said, have been used to waiting on ourselves, and I think we can do it yet.

Mr. R. C. DELARGE moved that the number "three" be substituted by "two."

The amendment was adopted, and the motion then agreed to.

On motion of Mr. WHITTEMORE the rules were suspended, and Mr. Paul M. Poinsett declared elected Assistant Secretary by acclamation.

Mr. Wm. R. Mitchell, on motion of Mr. H. E. HAYNE, was declared elected, by acclamation, Engrossing Clerk.

On motion of Mr. C. P. LESLIE, Mr. Hannifin, appointed Janitor of the building by General Canby, was elected Hall Keeper by acclamation. On motion the Convention adjourned to 8 o'clock this evening.

EVENING SESSION.

The Convention assembled at 8 P. M., and the roll being called, one hundred and ten delegates responded to their names.

The Chair announced that the first business in order was the election of a Sergeant-at Arms.

On motion of Mr. T. K. SASPORTAS, the rules of the house requiring a viva voce vote to elect were suspended, and the Convention proceeded to the election of a Sergeant-at-Arms by ballot.

At the request of a member, the President defined the duties of a Sergeant-at-Arms. He said these duties are very important. He is, under the President, the executive and financial officer of the Convention. It is his duty to carry into effect all orders in relation to keeping order, and to enforce all rules, regulations and order of the house. He is also the cashier of the house. It is his duty to take charge of all funds. He pays the members whatever is due them, keeps an account of the same, and is accountable for the proper disposition of the funds.

Mr. PARKER nominated Mr. T. W. Johnson.

Mr. R. C. DELARGE moved that T. W. Johnson be elected by acclamation.

Mr. W. J. WHIPPER hoped the motion would not prevail, but that the vote would be by ballot, and that other candidates before the Convention would have the same fair chance to be voted for.

Mr. E.W. M. MACKEY moved that they proceed to an election by ballot, which was carried.

On the ballot being taken, the result was announced as follows :

T. W. Johnson, 53; Edward Conway, 46; Scattering 13.

The PRESIDENT announced that 57 being necessary to a choice, there was no election.

Dr. N. J. NEWELL moved that Mr. T. W. Johnson be declared unanimously elected by acclamation. Lost.

Mr. L. S. LANGLEY said he was given to understand that Mr. Johnson is not a Republican. If that was the case, he wanted to know it. He alluded to the report in order to give the gentleman an opportunity to clear himself. It came to him from pretty good authority.

Mr. WHITTEMORE moved that the Convention proceed to a second ballot for Sergeant-at-Arms, which was carried.

On counting the votes, the result was announced as follows:
Edward Conway, 67; T. W. Johnson, 45; Scattering 2.

The PRESIDENT announced that Edward Conway having received a majority of all the votes cast, was duly elected Sergeant-at-Arms.

A motion was made to suspend the rules and proceed by ballot, to the election of an Assistant Sergeant at Arms.

Mr. B. BYAS nominated Peter Miller.

Mr. DUNCAN nominated Mr. T. W. Johnson, and took occasion to say that the charge made against Mr. Johnson, was unjust. He also advocated taking the vote viva voce, as required by the rules adopted by the House.

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN favored the vote viva voce, as required by the rules under which they were working. He thought it would save time and labor.

Mr. E. W. M. MACKEY did not think the point well taken. He thought the vote by ballot much shorter, as whole delegations could come forward and deposit their votes at once; whereas, by the viva voce plan, each member present was called upon to answer.

Mr. DUNCAN did not see why they should adopt the rules of the House of Representatives, and then in every instance depart from them. On motion of Mr. H. E. HAYNE, the motion to suspend the rules, and proceed to vote by ballot, was laid on the table.

Mr. W. J. WHIPPER moved that when this house adjourn, it adjourn to meet to-morrow morning at ten o'clock. The motion was agreed to.

Mr. R. C. DELARGE notified the Convention that he would, to-morrow, move for a reconsideration of the vote by which Mr. Conway was elected Sergeant-at-Arms, it having been proclaimed that the person aforesaid was incompetent to discharge the duties of the office.

Mr. F. J. MOSES, Jr., moved that the Convention do not adjourn until a permanent organization had been effected. This was opposed by Mr. LANGLEY, who said he had no notion of staying here. His contract with his constituents did not require it, and he wanted to go home in reasonable time.

The question being put, the motion was not agreed to.

The Convention proceeded to vote viva voce for Assistant Sergeant-atArms, which resulted in the election of Mr. Peter L. Miller.

In the same manner, after two ballots, Mr. Samuel Dickinson, of Charleston, was elected Doorkeeper, and Mr. John Fitzsimmons, of Columbia, Assistant Doorkeeper.

Mr. E. W. M. MACKEY moved to go into an election for two Messengers, but before taking the question, the Convention adjourned to meet at ten o'clock to-morrow morning.

THIRD DAY.

Thursday, January 16, 1868.

