Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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4 I I ~ iI~ VOL. XI. MANNING, S. C.~ WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 6, 1895. NO. U3. FEMALE SUFFRAGE. THE SUBJECT FULLY DISCUSSED !N THE CONVENTION. Earnest and Able Speeches on Both Side The Advocates of the Bnllot For Wouen Lose The Fight. COLUMIn. Oc t. 2S.-Special. The fight over the matter of female suf trage began in the Convention today. when section 3 of the suffrage article came up. Mr. Ctayton of Florence offered the following amendment: Amend in line 3 after the word "it" and before the word "shall- insert the words -and every female citizen of this State and of the United States 21 years of age and upwards, not laoor ing under the disabilities named in this Constitution and who, in her own right owns taxable property of the value of $30O." Mr. Clay ton stated that the amend ment just offered placed the conven tion face to face with female suffrage. He had to attack prejudice in doing so. But he would not hesitate to make the charge. He hoped the members would rise superior to prejudice. The women of the State had rights that should be preserved. Give them the right to preserve their rights. The women once had no legal status what ever. They never had no political exis tence. It was their political and not to their social existence that they were now to apply themselves. They now have the right to hold property. The right to hold property is given. Then they should have the right to protect their rights. But it has been claimed that she does not want that right Who makes that as sumption? What right has any man on this floor to make that assump tion? We have here able women who have addressed your body. We have received and there is on that desk pe tition after petition asking for the right, and if my memory serves me right, there has not been a petition sking that she be denied the right to vote. Then who has the right to say that she does not want it? It has been said that if she wanted it she would get it. That very admis sion establishes her right before this body and it is our duty to give it to her on the evidence before us that she does want it. The next question is: Will the ex ercise of that right degrade her? Does the right to vote degrade your man hoodl Do you feel that the right of suffrage has lowered you? If it cannot lower you it canz.ot lower her. It has been argued that she would come into the canvass and go upon the hustings, and that she will seek office. I admit all that. If she does she has the right. Are we denying it because we fear that she will exercise that right? I do not think that there Is any man who will ask that we should not give her the right for that reason. It has also been said that she could not do jurv duty or road duty, or militia duty, or other duties that have to be prformed by citizens. That is absur! Look at the State of Wyom ing and see if they do not perform jury duty there. I was reading some time ago the statement of a Wyoming udge, who said that he had never seen btter jurors. That question is not worth debating. Now, the next ques tin: Will she do military duty. I understand that one of the delegates, a member of the committee on suffrage asked that question. Upon inquiry I have found that he was a very young man, who had not been in thecil war, or he would nothave ashed such a question. Didn't she do it in the war just passed? I know by personal knowledge one or two intaces when young men who refused to go to the war were presented with a full suit of women's aparel and told if you won't take up ams, take to skirts.'' They did do military duty. To those men who were old soldiers there is no music so ennanting; no music carried men to a career that will ever be remembered as did "The Girl I Left Behind Me." Every company and every regiment that marched from its native town to the field of glory did so to the sta&ns of that inspiring song. It may not be known to those who are carried away by classical music, but that tune carried more men to glory than any other tune ever known. She will do military duty. She was an angel in the hospitals during the late war and she made all the clothes --hat the soldiers needed. and exhibited a spirit of self-denial that has never been surpassed by women in any country. Who does not remember how they took the palmetto and the shucks and platted them into hats, and how they wove their own homespun dresses? And I mean no reflection upon the women of the present day when I say that there were and never will be fairer faces than those of the women who wore the palmetto hats and homes spun dresses. Yes, gentlemen, she has done military duty and she will continue doing it... Now then comes the question, is it expedient to give her the ballot? We are confronted, gentlemen of the convention, with a grave and seri ous problem. We have Charrybids on one side and Scylia on the other, and we are trying to steer between them. It is a great ek and we should take advantage ot 'a ery chance that offers itself. The learned gentleman from Char leston, in discussing the legal aspects of this bill that has been framed by the wisdom of some of the best minds in the State, says that we are nearby upon sands, but that there is a rock ahead. Whatever may be the division or the fate of the rest of the bill, here is a rock we can rest upon with safety En franchise the women of South Caro lina the property-holding women, and they will be a safeouard whenever the occasion arises. I have made out a case here in which 1 have shown that she has a right. I ask you now by the memories of Lexington and Yorktown and by the memories of the Lost Cause and by the memories of those monuments which the gentle man from Beaufort said would be the gravestones of our lost hopes, I ask ~ou to throw aside your prejudices and give to woman the right which she aeserves and which is the only right which wil nlac her upon complete equality with man. Mr. Rogers moved to lay the amend ment on the table. but withdrew to al low Col. John