box law. COUNTY G;ovERNMENT. By Mr. J. C. Otts, of Union: 1. Each organized county shall be a body corporate with such powers and immunities thatshill be established by law. All suits and proceedings by or against the county shall be in the name thereof. 2. No organized county shall ever be reduced by the organization of new counties to less than four hundred square miles. No new county shall be formed containing less than four hun dred square miles or containing less than eight hundred inhabitants, ae cordint the la Stae or national census for wihici returned less than three million dollars worth of taxable property. 4S shown bV the last prC(d ing tax retirns. Before application for the formal formation of the pro posed new county shall be made, and not until then, a majority of the legal voters of a fractional part of the pro nosed new county shall each separate ly vote in favor of such new county. 3. Each county be divided into townships, and all such townships shall be declared bodies corporate. The townships as they now exist shall be so declared and such others as the Legislature may hereaf ter create: Pro vided, that no township shall contain less than twenty- five square miles and shall be as near square as practical. 4. Each county shall elect a County Judge for a term of four years: he shall have jurisdiction in all matters testamentary, dower, partition, home stead, minors, persons non compos mentis and jurisdiction in all criminal prosecutions below the grade of felony, under such rules aud limitations as may be fixed by law, and shall also elect a sheriff. county clerk and coun tv solicitor for a term of four years, whose respective duties shall be pre scribed by law. 5. A board of county supervisors shall be organized in each county, composed cf the various townships' chairmen, whose power shall be pre scribed by law. 6. There shall be in each township five directors, to be electedor appoint ed, as the- la-,; mnay direct it, one of whom shall be a committing magis trate, and who shall be ex-ofhcio chair man of the board of township cirect ors. Said director shall have general control of the roads, bridges, schools and the general welfare of such town ships under such limitations as may be prescribed by law. But no tax levy made by said director shall be legal unless ten days' public notice of such levy shall be'given, and not then un less said levy shall be ratified by a ma .iority of the legal voters of such township. OTHER MEASURES. By Mr. Clayton, of Florence: To exclude convicts from competition with honest labor. By Mr. Glenn, of Chester: To fix the school tax at two mills, with the right reserved to school districts to supplement the same by special taxes. By Mr. W. D. Evans, of Marlboro: To limit the corporate bonded indebt edness of each county to eight per cent. of the value of all the taxable property therein. By Mr. Anderson (colored), of Georgetown: To require the Legisla ture to compel all children between the ages of 7 and 12 years to attend a public school. By Mr. Sullivan, of Anderson: To require the Legislature to let out the public printing to the lowest respon sible bidder. By Mr. A. H. White, of York: To call the counties districts. By Mr. Wharton, of Laurens: To require the General Assembly, at its next session, to make a permanent ap propriation for disabled and aged Con federate soldiers and their widows. By Mr. Buist, of Greenville: To prohibit State, county, city, town or township aid to any college, school, orphan house or other institution which is wholly or in part under the direction or control of any church, or of any religious or sectarian denomin ation, society or organization. . By Mr. Reed, of Beaufort: To punish and prevent lynching. This ordi nance authorizes the g-overnor to re move any sheriff from whom a pris oner is seized and lynched, and to call out the militia to prevent lynchings. By Mr. Clayton, of Florence: To reorganize the judiciary. This ordi nance retains all the present courts except the Probate ani the Trial Jus tice. For these it substitutes a county court. By Mr. Lybrand, of Lexington: To provide for the supervision of public instruction. The free schools are put under the management of a State board of education, composed of three members, the comptroller general, and two members to be elected by the Legis lature. The constitutional tax is fixed at 21 mills, and each taxpayer is privi leged to designate the school to which his tax money shall go. By Mr. Lybrand: To authorize the State government to prohibit the manufacture or sale of intoxicants, and, in the exercise of the police pow er, to engage in such sale. By Mr. Gooding, of Hampton: To ~provide for the care and control of the penal and charitable institutions of the State. By Mr. McWhite, of Florence: For the same purpose, and also to regulate convict labor. FEMALE SUFFRA(ISTS. At the night session the Convention heard addresses from Miss Clara M. Clay, Mrs. Virginia D. Young and Mrs. A. V iola Neblett in behalf of fe male suffrae. These speakers were introduced byGovernor Evaas as president of the Convention. At the close -of the address of Mrs. Neblett Mr. McCown, of Florence, of fered a resolution instructing the committee on suffrage to report a clause to be inserted in the Constitu tion granting woman's suffrage. Ten members objected and the resolution went over under the rule. wEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18. There were several measures intro duced-most of them being repeti tions. Those constituting really new matter were as follows: By Mr. Aldrich: "That the General Assembly shall make due provision for the maintenance of the free comn mont schools and for all the existing State institutions of higher education." By Mr. Gooding, of Hampton: "That the right of the people of this State to fish in the unnavigable run ning streams and running waters of this State shall not be denied or abridged. The Legislature at its next session shall pass such laws as shall secure this uniform right." By Mr. McMahan, of Richland: To regulate the suffrage. This ordinance gives the suffrage to all male persons who shall own real estate of the value of $500, and to all others upon whom the Legislature, in its discretion, shall extend that right. By Mr. Lowman, of Orangeburg: "The inter-marriage of white persons with negroes, mulattoes, or persons of mixed blood, descended from a negro, or their living together as man and wife, is prohibited in this State.