Mr. W. J. WHIPPER-I trust, Mr. President, that the question raised will not be sustained. For one I desire to have no bickering with newspapers or newspaper dealers. It is true that some papers have reported us fairly, and that others, from pecuniary consideration, have indulged in burlesque; but we are here for some other purpose than to censure newspapers, and it will be time enough when our deliberations have ended to take action it the matter proposed. I care nothing whether the editor of the Mercury, or his representative, comes here to burlesque the proceedings of the Convention or the persons of its members. He does so for the purpose of making money, and I hope the Convention will not so far depart from its dignity as to interfere with him in this design. We have higher aims before us than to seek to control the columns of a journal which at best can do us no harm.

Mr. B. F. RANDOLPH. It seems to me that to support this resolution will be to endorse the sentiments of these two papers, the News and and Courier, and I do not understand that either of them has ever supported the Republican party, or does so at the present time. I am, of course, pleased to see that both of them exhibit a spirit of fairness, and manifest respect for the Convention, in making their reports of these proceedings; but I cannot recognize the necessity of endorsing them to the extent named in this resolution on that account alone.

Mr. J. J. WRIGHT. In offering my resolution, it was not with a view to endorse the political course of either of the papers named, but simply to commend them to the Convention for the fairness and correctness of their reports; and for the purpose of stopping further discussion, I now withdraw my motion.

Mr. B. F. RANDOLPH. I now move, Mr. President, that the repor ters of the press be invited within the bar of this Convention.

Mr. L. S. LANGLEY. I move as an amendment, that the reporter of the Mercury be excluded. I do not propose to allow or extend facilities to the editor of the Mercury to burlesque this Convention. The manner in which we should sustain our dignity is to treat those who do not come here as gentlemen, as they really are. Now, ever since the Convention has been in session, the Mercury has burlesqued its members. I don't care any thing about burlesque myself, but I do believe that paper to be utterly incapable of a respectable or gentlemanly course, and I am not willing for that rebel sheet to burlesque this body. I want it to be excluded. I am willing to admit all who act like gentlemen, but all who are not gentlemen, but come here in the garb of gentlemen, I want to see go out.

Mr. F. J. MOSES, Jr. I hope that this question, having been opened,

will be discussed fully, and until every delegate on the floor, who wishes to do so, shall have spoken upon it. I myself regard the motion as one of the most dangerous that could be introduced into this body. What has this Convention to do with the political course of a newspaper ? When the resolution was offered by the gentleman from Beaufort, I was in favor of amending it to the effect that the reporters of the press were entitled thus far to the thanks of the Convention for the correct manner in which they had reported our proceedings; but what can we gain by putting a seal of condemnation upon the Charleston Mercury? We have nothing to do with the political opinions of any journal, and whether it represents us fairly or unfairly, is a matter which belongs to its own management. I go further; I say that I do not agree with that dogma which has been set up here that no person in the State can be a gentleman, simply because he happens to differ with those upon this floor in political opinion. Great God, Mr. President, shall we abuse a newspaper on account of its mere opposition or burlesque of our course? I do not stand here to vindicate, the Mercury. It is no friend of mine. I have been abused by it since the Convention assembled more than any other man on the floor, and yet I hope this resolution will be voted down with the most emphatic censure, because I do not believe the influence of this Convention should be employed to deprive any paper in South Carolina of its patronage.

Mr. F. L. CARDOZO. I am not in favor of endorsing either of the newspapers named. Fair as the reports of the News and Courier may have been, they are not understood to be in favor of the constitutionality or legality of this Convention. As to the Mercury, it has burlesqued us, but to attempt to exclude its reporter from the bar of the Convention on that account, would be only to exhibit a smallness, a pettiness of spite, unworthy of our character. Let it come and pursue what course it may please; let us pursue our straightforward course, and the world will judge between us.

Mr. A. J. RANSIER. While I do not approve the course of either of the papers that have been mentioned, I agree with the gentleman from Sumter, that it is dangerous to discard or turn away any reporter on account of his political opinions or those of his paper. It is a stab at the liberty of the press; and I am surprised that so much attention has been given to the subject. I desire that all the journals shall be welcomed to the Convention. As to the Mercury, I think that it has contributed more to republican liberty than any other paper in the country. It has shown up the sentiments of those opposed to republican principles, and thereby benefitted the party. I therefore propose to let it go on, to give it my

hearty thanks for the service it has done, and continue to extend to its reporter a welcome to this Convention.

Mr. N. G. PARKER. In the present state of public opinion in South Carolina, I think that an attempt to exclude the Mercury or its reporter from the Convention, would do that paper more good than harm, and the Convention more harm than good. While I am opposed to the Mercury's manner of carricaturing this body as the "Ring-Streaked and Striped Negro Convention," I would give them all the latitude they asked. If we attempt to exclude the Mercury they will make money out of it, but give them rope enough and they will hang themselves.

Dr. N. J. NEWELL. I move that the Mercury be left to the temperature of the atmosphere..

Mr. J. H. JENKS. Mr. President, I cannot see the point of that joke but, nevertheless, call for the previous question.

The call for the previous question was not sustained.