T. Sloan to speak. Col. Sloan spoke from theeentre zzis!. and with mnch energy. He opposed most earnestly the L-Mrainng of tin srure to women. lHe was frequemly inter rupted by Mr. Clayton, and the word plav between the t wo gentiemen was very sprightly. GENERZAL HiiDIiLL. Gen. R. il. Hemphill then took the floor, and stated that the ,gentlenian who preceded him indulged in voci feration and not in argument. He had taken up the cause of woman years ago. The more he thought of it the more he was convinced that it was right and the only solution of the ques tion of suffraze. It did not follow that a woman had to be a policeman. if she was ziven the voting privilege. He never expected to see any more war in South Carolina. There was no purpose to encourage war. We stand thus. It has bten charged that South Carolina had practiced fraud. If there had been any fraud in this county he did not know it. But if there wvas fraud, give the ballot to the women and that would settle the matter. All the plans suggested did not seem to solve it. They should remove this re tiection on the great State of South Carolina. You propose to restrict the sutfraze of men. We went back into the Union takintr the obligation that no class should ever have its privileges or immunities abridged or denied. Now all admitted what the United States Constitution and amendments said of the subject. How are you going to comply with all this? Why. give the franchise to woman with a proptrtv qualification. There is the solution of tie question before the people of South Carolina. This enlarges the suffrage and you can equality it. His friend had said that God never intended that woman should be on an equality with men. It may be on the idea that women are not paid for the work. He mentioned several South Carolina women who nearly 60 years azo demanded this right of suffrage. They were demand ingit now. They have their represen tatives here. They tell you the wo men will not go to the polls. The women of South Carolina had never failed to do their duty. The good wo men and men can vote on one day, the bad men the next. A voice-What about the bad wo men? Gen Hemphill-And the bad women will not come out at all. No women would ever be insulted in this State at the polls or elsewhere. Up to 1868 the women had no rights that the law was bound to respect. Now a married woman has the- right to hold her separate property and dis pose of it as she may wish. Why not give the women a fair and equal chance? Give the women a full chance. This will make South Carolina once more the leading State in the Union. Dis appoint those who think we are going to settle this matter by fraud. With the educational qualitication the matter will be settled. In iSSO there were 72.000 white men over 2 L years of age who could read and write. There were 14,200 who could not, making a total of 86,2.0 white men. There were 25.S70 ne groes who could read and write and 96,010 who could not, a total of 11,889 Teewere 75,000 white women who could read and write and 18.000 color ed women in like condition. The educated white majority with the women added was 31,000. In 1S90 there was a majority of 30,290 negro men over the white men. He then cited the figures as to males and females in Laurens county. In Rich land there were 592 white women who would be qualified against 115 negro women. Women now take positions as book keeps, clerks, stenographers and they are thrown thus publicly with men. Have they been insulted ? No. They will elevate our country in all re spects. He would not "fatigue the pa. tience' of this convention. Mr. Rogers stated that suffrage was a duty to be imposed. He wanted to know if General Hemphill believed that any considerable portion- half of them, say-want them to put this bur den on their shoulders. General Hemphill said that they wanted it; that was all. They would do their duty. Mr. Prince wanted to know if the qualification he gave would not be merely bringing about temporary re lief. General Hemphill stated that he did not intend to abridge any one's privi. leges nor could it be done by law. MR. HiENDERsoN. Mr. D. S. Henderson then took the floor. He would detain them only a few moments. He said no matter what the female suffragists may say in tnle way of argument, the argument made here tonight shows that the scheme is founded upon pure cowardice. Would you try to solve the suffrage problem in this way? Let us follow this mat ter like mien. The idea of saying to the world that the negroes were so numerous that we had to drag the wo men in the State before us to protect us is pitiful. Before we do that, let us do away with the excellent report of the comimittee. go back, get our shot guns and stand by the polls, and not, in the name of heaven, drag our wo men to the ballot box. Take up the excellent and manly report of the committee and bring the divided white people back to the ballot box. When and where was the suffrage discussed -on the stump or in the canvass on this subject How would the people have spoken on this subject? In be half of the mothers of South Carolina and our dear old dead mothers who have taught us that woman's sphere is the home, keep woman there, and not make her a tramping voter at the ballot box. Do this and receive the plaudits of men. Mr. Clayton asked him a question as to who was to protect the women. He replied: "IJf they have no hus bands let them find sweethearts to piotect them. MR. BURN. Mr. Burn took the floor as Mr. Rogers was demanding the roll call on his motion to table thme amendment. Mr. Burn spoke with his usual feeling and energy. He gre w very eloquent on the subject of women. He inti mated that Colonel Sloan had very little chivalry if it was to be judged by his speech. Why should not a woman be allowed to vote:i If woman did not want the ballot she would not use it. Take care you may need wo man's vote. I will say no more. I know that woman is superior to man. He rung in a quotation from the Bard f Scotiand, and then spnkeonf the peerless markmanship of "that little woman in Buffalo Bill's show." This was a