- The General Assembly shall enforce this section by appropriate legislation." .\S TO COUNTY TRE.ASURERS. By Mr. Parler, of Colleton: There shall be elected by the electors in each county a county treasurer whose term of office shall be four years whose duty it will be to take returns of all taxable property and of all poll taxes assessed thereon. 2. All persons liable to poll-tax by law shall make his return in person or through an agent who shall have written authority to make such return, and such returns shall be made once each year. :. No return of a poll tax shall be copied from any previous return or book. 4. The Legislature may enact such laws as will insure the proper assess ment. collection and disbursement of such taxes. EDDtATION 5UPEIS~OR~S. By Mr. A. H. White, of York : "The supervision of public instruction shall pervisors of education, one from each judicial district, and one from the State at large. who shall be profession al teachers and shall be elected by the Legislature: the powers, duties, terms of olice and compensation shall be de tined by the General Assembly." A COURT OF ERRORIS. By Judge Fraser, of Sumter: "Whenever upon the hearing of any cause or question either at law or equi ty before the Supreme Court it shall appear to the justices of the same, or any two of them, that there is a ques tion of constitutional law or of con flict between the Constitution and laws of this State and of the United States. or the duties and obligations of the citizens under the same, it shall be the duty of the chief justice, or in his absence of the presiding associate jus tice, to convene a court of errors for the determination of the same, which court shall consist of all the judges of the Supreme Court and of the Circuit Courts, the decision of which court or a majority of the judges sitting in the same, shall be final and conclusive: and the chief justice, or in his absence. the presiding associate justice, shall also convene the court of errors at the request of any two of the justices of the Supreme Court, for the determina tion of any other cause or question to be submitted to them, and the de cision of said court, or a majority of the judges sitting in the same, shall be final and conclusive; and the chief justi-, irn his absence, the presiding associate justice, shall preside when ever the court of errors shall convene. OTHER ORDINANCES. By Mr. W. B. Wilson of York: Provision shall be made by the Legis lature for the establishment and maintenance by the State of a reform atory for the correction and reforma tion of juvenile offenders, separate and apart from hardened criminale. By Mr. James Wigg (colored) of Beaufort: That the Comptroller Gen eral, county auditors, county treasur ers and all persons charged with the collection of State or municipal taxes be and hereby required to keep separ ate and distinct accounts of all tax re turns and paid by white and colored taxpayers, and that the same be always open for public inspection. By Mr. McCalta, of Abbeville: That the State Treasurer shall be bank insrector, and his duty shall be to in spect all private and State banks quar terly without notice, which inspec tion shall be made by said State Treas urer or his chief clerk. But the Gen eral Assembly shall particularly define the duties of said officer and provide for his payment. By Mr. Geo D. Tillman of Edgefield: That the whipping post shall be rees tablished in this State to properly pun vagrants, petty thieves and habitual wife beaters, and that the General As sembly shall provide by appropriate legislation therefor. By Mr. Doyle of Anderson: That the Legislature shall at its next ses sion after the adoption of this Consti tution enact suitable laws to forever prevent prize fighting in this State. By Mr. E. B. Berr of Marion: That the General Assemby shall at its first session after the adoption of this Con stitution enact suitable laws for the registration of all marriages solemn ized and contracted within the State and fixing the age below the age at which the marriage of the minor shall be illegal; and to provide penalties for the violation of such laws- Succeed ing General Assemblies shall have power to amend such original acts and amendments thereof By Dr. Stokes of Orangeburg: To regulate the creation of corporations and fix their duties and liabilities. By Mr. Pat rott of Darlington: That men otherwise entitled to the right of suffrage by action of this -convention and in addition pay taxes on property to the amount of $200 or more and who represent a family as the head thereof are hereby given the right to cast two votes in all elections of this State. The committee on the declaration of rights submitted an ordinance embody ing the declaration of rights, which does not materially alter that now ex isting. Mr. McMahan of Richiland offered a resolution providing for a stenograph ic report of the proceedings. The mo tion was indefinitely postponed. The committe to whom was referred the contest of the seats of the Wil liamsburg delegation reported in fa vor of the sitting members, but recom mended that the expenses of the con testants (except Louis Jacob) amount ing to $24.13 each, be paid out of the funds appropriated for the pay of members. The report was adopted. THU-RSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19. Most of the day was