The Convention was assembled at 10 A. M., and was called to order by the President, A. G. MACKEY.

Prayer was offered by Rev. B. F. WHITTEMORE.

The roll was called, and seventy-nine members answering to their names, the. PRESIDENT announced a quorum present, and the Convention ready to proceed to business.

The minutes of yesterday were read and approved.

Mr. B. O. DUNCAN moved a reconsideration of the resolution passed yesterday regarding the election of officers, so as to amend by leaving it to the President to invite any clergyman present to open the Convention with prayer.

Rev. B. F. RANDOLPH opposed the adoption of the amendment on the ground that they would, perhaps, frequently be without a clergyman in attendance, and also, that it was against the practice of Congress and other legislative assemblies to select one of their own members for opening the proceedings with prayer. From the fact, also, that clergymen in the Convention might conscientiously differ, and each see fit to advocate their peculiar views, he hoped the members would see the propriety of electing a Chaplain outside of the body.

The question being taken on the motion of Mr. DUNCAN, it was adopted.

Mr. B. O. DUNCAN then offered the following resolution, which was adopted:

Resolved, That the Doorkeeper be instructed to admit no one to this floor who has not his credentials properly signed, or has not been admitted to the floor as an officer, reporter of the press, or an officially invited guest.

The PRESIDENT read an official communication from Headquarters, amending a certificate of election to a delegate from Horry, by inserting the name of Augustus Reaves Thompson in place of Stephen H. Thompson, which was received as information.

Mr. R. C. DELARGE moved that the Convention take up the unfinished business, and proceed to the election of a Messenger. He nominated Mr. Oliver Williams, of Charleston.

The PRESIDENT, in reply to a delegate, stated that no member could address the Convention upon any subject not actually before it, should any other member object.

Mr. DUNCAN asked whether they were not allowed to inquire into the fitness of candidates for office.

The PRESIDENT said the information upon which delegates in the Convention are expected to base their votes should be obtained outside of the Convention, and among the friends of the candidates.

Mr. WHITTEMORE stated that some fifteen votes had been lost last night by members mistaking the name of the boy fitting for College and a candidate for Messenger. He wished to inform them that his name was Peter Phillips. He also moved to suspend the calling of the roll.

Mr. BOWEN opposed the election of Peter Phillips as Messenger on the ground that he was a minor, and therefore ineligible. He understood this to be in the nature of a State office, to which no one under twenty-one years of age could be elected. He would have no objection. to have him appointed, but was opposed to his election.

Mr. B. F. RANDOLPH suggested that he might be appointed as one of the pages of the Convention. They would need two or three pages, and he was in favor of electing three.

Mr. PARKER moved that they proceed at once to the election of a Messenger.

Mr. CRAIG asked whether it had been decided that the boy Phillips was ineligible to office.

The PRESIDENT stated that by the rules of the House of Represen

tatives, which had been adopted as rules of government for this body, no person under age was eligible to office.

Mr. T. HURLEY withdrew the name of Peter Phillips, and substituted that of William Elliott.

The Convention then entered into an election for a Messenger, which resulted as follows: William Elliott, 65; J. D. Price, 11; William Miller, 10; Scattering, 8. Total 94.

The PRESIDENT announced that William Elliott having received a majority of the votes cast, was duly elected Messenger of the Convention.

Mr. B. F. WHITTEMORE took the Chair, and the Convention entered into an election for an Assistant Messenger. On counting the votes the result was announced as follows: Whole number cast 95-J. D. Price received 56; Alexander Bryce, Jr., 23; William Miller, 6; Scattering 10. Mr. J. D. PRICE was declared to be the duly elected Assistant Messenger.

Mr. J. K. JILLSON moved that the Convention proceed to the election of three Pages.

Mr. F. L. CARDOZO opposed the appointment of Pages. The Convention did not need them, and it was desirable to avoid all unnecessary expense, especially in the present empty condition of the State Treasury. Mr. T. K. SASPORTAS moved to strike out the word three and substitute one.

Mr. DUNCAN said he agreed with the gentleman from Charleston, Mr. CARDOZO, and was opposed to the election of any more officers. Mr. J. J. WRIGHT thought the elections might stop with the choice of one Page.

On motion of Mr. H. E. HAYNE, the motion and amendment were laid on the table.

Mr. J. J. WRIGHT-I wish to offer as a motion, that this Convention do all it can to sustain the Charleston Daily News and Charleston Courier for the correctness and impartiality with which they have thus far reported the proceedings of this Convention, and that we go as far as becomes gentlemen to cause the Mercury to "evaporate."

Cries all over the hall, I'll second that motion."

Mr. C. P. LESLIE-Will the delegate from Beaufort reduce his motion to writing?

Mr. L. S. LANGLEY-Does not this motion require more than one second; for I want the pleasure of seconding it myself?

Mr. N. G. PARKER-I move that the motion be laid upon the table. The motion was not agreed to.