centre shot. He felt it a duty, however, that he owed to his constit uIency to vote against it. (Prolonged lauzliter) Prejudice was a dangerous Miller-How can you make such a speech like that and then say you can't vote for it? tLaughter and con fusion). Mr. Burn said he always tried to represent by his vote the vill of his people: that was all. Mr. Clayton wanted to have the further consideration postponed until tomorrow morning. This caused a volley of 'oh' no's" from all parts of the house. Mr. Rogers renewed his motion to table, but withdrew to al low Dr. Timmerman to speak for a few moments. DR. TIMMERMAN began to speak amid a roar of laughter, but it gaickly subsided, for he stood on strong ground. He said he advocated the cause of woman's suffrage because it would contribute to the moral status of the men and would improve the moral tone of the suffrage article. He was somewhat surprised at the distin guished gentleman from Aiken sa ing that the men wished to hide behind the women. NO VOTING WOMEN THERE. Mr. Rogers said he went home the other day and he made a special can vass, finding not a single woman who wanted it. MR. M'WHITE. Mr. McWhite got the floor as the vote was about to be taken and lie pro ceeded to state that the women of Florence did not want the ballot. When they want it I am willing to .ive the ballot to them. He did not know until tonight that his colleagues were in favor of this scheme. He at tacked the argument on the other side. Mr Burn started to ask him a ques tion. Mr. McWhite-Why. I understand you are going to vote with me; its no use to answer any question from you. That little organization of women over in Florence has about a dozen women in it, and the president of it is a New Englander! He had never seen anything in Mr. Clayton's paper in favor of woman's suffrage. Mr. Clayton-There have been sev eral editorials therein. Mr. McWhite-I have never seen I anything else in it except some little local or show notice, outside of some poor people's land advertised to be sold. (Laughter.) After some little debate, the further consideration of Mr. Clayton's amend ment was postponed till tomorrow whereupon the Convention adjourned. A FINAL APPEAL. Just before Mr. McWhute began to speak the following petition from the womien of Fairfax was read to the convention: To the Hon. John Gary Evans, presi dent, and the members of the Con stitutional convention. We. the undersigned women of Barnwell county, earnestly urge upon you to give the ballot with a property or educational qualification. We base our appeal on justice, we being subject to the burdens and pen altiks of government, and because as taxpayers we have a right to repre sentation by vote. (Signed.) Mrs. Virginia D Young Mrs. LIarion Moro-an Buckner. Mrs. Dora Wilson, S s. Rivan Lipsey, Mrs. Pauline Brunson, Miss May Brunson, Mrs. Matilda Knioht, Mrs. Eliza Allen, Mrs. Iola K. eenger, Miss Edna Kear'se, Mrs. Lizzie M. Preacher, Mrs. Mamie P. Wilson, Mrs. Ida G. Jarral, Mrs. Elliott G. Kessler, Mrs. Anne A. Bassett, Mrs. Lucia B. Knight, Miss Ida M. Hair, Miss Minnie B. 'Hair, Mrs. Geneva Barber, Miss Lily Kearse, Mrs. Mar tha A. Craddock,'Mrs. Hettie M. Fen nel, Miss Maggie Fennel, Mrs. Sallie More Ogilvie, Miss Minnie Fennel, Miss Rhoda Fennel. Miss Laura Fen nel, Mrs. Nettie B. Fennel, Mrs. Min nie Ogilvie Lanier, Mrs. Mary Z.-King, Mrs. Lewis P. Sindersine, Miss Ada L. Sindersine, Mrs. May E. Connolly, Mrs. Elizabeth Connolly, Mrs. S. J. Gravson, Miss Ada Brunson, Miss Maude Sindersine, Mrs. Rebecca S. Williams, Miss Donnace Fennel. THE AMENDMENT DEFEATED COLUMBIA, Oct. 28.-Special: The Convention, with great promptness, resumed, this morning, the considera tion of the article on the right of so f rage-the pending question being on the motion to give women, under certain limitations, the right to vote. The debate was opened by Mr. Tal bert, who made a strong speech against the propoition. Next came M r. J. A. Sligh of New berry. He was sorry to see a disposi tion to choke off debate. He was heartily opposed to the scheme, as now presented, but if it should be de feated he would offer an amendment allowing every woman to vote who should own $300 worth of taxable property. Mr. McCalla called for the previous question, which was then ordered by a vote that was very nearly even. Mr. Berry of Marion then took the loor for five minutes, in order to pre sent the views of the ladies of Marion, who has presented the petition the convention has before it. He wanted to speak in reply to Mr. Henderson's statements He would vote for the wo men at a sacrifice of his feelings. The plan suggested by the committee could not do more than be temporary in its operations. He would not like to see fraud fastened on the people. Mr. Clayton then said he desired to have Mr. LGeorge D. Tillman close for his side. lie asked the other side to proceed. He gave Miller five minutes, and the colored member pleaded for universal suffrage for both sexes and said he was willing to accept it even with, a prop erty qualification upon it. He hoped that they would take this thing as it was and settle it squarely and fairly . There was forther debate. Mr. Geo D. Tillman now made a lengthy and ear nest speech in favor of female suffrage. Mr. Bryan closed the debate, arguing against the amendment. Mr. Clayton moved to reconsider the vote whereby the previous question had been called. This was voted down. HOW IT WAS KILLED. Mr. Rogers then withdrew his mo tion to table, and a straight vote was taken on the amendment offered by Mr. Clayton. The amendment was lost by the following vote: Yeas-Clayton. Cooper, Cunning ham. Dudley, Ellerbe, Evans, W. D.; Hemphill, Jones, Wilie; Keitt, McMa han, Meares, Miller, Montgomery, J. D.; Montgomery, W. J.: Moore. Nicholson, Parler, Rosborough, Shu ler, Smith, W. C.: Stackhouse, Tay lor, Tillman, G. D.; Timmerman, Nays-John Gary Evans, Aldrich, Alexander, Anderson, Ashe. Atkinson, Austin, Barker, Barton, Bates. Behre, Bellinger, Bobo, Bowen, Bowmar Bradham, Breazeale, Brice. J. S.: Brice, T. W.: Bryan, Buist. Burn. Cantey, Carver, Connor, DeHay. Dennis, Dent, Derham. Douglass, Doyle, Efird. Farrow, Field, Fitch, Floyd, Fraser, Gamble, Garris, Gary. Gilland, Glenn, J. L.: Glenn, P.: Goodino, Graham. Gray. Gunter, Hamelarris, Harrison, Hay, Hayns worth, Henderson, D. S.: Henry, Houser, Hutson, Irby, Jervey, John son. T. E.; Johnstone, George; Jones, I. H.: Kennedy. E. J.: Kennedy, J. W.: Klugh, Lee. Lowman, Lybrand, McCalla, McCaslan. McCown, McDer motte. McGowan. McKagen. McMak in, McWhite, Matthews, Mitchell, Morrison, Mower. Murray, Nash. Otts, Parrott, Patterson. Patton. Peake, Perritte, Prince, Raasdale, Read, J. H.; Redfearn. Reed, R.: Rogers. Row land, Russell, She pard. Singletary, Sligh, Sloan, Small, Smith, A. J.: Smith, Jeremiah: Smith, R. F.: Smoak, Stokes Stribling. Sullivan, Talbert. Tillmau, B. R.: v-onKolnitz: Waters. Watson, Wells. Wharton. White, A. H.: White. S. E. Wiggins, Wilson, Stanyarne: Wilson, W. B.: Winkler. Woodward-121. The convention then took a recess till 7:30 p. m. THE NIGHT SESSION. When the convention was called to order at 7:30 p. m., section 3 was adopted as follows: Sec. 3. Every male citizen of this State and of the United States, 21 years of age and upwards, not laboring un der the disabilities named in this Con stitution, and possessing the qualifica tions required by it, shall be a legal elector. Mr. Sligb moved to reconsider the vote whereby the section had been adopted in order to allow him to intro duce an amendment. A division vote was taken on this motion and the mo tion prevailed. 65 voting with Mr. ligh. MR. sLIGH'S PLAN. Mr. Sligh then offered the following amendment: "The general assembly may at any time after the first day of January, 19S, by legislative enactment provide that every femalecitizen of the United States 21 years of age and upwards not laboring under the disabilities named in this Constitution and in addition to the qualifications required by it own ing property in this State assessed at $300 or more shall be a legal elector." Mr. Sligh spoke to the amendment, tating in substance what he had stat ed in the morning why this matter was necessary. It could not do any harm and it might do a good deal of good. The wisdom of the body did not rest in one committee. He hoped as it could do no harm that this mat ter would be allow to go through. Mr. Henderson said the difference between the proposition already de feated and this one was merely an ef fort to shift the burden from the con vention to the general assembly. He thought this was the worse proposition of the two. If the women were to be given the ballot they should give it to them in the organic law. Mr. Wharton stated that this thing would bring about a perpetual row not only in elections for members of the general assembly, but before the legislature. KILLED. Mr. E. J. Kennedy moved to table and the roll was called, resulting in the proposition being killed by the fol lowmng vote: Yeas-Aldrich, Alexander. Ander son, Austin, Barker, Barton, Bates, Behre, Bellinoer, Bobo, Bowen, Brad ham, Breazea~'e, Brice, J. S.; Brice, T. W.: Bryan, Cantey, Carver, Connor, DeHay. Dennis. Douglass, Doyle, Efird, Farrow, Field, Fitch. Floyd, Fraser, Gage, Gamble. Gary. Glenn, J. L. ;G-oodmg, Gray. Gunter, Hamel, Harris, Harrison, Hay, Henderson, D. S.: Henry, Houser, Hutson, Irby, erey, Johnstone, T. E. ; Johnstone, George; Jones. Wilie: Kennedy, E. J.; Kenedy, J. W.; Klugh, Lee. Low man, Mc~alla, McDermotte, McGow an, Mc aen, McMakin, McWhite, Matthews, Mitchell, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nash, Parrott, Peake, Perrittee, Prince. Ragsdale, Redfearn, Reed, J. R.; Rogers. Rowland, Rus sell, Sheppard. Singletary, Smalls, Smith, A. J.: Smith. Jeremiah; Smith, R. F.: Smith. W. C.: Stokes, Stribling, Sullivan, Talbert, Tillmnan, B. R.; vonKolnitz, Waters Watson, Wharton, White. A. H.: Wiggins, Wilson, Stanyarne: Winkler, X ood ward-99. Nays-Governor John Gary Evans, Ashe, Atkinson, Bowman, Burn. Clayton, Cooper. Cunningham. Derhamn, Dudley, Ellerbe, Ev ans, W. D.: Garris, Graham. Hayns worth, Hemphill, Jones, I. B.: Keitt, McCaslan. McCown, McMahan, Meares, Miller. Mongomery, J. D.: Mongomery, WV. J.;: Moore, Nicholson, Otts, Parler, Patton. Rosborough, Shuler, Sligh, Smoak, Stackhiouse, Talor, Tillman, G. D.; Timmerman, Wells. Whipper, White, Wigg, Wil son, W. B.-42. Smalls stated, when the roll was called, that he was infavor of woman's suffrage, but he was opposed to the proprty qualification. aeavra Mr. Johnstone then mae n era change at the end of the section chang ing the last words, "a legal elector' and making them read "an elec tor." Section 3 was then adopted as a whole as presented. save for this change. A Graceful Deed. CoLMBLu, Oct. 31.-While Wigg, who is a rather corpulent Mustee the olor of coffee with cream and appar ently with a trace of Indian blood, was speaking., Mr. Evans.of Marlboro, a rampant reformer, noticed that the tumbler on the desk in front of the speaker had been em ptied. He step ped gently from his place and handed the tumbler to Mr. Cooper, of Colle ton, another i-ed hot white supremacy and Ben Tillmnan man, who took it to the table, filled it from the pitcher of* water there and returned it quietly so that Wigg might not be interrupted by thrist or be compelled to stop to call a page. It was a very small inci dent, but I thought it was very grace ful and an illustration of a spirit of magnanimity and good will which I like to see, especially from the strong side tothe weak.-A. B. W.,in Green ville News. An Unknown Woman Killed. Atlanta, Ga.. Oct. 28.-An unknown woman was killed by an Exposition train today at Ella street crossing. She started to cross just as an incoming train passed, and was struck by an out going train..She was a stranger in the THE RIGHT OF RIGHTS, THE CONVENTION CONSIDERS THE SUFFRAGE CLAUSE. Animated and Interesting Debate on this Mlost Importait Sub.ect--What Was Said and Done. COLUMBIA, Oct. 28.