occupied with the debate on the resolutions about the editorial in The State-a full re port of which is given elsewhere. Quite a number of new ordinances were introduced and referred: By Mr. E. J. K~ennedy: To limit the tenue of oflice to two successive terms, except in the case of judges. By Mr. Sullivan of Anderson: To authorize the Governor to remove de faultino State and county treasurers. By .. r. W. J. Montgomery. To re quire tuition fees of all students in higher institutions of learning, sup ported by the State. By Mr. Lowman of Orangebug: That the bonded debt of the State shall never be increased except to repel in vasion, suppress insurrection or defend the State in time of war. By Mr. Klugh of Abbeville: To reg ulate the formation of new counties; also to regulate the business and fix the liabilities of insurance companies; also to lay a capitation tax of $1.50 and a special tax on vehicles-the pro ceeds thereof to be applied exclusively to the maintenance of the public roads. By Mr. McKagen: To prohibit members of the Legislature from holding any other oIlice of trust or profit. By Mr. Otts of Union: To author iz'the Legislature to license the carry ing of concealed weapons; also, to ex empt minors from road duty. By Mr. J. O. A. Moore: To fix the liability of common carriers for the acts of~ their servants and employes, in cases of personal injury; also to prohibit the givingr of free passes to public oflicials, including members of the Legislature. By. Mr. Nicholson of Union:' To authorize the Governor to appoint an inspector of illuminating oils, and of all accounts of public officials: also of all State banks and banking houses. By Mr. T. E. Johnson of Spartan burg: To organize the school system of the State--providing the officers now existing, and also the two-mill tax for the support of the schools. It provides for separate schools for the two races. It requires the Legislature to support the higher institutions, but limits the annual appropriation to one sixth of the taxes collected, in the pre -ious year, for the support of the schools. COUNTY U~ovERN31ENT. Mr. Harrison, of Hamoton, offered the following: 1. That each county form an election district. 2. That the otlicers of each county shall be a clerk of the cou.'ts of Com mon Pleas and Genieral Sessions, a register, a sherii, a coroner, a probatc judge for a term of four years, and an assessor and treasurer. 3. The clerk of the court shall dis charge the duties of master. 4. Three or five directors to take the ~lace of township commissioners, to have general supervision of the public works. 5. Thc chairineit (f the township di rectorsi shall coiose a board of coun ty- comuissioners. 6. The township boards or three of them shall compose a board of equali zation of property. 7. Each township shall be a school district and the township directors shall act as trustees thereof. S. There shall be elected in each township a trial justice, who shall have jurisdiction in civil cases to the amount of $100, and in criminal cases such as misdemeanors, assault and battery and concealed weapons. THE AGE OF CONSENT. Mr. J. 0. A. Moore presented the following for reference to the proper committee: To the Delegates in Constitutional Con vention assembled: Gentlemen: The increasing and alarming frequency of assaults upon women and the frightful indignities to which even little girls are subject have become the shame of our boasted civil ization. A study of the statutes of our State has revealed to us their utter failure to meet the demands of a newly awak ened public sentiment. which requires better legal protection for girlhood and womanhood. Therefore, we, the members of the Woman's Christian TemperanceUnion of South Carolina, do most heartily ap peal to you, through Mrs. Chapin, our president, to enact such statutes as shall provide for the adequate punish ment of crimes against women and girls. We call attention to the disgraceful fact that protection of the person of our women is not placed upon so high a plane as protection of their purse. We would therefore entreat your hon orable body to raise the (so called) "age of consent" to eighteen, the legal age which permits women to contract a valid marriage or make lawful sale of any of her personal property. North and South Carolina are now the only States, as far as we can find out, where the low age of ten fouls the escutcheon of their statutes books, and we earnestly plead that the dis grace to the State be wiped out by raising the law of protection to that of legal majority, eighteen. $. F. Chapin. President W. C. T. U. Charleston, S. C. A communication was received from one Charles P. Walker, a Chicago lawyer, urging such a regulation of the suffrage in South Carolina as will fully protect the rights of citizens of African descent. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20. The session of the Convention was brief and ousiness- like. In the absence of President Evans (who was in attendance on a meeting of the trustees of the Industrial Col lege) Vice-President Talbert occupied the chair. Quite a number of members-applied for leave of absence till Monday. Dr. Stokes of Orangeburg offered a reso lution limiting the granting of such leaves to cases of sickness. After con siderable debate this resolution was adopted. COMMITTEE'S REPORTS. There were several reports of com mittees, on very important articles of the Constitution. The committee on Legislative De partment reported an article in full. The important changes in this depart ment are the extension of the term of the members of the House from two to four years, and the giv ing of one Senator to every coun ty-Charleston included. The new county of Saluda is to have two of the five Representatives now alloted to Edgefield. The pay of mem bers is fixed at three dollars a dafgand mileage at five cents per mile. 