Mr. W. J. WHIPPER. I am glad that the motion for the previous question has not been sustained. While I exceedingly regret that any newspaper has chosen to burlesque the proceedings of the Convention, it is proper to say, that any newspaper is entitled to the exercise of the privilege, so that it does not garble the speech or defame the character of an individual, in which case, he certainly would have redress. Until that is done, we detract from the dignity of our proceedings by paying any attention to the matter. It is due to the Mercury to say that it has not violated its privileges as a public journal. Its editors have a right to burlesque if they choose to use it; but when they place an individual in a false position, he has clearly the right to demand correction. Until then, it is frivolous to notice it.

We have come here for a great purpose, and we should not be swerved from it by newspapers, whose chief purpose, while we the representatives of the people are here to make the laws of the Commonwealth, is simply to make five cent pieces.

Mr. J. S. CRAIG. I regret that this subject has been brought before the Convention. for I think the body should treat the Mercury with the silent contempt it deserves. No doubt the other papers are as much opposed to our action as that journal, yet they have taken a high-toned and gentlemanly stand in the treatment both of the Convention and its cause; and I am willing to give them credit for it. But as for the Mercury, I think it would have been far more becoming to it, not to have stooped to a low and degrading position. For myself I have no regard save for those who have proved themselves to be true Union men.

Mr. W. E. JOHNSTON. I am glad that this question is up, for I

have had the honor of being raised higher by the Mercury than any man in the Convention. On Tuesday morning, the Mercury said "the Rev. Mr. Johnston, in his speeches will cry aloud and spare not." Now I hope the editor will be spared, and that the Convention will spare him until he hears Johnston line out, "not a foot of land do I possess, spare him long enough to see the end of this meeting, and that he will be converted before he leaves.

On motion of Mr. T. K. SASPORTAS, the whole matter was laid on the table.

On motion of Mr. W. J. McKINLAY, the reporters of the press were invited to seats within the bar.

Mr. J. J. WRIGHT offered the following resolution :

Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed by the President, for the purpose of waiting on Major-General Canby, Brevet BrigadierGeneral R. K. Scott, and Governor James L. Orr, and inviting these gentlemen to seats in the Convention.

Dr. N. J. NEWELL said that he would state, in reference to Governor Orr, that he had advocated reconstruction since last July.

A VOICE-Not a very long time, that.

Dr. NEWELL. Ever since last Spring then, and although he may not have actually supported the Republican party, he has never thrown any obstacle in its way, and on all occasions has favored the call for the Convention. It has been customary, in all Conventions in South Carolina, to invite the distinguished officers of the State to a seat on its floor, and I hope no exception will be made in the case of Governor Orr.

Mr. N. G. PARKER moved that the name of General Clitz be inserted in the resolution.

The mover accepted the amendment.

Mr. S. A. SWAILS moved that the word "provisional" be inserted before the word Governor.

Mr. J. J. WRIGHT said he would accept the amendment to avoid discussion.

Mr. L. S. LANGLEY favored the original resolution, and desired to incorporate the name of the Mayor of the City, P. C. Gaillard, Esq. Mr. WRIGHT accepted the amendment.

Mr. J. M. RUTLAND said he hoped the proposition to insert the words "provisional governor" would not be adopted, since it would look like half an insult, when it was intended to be a courtesy.

Mr. A. C. RICHMOND opposed the amendment inviting Mayor Gaillard, on the ground that he was known not to be a sympathiser with the purposes of the Convention. He would say nothing disrespectful of a

brave man, who certainly had a right to entertain what political opinions he saw fit, but, nevertheless, could see no good reason for showing him the same respect that was shown to General Canby or Governor Orr.

Mr. R. C. DELARGE said he was astonished to see a member of the Convention object to extending the common courtesy of the Convention to the civil magistrate of Charleston, simply on the ground of party politics. If they made that a basis for extending courtesies, there were others named in the resolution whose politics and his own did not agree. He trusted that Mayor Gaillard would not be invited simply as Mayor Gaillard, but as the representative of the entire people in his official capacity. He is the temporary executive officer of the city. This was the Constitutional Convention of the State, called by the Reconstruction Acts of Congress. They did not know Mayor Gaillard as a partisan, but only knew him in his official capacity. He hoped the amendment would prevail.

Mr. A. C. RICHMOND said he did not regard the Mayor of Charleston as a very distinguished character, and saw no reason why the same respect should be shown to him as to the Union Generals named. With reference to the Governor of the State, there was no reasonable ground for refusing to extend to him a common courtesy. He had the reputation of being a fair and moderate man, and his official capacity as the civil head of the Government entitled him to the same consideration that was bestowed on those who represented the military authority.

Mr. N. G. PARKER said it had not occurred to him to embrace the name of the Mayor in the invitation contemplated; but after hearing the reasons so ably set forth by the delegate from Charleston, Mr. R. C. DELARGE, he should certainly vote for the amendment.

Mr. R. B. ELLIOTT, moved that the "Board of Aldermen and Common Council" be included in the invitation.

The motion was not agreed to.

Mr. E. W. M. MACKEY moved, as an additional amendment, that the chief of police be also invited.

The motion was laid upon the table.

The PRESIDENT read the amended resolution as follows:

Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed by the President to wait upon Brevet Major-General E. R. S. Canby, Major-General R. K. Scott, Brevent Brigadier General H. B. Clitz, and Provisional Governor James L. Orr, and his Honor Mayor Gaillard, of the city of Charleston, and invite these distinguished gentlemen to seats within the bar of this Convention.

The question was then taken on the adoption of the resolution, and it was decided in the affirmative.