-Special: The Convention was not slow in reaching the most interetsing of the matters which are to be settled by that body, and which are to form parts of the or ganic law of the State. The article was the special order for 7:30 this evening. The galleries, to gether with the spectators' space on the floor, were well filled. The first speaker was R. B. Anderson. the col ored delegate' from Georgetown. He delivered a well prepared speech, in which lie pleaded for justice to the negro as a citizen and as a factor in the development of the country. Mr. Burn made a strong and impas sionate speech in favor of the plans embodied in the report of the commit tee on suffrage. Next came I. R. Reed, one of the colored delegates from Beaufort. who made a speech of considerable length, taking the same positions as his col leagues. Whipper's substitute was then voted down, only the six negro members supporting it. The following sections of the article were then adopted: Section 1. All elections by the people shall be by ballot, and elec tions shall never be held nor the bal lots be counted in secret. Section 2. Every qualified elector shall be eligible to any otice to be vot ed for, unless disqualified by age, as prescribed in this Constitution. But no person shall hold two of honor or pr oit at the same time, except oflicers of the militia and notaries public. THE PATTON PLAN. COLUMBIA, October 29.-Special: As soon as the Convention had disposed of the matter of female suffrage, as re lated elsewhere in this correspondence, it proceeded to take up section 4, which embodies the regulation of the right of suffrage, on the so-called -Mississippi plan," with certain modi fications. Mr. Patton of Richland offered the following substitute: 1. Every male citizen of the State of South Carolina of the age of 21 years, not laboring under disabilities named in this Constitution, who shall have resided in the State two years, and in the county in which he offers to vote one year next preceding any election, and who shall have paid all poll or other tax due by him to the State for the fiscal year preceding that in which he shall offer to vote: and who, in ad dition thereto (a) shall be able to read the Constitution in English print or sign his name: or (b) shall shall have been engaged in the active military or naval service of the late Confederate States of America, or of the United States of America during the late war between the States; or (c) shall be the lawful. lineal descendant of a jerson who was engaged in such service, and shall be alive at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be a qualitied elector of this State, and, when duly registered, shall be entitled to vote for all officers that are now or may hereafter be elected by the people, and upon all questions submitted to the electors at any elec tion. 2. The general assembly shall enact just and equal laws for the accurate registry of the qualified electors of this State, and they shall also establish convenient, fair and impartial tribun als to pass upon and determine the qualifications of persons offering them selves for registra-tior. as qualified elec tors. :3. A popular government cannot ex ist without a pure ballot; the general assembly, therefore, shall enact string ent laws for the regulation of the rex istry and elections of this State, wit'i severe penalties for the violation of the same. Any person who shall wil fully violate such laws shall, upon conviction to such penalties as the general assembly may impose, be for ever disLgualified from voting and de barred from holding public office in this State: and the disabilities imposed by this section shall not be removed by the pardon of the governor or by act of the general assembly. Mr. Patton first made a scathing re ply to the speeches of the negro dele ates. and then proceeded to consider the scheme reported by the suffrage committee. He took the position that if it were fairly enforced it would dis franchise between ten and twelve thousand white men. If it should be dishonestly employed, then we should have the same troubles which the Convention was expected to cure. Coming down to the discussion of his particular plan, Mr. Patton said: The people of South Carolina have the right to give the ballot to any class that we see tit, and we as their repre sentatives are the people of South Carolina. We are limited by nothing save the iifteenth amendment. I have atirmed that military service is a pro per ground for the bestowal of the suffrage. It is no novel idea. The statutes of the United States have something akin to it. They require a residence of only one year. instead of two, for naturalization if a per-son has served in the army. Again, sir. the State of Connecticut, from 1t81S to 1845, when the Constitution was amended, had this provision that lie should reside so long in the Stue and that he should have property of the annual value of 17 sterling. or- 'e al ternative that he should have~ done duty in the militia for one year-. Now consult your Constitutions and look under the head of the Connecticut Constitution and you will find that very thing that so many of the dele gates are shy about, it went in Con necticut and no one there thought there was anything new or startling about it. The great State of Massachu setts. which was certainly equipped with as line a bar as any State in the Union has adopted into her Constitu tion a provision exactly similar to that. There is difference in the proposition that I propose. I also grant suffrage for service in the Confederate army. No one in the legislature ever hesitat ed to vote for pensions because the words " soldiers of the Confederacy' were used. They tax the colored peo ple to help pay 'pensions for the sol diers of the Confederacy. No. sir, we pay $3.U000,000 a year to the pensions of ~the northern soldiers. If we could pay tip our own soldiers as much as we have to pay the Federal soldiers they wouldi be able to qualify under the property qualification, ie could save up the pension one year and qualfy Not being able to give him the money, is it not reasonable to give him a vote? It is exactly the same thing as giving him a -30 bond, non interest bearing and non-taxable. We give him a bond that enables