'The homestead provieion is retained as at present-$1,000 in real estate and $500 in personal property. The right of dower is limited to property which husband owns at the time of his death. The report of the comimittee on mu nicipal corporations and police regu lations contains three new and impor tant pi ovisions: 1. That in all municipal elections as to the issue of bonds or the creation of any municipal debt, adult women who pay taxes on $300 worth of property shall be entitled to vote. 2. That the Legislature may regu late and license the sale of spirituous liquors, or may prohibit the same. 3. That the ~Legislature may, in the exercise ot the policejpower, authorize parties duly appointed for the purpose to sell intoxicants. (The dispensary system.) The committee on the Executive De partment submitted a complete article. It retains all the present executive of ficers-their term being fixed at two years. The pardoning power ia vested in the governor, under the advice of a board of pardons, consisting of the comptroller general, the secretary of State, and the superintendent of the penitentiary. The gov-ernor may, in his discretion,decline to grant the par don recommended-in which case he shall state his reasons to the general assembly at its next session. Thie lieu tenant ~governor is president of the Senate, with the right to vote in case of a tie. When a Sen ator becomes lieutenant governor, he therefore vacates his seat in the Senate. The report of the committee on finance and taxation retains the pres ent system of cu r-aloremf taxation, and gives the Legislature the right to place a capitation tax on animals. It retains the two-mill tax for the sup port of the public schools. It limits the bonded indebtedness of counties and municipalities to eight per cent, of all the taxable property. .3EASURES KILLED. The following measures were killed on unfavorable reports of the committees to whom they had been severally referred: To prohibit the publication of court proceedings in certain cases. To fix a punishment for bribery. To regulate elections and fix the terms of certain officers.- (Duplicate) To provide the punishment of whip ping for certain offenses. The ordinances of Mr. Hutson of Hampton and Mr. Howell of Colleton, touching the liabilities of married wo men, were transferred from the conm mittee on judicial department to that on miscellaneous matter. Beheading the Chines~e. Washington, Sept. 18.-The State Department this morning received ca ble information from China effectual ly disproving the accuracy of dis patches recently published -alleging that the work of thne commission en gaged in the investigation of the Ku Cheng missionary massacre has been blocked by the refusal of the Chinese to execute those found guilty unless all future demands had been waived. Minister Denby has wired the Depart ment that seven men implicated in this outrage had been convicted and executed. This was corroborated in a dispatch a few hours later from Consul General Jernigan, in which lie said the decapitation took place there this morning.____ Ex-CoNGRESS3IAN George 1). Till man is quoted as saying that in Gen . M. C. Butler, Carolina had one of the best senators she ever had, and a bet ter one than she is likely to have again soon. This is pretty hard on his othe and Seatorm Irby. LIVELY PROCEEDINGS. (q )TIN U 1 .1' 1 k(,' (E ONE.1 offered by Mr. Bates was tabled. Mr. Robt. Aldrich thought it be neath the dignity of the Convention to notice the attack made upon its president. At the same time he con sidered that the State newspaper should be properly rebuked for its at tack on the president of the body. He offered the following as an addition to the resolutions of Mr. Patterson: Resolved, That the said newspaper, The State, has abused the privilege accorded to the press, by this Conven tion: and that for the balance of the session, its representatives be denied admission to the floor of the Conven tion, and that the sergeant-at arms be charged with the enforcement of this resolution. Mr. Sheppard: The idea of continu ing the. discussion from yesterday was to allow moderation and to avoid hasty action. The wisdom of that course has been demonstrated by the moderate subs:titutes offered. Having been in the position of presiding officer I know full well the delicacies of its position and the difficulties ofttimes in his way. I am solicitous that what this convention does shall be done right. For whose benefit is this reso lution offered? Not for the President, for he knows he enjoys the confidence and esteem of this body. Not for the Conventton. for it cannot afford to notice it. I shall regard it unfortunate should we adopt these resolution. I do not deem necessary any declaration of onr confidence in our President. I hoped that the resolution of Mr. Baes would be adopted. I am surprised and sorry that my friend Mr. Aldrich should have intro duced his resolution. The freedom of the press in this enlightened day can not be interfered with. The reporter of The State, Mr. Watson, has in no way violated the courtesy and indul gence of this convention. A mistake by an editor in nowise authorizes a mistake by this convention. Suppose the statement were maliciously false, we could not afford or have time to notice it, for then some other editor will seek to be dignified by special no tice from this convention. Mr. Henderson, of Aiken, favored Mr. Patterson's motion. Mr. Berry, of Marion, asked to be excused from voting. Mr. Jervey said that the resolution committed the Convention to a ques tion of fact, and the second (which voted confidence in the President) was unnecessary. Mr. Burn wanted to know how the Convention could vote on a fact with out sworn testimony. They were about to wade into deep water. The Presi dent needs no vindication. The edi torial was wrong; but don't let the Convention commit a greater wrong. Mr. Haynsworth, of Greenville, fa vored the resolution of Mr. Patterson. Mr. Gage