him to qualify. Now we also allow any one who has fought in the Union army qualify. but that will not affect many votes. As a rule those vho have come here from the north were men of property or education, and the negroes who fought on the Federal side have, as a rule, more intelligence than their fel lows. In this county there are num bers of negroes who are called white men because they entered the Confed erate army with the understanding that they would be recognized as white men if they did so. Now, sir, is it constitutional Well. there is no way of demonstrating that as you can that two and two makes four. There is no decision upon re cord that would indicate that it is un constitutional. The only provision of the Constituion that it might infringe upon is the fifteenth amendment. The suggestion of the gentleman in the caucus that the hereditary feature of it was contrary to the rights of nobili ty clause, etc., won't do. The revised statutes give pensions to the sons of soldiers. I will say that Connecticut and Massachusetts have had the same provisions in their constitutions and they have never been attacked. The greatest argument of all is that it will give a true and honest ballot. Then, sir, the dark cloud that is hang ing over our State will burst asunder and we will walk out into the sunlight and get out of the miserable slough, where the fanatical hate of the north ern people and the ignorance and in competency of the southern negro have placed us for the last 30 years. Here is an opportunity to brush aside these clouds and walk out and look the world in the eye. Mr. Patton concluded thus: "If the plan of the committee is unconstitu ti nal you have a . direct educational and property qualification. If my plan is unconstitutional we will be in exactly the same fix. But we can go to our people and tell them that we have done the best we could, and if the Federal courts will not let us, it is not the first time in the history of South Carolina that she has been forced to call upon her sons to sacrifice their private interests to the public weal." Robert Smalls. one of the colored delegates from Beaufort, rose to a question of personal privilege. He referred to Mr. Patton's statement that he (Smalls) had, in 1S77, been convicted, in the Richland court, of having received a bribe whilst Sena tor from Beaufort. Smalls indignant ly denied his guilt-said his case was pending in the Supreme Court of the United States, when the governor of South Carolina, without his solicita tion in any way, granted him a full pardon. Mr. Havnsworth of Greenville at tached Mr Patton's plan and warmly supported that of the suffrage con mittee. He declared that the latter contemplated no fraud, and was, un der all existing circumstances, the the best that could be devised. Miller of Beaufort had something to say about Mr. Patton's reflections upon the Republican administration from 186S to 1S7G. Several amendments to section 4 were handed up, to be printed for the information of the members. None of them was acted on. REDUCING CLERICAL FORCE. Owing to the fact that there was no work for the engrossing clerks to do, the conventio-n passed a resolution dis missing them, and providing for their pay at $2 a dayv and 5 cents mileage each way. The convention then adjourned. PATTON'S PLAN REJECTED. COLU31BIA, Oct. 30.-Special: The Convention this morning resumed the consideration of the suffrage article the subject ii hand being the substi tute offered by Mr. Cowper Patton of Richland. 31R. 3!CGOWAN'S P'OINTS. Mr. McGowan of the committee got the loor at t ie outset and stated that in his opinioa the attack on the report last night was uncalled for. The com mittee had worked hard for three weeks and they had given- it the most careful consideration. The Conserva tives and Reformers had all agreed and reported the matter unanimously. He proposed to show that the attack was unwarrantec. in every respect; he wanted to show that Mr. Patton was wrono-in his facts and his law. I deny that tIhe comimittee contemplates that the plan shall be fraudulently en forced. The object. was to en franchise illiter ate white rien. I don't care who knows it: And we can do it without trouble. He denied that it was the in tention of the committee to have the requirement enforced dishonestly. Mr. Patton :aad said nine-tenths of the poor white people would be disfran chised. I deny this: I can say that they can u:aderstand. If they know so little that they cannot understand, they are bo:dering on idiocy and lun acy. This clause should and will be administered honestly.- My friend based his entire argument on this 'impossibility to understand. " I say that he has built his argument on a "false basis. His purpose is to get these men in who should not be dis qualified. This State's old soldiers had been called off to war when they should have been learning to read and write. The argument of my friend must fall to the ground. It cannot stand. Now where is my friend's fig ures and statistics to prove what he as serts? M:'. Patton-Now, where are yours: Mr. McGowan-I get my statements from my knowledge of the poor peo ple in my own county. Mr. Patton-I did the same Mr. McGown-Then they are differ ent from the people of my county. Then followed a long running de bate particpated in by Messrs. Patton, McGowan and othe-rs. The previous questions was then or dered by a vote of 94 to 47. Messrs. Fh-row and Burn spoke against the Patton substitute, and Messrs. Sheppard and Parrott in im favor. ANOTHER AD)vOCATE. Mi'. Clayton advocated the Pattor plan in a Aive miinute speech. Unden the committee plan he thought miany white me-n would be disfranchised. IHe appealed to the Confederate soldi ers. the vote of many of whomi were in danger. I -vE~TERAN Si'TA'Ks. oThe next speaker was Mi'. Bradhatn ofClaren-don, who said: - It was a strange coincid~ence that the speaker who took the iloor just af ter Governor Sheppard had concluded his one-leg story was Mr. Bradham, Cnfederate -ran antl only ont arm. He spoke on the comnittee a side. iHe said in substance: -Iam not a lawyer and do not knOw the constitutionality of this nor of any other measure, but I do know some- I thing of the people of my county. I do know something of the Confederate soldier. If as my friend from Horry remarked, the dead soldier could arise from the battlefields of Virginia. I would meet them and with that greet ing that can only be understood by comrades who have shed their blood together in defense of their country. I would say by the measure proposed by the suffrage committee every Con federate soldier is provided for. As one, a part of whose body is buried in Virg'inia. I would say that I would lose my others arm before I would con sent to disfranchise any one of them. "My first objection to Mr. Patton's plan is that all white voters who were too young to go into the war and whose farthers did not. and cannot read and write would be disfranchised. "My second is that the sons of men who died before the war and who were too young themselves to go into it. will be denied the ballot. "My third objection is that those whose fathers were invalids and could not go into the war will be disfran chised. "My fourth is that those whose fathers were too old to go into the war and all good people who have moved into the State since the war and can not read and write will be shut out. -The better element of negroes do not want the ignorant and vicious ne gro to vote. ".I remember when a boy in going. to Charleston with a load of cotton we passed a place where a young man while running a horse race, had been kill. His tombstone vas by the side of the road and on it these lines: "'Ye living men as ye pass by, As you are now so once was I; As I am now, so you will be, Prepare for death and follow me.' "A man who was something of a wag, came along and after looking at it a while, wrote: "'.To follow you I am not content, Unless I know the road you went, For they do fork and no one can tell, Whether you have gone to heaven or hell.' "And that the way with Mr. Pat ton's plan: we do not know where it will lead us." (Loud laughter.) Mr. Bryan made a very strong speech, pointing out the the constitu tional oojections to the Patton plan. On the suggestion of Mr. Patton the vote on his substitute was postponed till the night session. HOW IT DIED. The vote by ayes and noes stood aves 20, noes 117. Those who voted for the measure: Messrs. Bates, Brice, T. W.: Burn. Dent, Graham, Jervey, Jones, Wilie: Klugh, McDermotte, Montgomery. W. J.: Parrott, Patton, Perritte, Read, J. H.: Russell, Sheppard, Smith, Jere miah; Stackhouse, sullivan, Wigg. THE "MISSsISPI PI - Sevetal amendments were oftered, on behalf of the committee on su ifrage and ordered tobe printed. They were mostly changes in the wording only. Mr. Stanyarne Wilson offered the following amendment: Strike out (c and inser. subdivision (c.) The person applying for regis tration must be able to read and write any section of this Constitution. or must be possessed of sutfficient intelli gence to understand and explain it when read to him by the registration officer. The effect of this substitutewould be to do away with all property qualifica tions, and to extend the "Mississippi pan" indefinitely-whereas the article reported by the suffrage committee contemplates that that plan shall cease to operate after the 1st of January 189S. Mr. Wilson made a long and earn est speech in favor of this proposition. He was answered by Senator Tillman. The vote stood-yeas1iS, nays 129. Those who supported the Wilson amendment were-Messrs. Alexander, Barry, Bobo, Bowen. Brice, T. W.; Carver, Gray, Hamel, Harrison, Henry, Johnstone. T. E. ;Otts, Peake, Rowland, Wilson, Stanyarne;\ Wil son, W. B.-16. Mr. Jervey offered an amendment which would preserve the sutirage to all voters now holding registration certificates, and exclude all others un less these others should be able to read and write. Mr. Jervey made an earnest and able speech in favor of his propositon at the same time pointing out the dan; gers and wrongs that he thought ie dent to the plan reported by the suffrage committee. MR. B3ELLINGERS PLAN. Mr. Bellinger otfered the following amendment to Mr. Jervey's proposi tion: . Inserting between the words "same& and "be" the words "or upon proof that he voted at the general elections of 1S92 and 1894, or at the election held on the 20th day of August. 1895." Mr. Bellinger spoke at some length in support of this measure- He was not pledged to anything. He wanted this matter of suffrage placed above reproach, above the charge ol fraud. The amendment was lost. The vote was then taken on Mr. Jereys amendment: Yeas 12. nays 12. Those who favored the amend ment were Messrs. Anderson. Bates, Dudley. Fitch, Jervey, Miller, Read, J. H.: Reed, I. R.: Smalls. Smith, 1. F. : Whipper. Wigg. sTiLL ANOTHIER, Mr. Dudley olfer-ed the folloving substitute for the whole matter: Section 4. The qualification f'or suf frage shall be as follows: tai Continuous residence next pre ceding any election in which the elec tor offers to vote, in the State twc years. in the county one y-ear and ir he election district six months. an. vamnet of all legally assessed taxes including poll tax, by those liable te taxation, next prior to such emetionl. bi Registration, which shalhl providt for the enrollment of every eme toi once in 10 s-eurs. e)The 'Australian ballo' system or some modificationi thereoi shuall of provided by the general assembly.