thought a resolution nec essary, and introduced the following: Resolved, That this convention de sires to express its entire confidence in the integrity, honesty and fairness of our President, the Hon. J. G. Evans, and we do hereby declare the state ment in the aforesaid editorial to be unsustained by the facts and nntrue. Mr. McGowan endorsed Mr. Gage's resolution. Mr. WV. D. Evans spoke in favor of Mr. Patterson's resolution. After further discussion the resolu tions of Mir. Gage were laid on the table. Major Barker of Charleston thought the whole discussion out of order. He said the Convention could not stop to consider every criticism on the con duct of the presiding officer, and should not stop to consider the mat ter. He moved the indefinite postpone mnent of the whole matter. Mr. Farrow of Charleston favored the motion of Major Barker. This motion was defeated. Mr. T. I. Rogers of Marlboro thonght there should be an investiga tion of all the facts bearing on the matter, and moved the appointment of a committee for that purpose. This motion he afterwards withdrew. Mr. George.- Johnstone jocularly suggested that the whole matter might be referred to the committee of revis ion and style. He spoke against the resolutions as being unnecessary. Mr. WV. D. Evans of Marlboro spoke in favor of the resolutions. Mr. Stanyarne Wilson urged the adoption of the resolution offered by Mr. Patterson. Mr. B. R. Tillman made a warm speech in favor of the resolutions. He thought it unfortunate that they had been introduced, but as the question was before the Convention it ought to be squarely met. He was very strong in his language, but, at the end of the whole matter, rose and withdrew so much of his remarks as might have given offense. Mr. Prince of Ande-son favored the resolutions, but warmly resented the reflections contained in the speech of Senator Tillman. The resolutions were then adopted. Senator Tillman wanted the yeas and nays, and, for that purpose moved a reconsideration. The roll was then called, with the following result: Yeas--Aldrich, Alexander, Ashe: Atkinson, Austin ,Barry, Barton, Bates, Behire, Bellinger, Bowen, Bowman, Bradham, Breazeals, Brice, J. S.; Brice, T. W.; Bryan. Buist, Burn, Byrd, Cantey, Carver, Clayton, Con nor, Cooper, Cunningham, Dellay, Dennis, Dent, Derham, Douglass, Efird, Estridge, Evans, WV. D.; Field, Floyd, Fraser,Gamble, Garris, Glenn, J. L.; Glenam,J.- P. ;Gooding, Graham, Gray, Gunter, Hamel. Harris, Har-ri son. Hay, Haynsworth, Hemphill, Henderson, D. S: Henry, Hodges, Houser, Howell, Hlutson, Irby, John son, T. E.; Johnstone, George; Jones, Wilie; Keitt, Kennedy, J. WV.; Klugh, Lowman, McCallIa, McCaslan, Mc Caslan, McCown, McDermnotte, 'Ic Kagen, McMakin,McWhite,Matthb wvs, Meares, Miller, Mitchell, Montgotnerv, J. D.; Moore, Morrison,Murra- fNash, Nathans, Nicaolson, Oliver, OGts,Par ler, Parrott, Patterson, Peake.Perritte, Prince, Redfearn,Reed, John; Rogers, Rosborough, Rowland, Russell, Shu ler, Sligh, Sloan, Smith, A. J. :Smith, WV. C.; Smoak, Sprott, Stackhouse, Stokes, Stribling, Sullivan, Talbert, Taylor, Tillman, G. D.: Timmerman, Waters, Wharton. Whipper, XWhite, A. H.; Wiggins, Wilson, Stanyarne; Wilson. W . B.: Winkler. Woodward, -123. Nays-Anderson, Barker. Berry, Doyle, D~u4ley. Farrow, Fitch, Gage, Jervey, Kennedy, E. J.; Lee, Mc Gowan, McMahan, Montgomery, WV. J.: Ragsdale, Read, J. H.; Sheppard. Smith, Jermniah; Smith, R. F.: Von Kolnitz, Wells, White. S. E.-23. A number o1 the delegates (mostly those who voted in the negative) had entered upon the journal their reason for their vote. The general purport of these was that whilst they had con fdence in the integrity of the president they could not adopt the language of the resolutions AN Ohio man, who is being sued for breach of promise. makes the defense, relates the Louisville 'Courier-Jour nal, that he proposed and was ac cepted on Sunday, and that according to the lws of that state contracts made an Sunay are not lgally binding-. A Case of Conspiracy. The correspondent of the Columbia State, at this place, under date of the 16Lth instant, says it leaked out here that day that warrants were to be sworn out against several part Les charged with assisting in the murder of the late Treasurer Copes. The same correspondent says that it was also brought to light Monday "that a scheme had been inaugurated by Dai C. Murphy's family and friends by which the State's most important witness was to sign an af. fidavit setting forth that what she tes tified to against Murphy at the trial in May last was farse. and that she was paid by the detectives to testify. The following facts were obtained from Auditor G. B. Kitrell, who had some thing to do with the capture of Murphy. That several weeks ago Dan Murphy's wife, who is a sister to Clemie Bars, the witness in question, left her home and went to Georgia, the southern portion, where Clemie Bars was living and, by means of threatening her life, forced her into South Sarolina. When they arived at Denmark the party was met by several friends and taken to a house near Dan Murphy's father's. There this girl, so she says, was forced to swear that what she tistified to in court was false; that if she didn't come to Orangeburg and swear out an alli davit to that effect she would be sum marily dealt with. Being there alone she expressed her willingness to do so. Consequently she was secretly brought here early in the morning. The horse and buggy was left outside the buisness portion of the city, while she and her sister, Mrs. Murphy, came on the back street and went to Col. Browning's office. That gentleman being out they went in front and were aaiting his return when Clemie saw Mr. Kitrell and ran to him and asked his and the sheriff's protection. The girl was immediately taken to the sher.iff's office and there guarded until she was sent away. This startling scheme has caused no little excitment here and it has caused the people to awaken a resh to the wilful and malic ious murder of their beloved county treasurer, who was so brutally murder ed for his money."-Times and Demo crat. Ex-Senator Butler on Tillman. Columbia, S. C., Sept. 21.-Ex Sen ator M. C. Butler passed through the city yesterday, stopping over during the afternoon. When asked if he had anything to say about Senator Till man's attack upon him in the conven tion, he said: "No, sir; I beheve not. My consideration for his brother, George D. Tillman, who is a manly man, a gentleman and always strikes right out from the shoulder, never hit ting below the belt, restrains me from saying a great many things that ] could say. I have denounced Bet Tillman to his face as a coward, a Hal and a thief and he did not resent it. If I should kick him now he would howl like a spaniel and doubtless in. dict me for assault and battery. You know, you can't keep up with a con stitutional liar like he is, and I shall leave him to enjoy all the glory h( can gain by attacking a man behind his back, when he has no opportunity to reply. His statement, so far as il relates to me, is a tissue of falsehood. from beginning to end. Here is oni specimen. He refers to an interviev between Gen. Gary and Gen. Ruge: at Edgefield, on the day of election. Gen. Ruger was not at Edgefield at al: and the statement is a pure fiction He is equally at fault about the seconi Republican meeting at Edgefield. His account of what occurred is a flagr'an1 misrepresentation of what did occur. But why attempt to follow a man whc is so utterly regardless of the truth and reckless in his statements. Le1 him go." Courtesy to Children. IEarper's Bazaar very truly says tha1 all the training and disciphrning. it the world, if given in the form of ar bitrary directions and commands, wil not make children well-bred and agreeable. Mothers sometimes think, or act as if they thought that courtesy in the home must be entirely a one sided affair. The small boy must noi interrupt conversation, he must stej softly, speak gently, remove his hai on coming in, spring to restore whai some older person drops, run his little feet off on errands, always say thank you, and never indulge himself in the least expression of irritation, but no body is obliged to be equally polite tc him. Ordered as if he was not as sen sitive to wounds, and as easily hurt as his elders, his pursuits regarded as ofnc importance, his convenience overruled or set aside at the caprice of his tutors and governors, the little fellow ofter has a hard time of it while he is grow ing up. Parents who are intensely proud of their children often refrain, fronm a mistaken idea that praise is in judicious. from commending them for what they do well, while blame is swift to leap out and scorch the mem orv on any slight obcasion. The child who will be most courteous through life is the child who has been treated with courtesy, who has spent the form ative years of life in a sweet and gen ial atmosp~here, and been moulded not so much by military rules brusquely enforced as by the genial influence of serene tempers and the blessedness of good examples. Praise Your Wife. Praise your wife, man; for pity's sake give her a little encouragement; it won't hurt her. She made your home comfortable, your hearth brighi and shining, food agreeable-for pity's sake tell her you thank her, if nothing more. She don't expect it; it wil.] make her eyes open wider than they have these 'ten years, but it will dc her good and you too. There are many women today thirsting for words of praise, the language of en couragement. Through summer's beat, through winter's toil, they have drudged uncomplainingly, and so ac customed have their fathers, brothers and husbands become to their monoto nous labors that they look for and upon them as they do the daily rising of the sun, and it's daily going down. Home every day may be made beauti ful by an appreciation of its holiness. You know, if you can take from your drawer a clean shirt whenever you want it, that somebody's fingers have ached in the toil of making it fresh and agreeable, so smooth and lus trous. Sunk in a Collision. HAv~Nm, Sept. 19.-The cruiser Bar castegui wvas wrecked at midnight by coming in collision with the merchant steamer Mortera in the canal at the entrance of the port of Havana. Admiral Delgado Parejo and three other oilicers and many of the crew were drowned. Gen Parejo's body has been recovered. Capt. Ybaneze's body was also recovered, but in a badly multilated condition, indicating that ie had been crushed in the col lison. The cruiser Barcastegui has been employed on government busi ness between different ports of the sland of Cuba. The Barcastegui was third class cruiser, carry five heavy id two rapid-fire guns. She was of 1,OO00 tons displaucenment. She was hn1t in 1l'7t. ONE OF LIFFE'S MYSTERIES. Why somw People Pass Empty Car Sears all: i ruwi Those P::rtiauly Occupied. "Ticre is one thi::r that has alwavs been izire or less of a mvstery to ne," said a Ir vler to a writer for the New York San. ''and that is the motive that prompt; soine passengers in a car in which there are entirely vacant seats; to take a seat with somebody. In some cases the reason for this is simple enough; it may be that the person takes the first seat he comes to and is satisfied; it may be that the vacant entire seats are at the other end of the car and not seen at a casual glance; sometimes a person unaccustomed to travel rather timidly takes the first seat at hand: but the person that I have in mind is the one who either de liberately, or with what one might call deliberate thoughtlessness, takes a seat with somebody when there are vacant entire seats in plain sight. I have seen. for instance, i man sitting by a window, alone in a seat, in a car in which there was plenty of room. reading. Knowing that there was plenty of room he had