~ di Managers of electioni salid re qiire of every elector oilering. ti vote at any e.etion betore allorans ~i to vote. proof ~ of pan~u or al taxs. inclieling poll tax. w~heni' due. :asmed again.:t him for the previou: e-ar. e ii legi.tration~ certiticates Wlier lost-shall be renewed if the applican is qualitied under the p~rov.isions 0 this Constitution. COLL-UIA. Oct. 31--Special i has been a day of great debate in th Costitutional Convention. Ther .r several propositions bearinge o the suffrage article, and they were all most attentively heard. The first matter handled was the motion to postpone the committee re port dispensing with the committee clerks and allowing the chief clerk to appoint two or more assistants. The roll call was demanded and re suited in the convention declining to indefinite-ly postpone the report as fol lows: Yeas 67, nays 6S. The report of the committee was then laid on the table. So the clerks were retained. Miller of Beaufort caused much mer riment by offering a resolution rais ing the pay of the members to $3 a dar. The motion was ruled out of order. The question then recurring upon section 4 of the suffrage article, Sena tor Irby rose to speak. His speech lasted considerably over two hours. He reviewed the course of things in this State since the Reform movement began. and came down to the calling of the Convention. He stated his own con nection with the movement. Com ing down to this matter of the sufrage he said: I say now, notwithstanding some slurs cast upon me in my absence, that I am not an ingrate that would accept the highest otlice in South Carolina from the poor and illiterate white men and' then trample them beneath-mv feet. They have been my friends, sir. and so help me God, I intend to be their friend, and en deavor to protect them from what I believe to be an iniquity. I say that by way of preface. Fearing to trust myself. indisposed as I have been, I I.ave written what I conceive to be a protest against the perpetratiou of this outrage. I have to say, sir, that I am not governed by whatother men may do. Thank God I think and act for myself. and I stand here today to tell tle members of this convention that I will vote with the negroes when they propose the indefinitely postpone this bill if we leave the conditions of section 4 as they are. I shall vote against the whole report if I am the only white man on the floor who does so. I conceive that to be my duty, sir, and in spite of anything to the contrary, I am willing to go before the people of South Carolina and their verdict I will abide by, but I cannot be frightened or ridiculed or driven from my position of honestyand gratitude because the members of this convention think otherwise. Mr. President, I dare to say not one-tenth of the Reformers of this convention could have been elected if they had had this plan and advo cated it before the people on the stump. This may be a guide to you. Ask yourselves as honest men: Could you have been elected if you had frankly and boldly told the peo ple this was your scheme of suffrage. Mr. Patton 'n his argument the other night said it wa: either to be honestly or dishonestly administered. He was right.That is the only way you can look at it. If it is honestly ad ministered, nine-tenths of the il'ter ate men in this State will fall behind the dead line and be disfranchised, and there is no use for any intelligent man to dcny it. It puts it in the pow er of the supervising officer, appoint-... ed by the governor of the State,-to disfranchise any man, white or black, who is not able interpret every section of o- .tution. When th ::ays "any," it only means, sir, any that the supervisor may see ound. If the man who nresns imslftelongs to the same political faction that the supervison does, when party lines are tiohtly drawn and partisan spirit runs high, it will matter little whether he ex plains it or- not he will get his certifi cate. The provision of being able to read and write is intended for the protec tion of that class who are educated. It is constitutional beyond a doubt. if you qualify the 15,000 or 20,000 people in this State who cannot read and write under- your understanding clause, honestly, or dishonestly, your supervisor nmay be enjoined. This question may be carried before the supreme court of the United States, and will be, and the supreme court may strike it out as unconstitutional. Then where, sir, is the promise that not a single white man should be dis qualified iIt will be too late then, because this con vention will have ad jour-ned. I dont tnink the. people of this State, will ever have another one in the next 100 years. I demand for these illiterate people the same protection to exercise the right of the elective franchise, as far as this Constitution is concerned, as is given to the educated. It is not right and you ought not to discrimi nate in this way against them. If you are going to protect them and give them this right, let it be a Constitu tional right, or none at all. For causes that I need not mention the factions are closer together than many of you imagine. Some say that this plan will qualify 25,000 or 50,000 negroes. I frankly tell you that if it does not <enfranchise 20,000 or 1l.000 the chances are oood that these i0.00 may hold the %alance of power in a very short time. Now. Mr. President. I warn both factious in this convention; if you strike down, humiliate or degrade these humble but genuine heroes youL will not only do an ungrateful act, but something you will regret as long as you live. Mr. Dudley then rose to speak to his amendment offered just before ad journment yesterday. After a short debate it was killed by a vote of 100 to 25. Those who voted for it were Mes srs.- Bates. Berry. Brice.T. W.; Doyle, Dudley. Floyd,'Gage. Glenn, J. .;. Jerrey, Mellermotte, McMahanMont gomery. J. D.: Montuzomerv, . J. Nathaus, Otts, lead.~ J. 11.: Rogers, Rosborough, Scarborough, Smaith, Jeremiuah: Smihn. RI. F.:::hnitn.W.C.; TairW. :N. E:Y Wine.-5 IML. W. J. M~ntgomery submitted 'the fohlowiniz am:endment: Ad~i a a (tionf. to be known as sub section "g as follows: In :ddition to Ie ' e pr~~ uovided fo.r in suibsection "c" ea elcr who has complied with the regltons prescribed in the other subsctions of this section, except that reqmri~ng aim to be able to read and wri t- anc section of this Constitution, who .haspatid at the tax gathering next preceding any State, coutnty or Feder al election taxcs on real and personal niropertv. either of the assessed value of 8u0or nmore. shall be entitled to one additional vote. The enforcement of this section' to be optional with the genera. assembl aftr January 1. nlin' I :; stri'ot all the words after- the e.cras- "vig age" in said line down to -and ielding tha word