perhaps sort of preempted that seat, and was making himself comfortable in it, and was thinking of nothing but his reading. Along comes a rather stout lady. who, though there is more room elsewhere, for some to me utterly incomprehen sible reason, decides that she wants to sit in that particular seat. She moves silently. She halts in the aisle at the end of the seat, and slowly moves in so that she can sit down. She says nothing to the man. She does not even look at him; she has not looked at him since the moment that she decided to take that seat, and he is as yet unconscious of her presence. Looking straight ahead with great calmness, she sits down deliberately. Then the man looks around with a pained sort of look. He moves closer to the window and goes o:2 reading, but he won't regain his inward com posure for an h6ur. Now why the lady should have taken that particular seat is one of the things that I don't understand." FISHES ON THE MARCH. Peculiar Varieties That Tr.vel Across the Land. Travelers in South America are some times regaled with wonderful stories about the overland trips of certain fishes, and in many instances the aC counts have been substantiated, es pecially in the cases of the Doras and Callichthys-catfishes common in the tropical South American streams. These fishes exist in vast numbers in the streams and pools, and, like their East Indian allies, they start in a body overland, presenting a most singular appearance, especially to those who have never seen a fish out of water by its own volition. Another catfish, known as the Tangsa, in South American waters, is often seen on partly submerged logs, apparently having the habits of a frog or lizard. In England the familiar lit tle fish known as the blenny has a curious habit of basking -.n the open air at times. This was first noticed by a ,naturalist named Ross. who kept several of the fishes in an aquarium. Ile had great difficulty in making them stay in the water. At certain times during the day they would make des perate and often successful attempts to get out. Finally, upon the advice of a friend, he placed a stone in the tank so that part of it was exposed, and out upon it climbed the blennies. They seemed to require air, and from choice spent part of the time out of the water. Singularly enough, this was during the ebb tide, the period when they would naturally be left high and dry in the pools along shore. AN ENGLISH SNAKE STORY. The Weird Tale of the Terrnblo Dragon of Sockburn Downs. In the old English "chop" book and folklore stories the Yorkshire dragon is always referred to as the "Lampton Worm," the word "worm" meaning snake or dragon; Lampton being the name of the man who finally succeeded in slaying the hideous creature. Ap other old-time English myth, scarcel3 less popular than that of the Lamptor worm, is that of the "Dragon of Sock burn Downs." The name of -the mar who slew the Sockburn nightmare L still preserved, and is that of one o the best known "North Country" fami lies. His tomb is still to be seen in tho ruins of the church at Sockburn, wher, also he lay in effigy with a rude sculp ture of the dragon at his feet. W~hex the old church had crumbled to an un recognizable mass of stone and mortar the effigies of the hero and the "worm' were removed to Sockburn hall. Among the other relics preserved at this hail may be seen the identical falchion or sword with which the mon ster was slain. N ear by, almost in sight of this miniature museum of rel ics, is a gigantic bowlder, lying in the midst of "Worm Field." Here, the legend says, the creature attempted to hide itself on the day when it was pur sued and vanquished by the hero of Sockburn Downs. At So Much F.r FcUo. The following is clipped by London Truth from Croake James' "Curiosities of Law and Lawyers:" "If a man were to give to another an orange he would merely say: 'I give you this orange,' but when the transaction is intrusted to the hands of a lawyer to put it in writing, he adopts this form: '1 'hereby give, grant and convey to you' all and singular mny estate and interest, right, title, claim and ad vantage of and in the said orange, to gether with all its rind, skin, juice, pulp and pips, and all right and ad vantage therein, with full power to bite, cut, suck and otherwise eat the same, or give the same away, as fully and effectually as I, the said A. B.. am now entitled to bite, cut. suelt or otherwise eat the same orange, or give the same away, with or without its rind, skin, juice, pulp and pips, any thing hereinbefore or hereinafter, or in any other deed or deeds, instrument or instruments, of what nature or kind soever to the contrary in anywise not withstanding."' Ravages of Cholera. San Francisco, Sept. 18.-Nothwith standing the efforts of the Chinese and Japanese to suppress the news in re gard to the cholera, the truth has at last come to light concerning the plague. Japan and North China are faily alive with cholera germs. Sibe rian officicials have dec'lared Japan ports infected, and from official sources it is learned that over 17,000 people have died in Japan from the plague since its start in the Pescadores. In China the disease has gained firm foot old Ad-vices by the steamer Rio Ja neirio report that in Tokio the heat is' terrifying, and the disease germs have been nursed into virulent life. ARCHDUKE Ladislaus's death by the accidental discharge of his rifle while unting adds another to the remark able list of violent deaths in the reign ing house of Austria. The Emperor's brother, Maximilian, was shot in Mex ico; his son Rudolph, heir to the throne, committed suicide; the late Archduke Albrecht's daughter was burned to death: Archduke Johann Salvator has disappeared, and, it is pretty sure, was drowned, and last fall Archduke William was thrown from pAKIGL POWDER AbsolutelY Pure. A cream or tartar varmng powder Highest of all in leavening strength.-La test UnIted States Governmentfobd Be port. Royal Baking Powder Company, 106 Wall St.N. Y. GREAT MOSQUE OF DAMASCUS. Rebuiding of the Famous Fane Now in Rapid Progress. A correspondent of the London Times gives some interesting facts in relation to the recent burning of the great mosque of Damascus, once the ancient cathedral of St. John the Bap tist. The Turkish government has ex erted every effort since the calamity to prevent any report of it from being published. He says: "The Christians were accused by some at the time of setting the building on fire; but, as the fire broke out in the high roof of the building a little before noon, the accusation was so manifestly absurd that it had little influence on the Mos lem mind. Had it occurred at night, when the facts might not have been so manifest, the report would have met with readier acceptance, and it is im possible to say what, in that case might have been the consequences, to the Christians. Moreover, as there was a high wind blowing toward the Christian quarter, if it had been at night when people were asleep, the destruction must have been much more extensive. The work of rebuilding seems to have been taken in hand with vigor. A gentleman in the city recenitly tak ing a ride with his wife and son out side the gates, met hundreds of men bringing in the large poplar beams for the work, which they were draw ing in carts by ropes, with loud sing ing and clapping of hands. The riders at once turned away by another road, giving them as wide a berth as possi ble, for it is hardly safe for a Chris tian to get among them in their pres ent mood. The library, containing books and manu scripts of -.priceless value, was saved from the flames; and nothing of value was lost, excepting the most precious gem of all--namely: 'Othman's Koran,' which was deposited in a place apart, and was not thought of until too late. This is said to have been (and probably really was) one of the very four exemplars deposited by the Caliph Othman, A. H. 30, in the four great mosques of Mecca, Medina, Kufa and Damascus-the only surviv ing copy. These were to be kept there as the sole authoritative copies after all others had been -called in from every quarter of the Moslem em pire and committed to the flames. It is a matter of congratulation that the ancient inscription in Greek on the cathedral wall-over the silversmiths' and sandal-makers' bazar-has not been injured. It is the thirteenth verse of Psalm cxlv., the name of Christ being added thus: 'Thy king dom, 0 Christ, is an everlasting king dom, and thy dominion is from gener ation to generation.'" THlE WILDERNESS OF CEYLON. A Deaf Elephant supposed to Be Sacred to Buddha. We were in the absolute wilderness of upland Ceylon, where the virgin beauty and freshness of nature. un spoiled by man instills a new sensation into every sodi which vibrates to her mysterious -oice, says Cornhill Magazine. The -olling green patenas are cut off sheer and straight from the encircling belts of jungle as though measured off by human hands, a strik ing feature of these elevated regions which has never been satisfactorily explained. The mountain ranges which inclose the grassy plains are clothed from base to summit with primeval for est, heavily draped with moss which forms a green fringe, hanging from every bough. An appalling loneliness broods over the scene, no song of bird stirs the silence, and the deathlike hush which reigns over the gloomy forest is un broken even by the rustle of a leaf, for noon is the midnight of the tropics and the black depths of the haunted jun gle are wrapped in spellbound sleep. At nightfall the lithe cheetah glides stealthily through the shadows and crouches for his prey among the crowd ing trees. The branching antlers of the elk rise abo ye the tangled under growth and the moose deer browses in the shade of the mossy boughs along which the wildcat creeps, while the savage boar roots .among the fallen leaves. When the rising moon illuminates the lonely landscape, herds of wild elephants; emerge from the dark jungle and roam over the vast expanse of desolate country which still renders the interior of Ceylon almost san un known land. The elephant grass, which breaks the uniformity of the un dulating plain with rustling sheaves of long greet spears, is the forage for which the strngglers of the herd scour the patenas, and many Cingalese su perstitions linger round this elevated tableland. The recent spoor of an elephant marks our track and ceases at a deep pool known to be a favorite drinking place of the wild animals which haunt the jungle. A deaf elephant frequent ly perambulates the Elk plains.. He is supposed to be sacred to Buddha, and, therefore, invulnerable, no sportsman having hitherto succeeded in piercing his hide-a fact probably due to the great age of the animal. Belgian Marriage Licensee. A recent enactment in Belgium has made it obligatory for brides to have their marriage licenses or "marriage lines," as they call them in that land of fens and dikes, gorgeously bound in gilt-edge morocco. This is consider ately done-or, in other words, done for a consideration-by the municipali ties, who have now taken to binding up a quantity of more or less useful information with the documents. There is a summary of the Belgain marriage laws, a rough and ready les son on the treatment of children, and a table with spaces for a catalogue of the issue of the marriage. The table contains room for twelve children to be entered, so) this may be taken as a gentle hint that that number is the extreme limit toleratedl by Belgian burghers in a well-conducted family. The manual seems only to need the ad dition of a few choice receipts and a hint or two on the best means of ob taining divorces in order to defy criti cism. The Boston Herald thinks it is dis respectful to refer to Gov. Morton as New York's favorite son, and says he is New York's favorite "old gentle