Whereas, it is the earnest desire of this Constitutional Convention to perform the important duties entrusted to it in such a manner as will commend itself to the praise and approval of all law-abiding citizens; be it

Resolved, That the necessary steps be taken by the Convention to secure the legal services of Major D. C. Melton of York District, and that should he be willing to lend his aid in the hastening forward of the work of reconstruction, a room in this building shall be assigned to his use, and the per diem and mileage of delegates be allowed him.

Mr. BOWEN objected to the resolution.

Mr. CRAIG objected to the reference, and wished to act upon the resolution at once. Something of the kind, he said, was absolutely necessary to facilitate business.

Mr. DUNCAN moved that the Executive Committee be instructed to report to-morrow, which was agreed to.

Mr. B. F. RANDOLPH presented the following petition, which was referred to the Committee on Miscellaneous Provisions of the Constitution:

We, the undersigned people of South Carolina, in Convention assembled, do hereby recommend that the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands be continued until the restoration of civil authority; that then a Bureau of Education be established, in order that an efficient system of schools be established. Your humble servants and petitioners would respectfully represent that the reasons for making this recommendation are:

1. The necessity which first governed the existence of a Bureau remains the same, and demands its continuance until the restoration of civil government.

2. The want of an efficient system of public schools for the education of thousands who have been deprived of such school privileges.

3. The greatly impoverished condition of the State, and the financial difficulties of the people, render the establishment by the State government of such a system of public schools impossible for several years.

Mr. J. M. ALLEN offered the following, which was referred to the Committee on Legislation:

Be it ordained, &c., That the legislature shall, as soon as possible after the first assembling thereof, under the authority of this Convention, enact such laws as shall secure from levy and sale on any judgment or any final process of any court of this State, all the real or personal property of any debtor, contracted prior to the year 1865, and until such action shall have been taken by the Legislature, the levy on and sale of such property is suspended: Provided, it shall not extend beyond the year 1873, and any stay law passed by the Legislature shall not extend beyond the same time.

Mr. N. G. PARKER offered the following, which was referred to the Executive Committee:

Whereas, Governments are instituted to protect and insure the people in the enjoyment of their inalienable rights, "such as life and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;"

Whereas, happiness depends in a great measure upon the possession and security of property, to secure and protect which a revenue must be raised, and to the end that it shall be justly and equitably raised from all the property and people of the State, therefore

Resolved, That all taxes on property in this State, shall be assessed in exact proportion to the value of such property, both real and personal, and that the General Assembly may levy a poll tax, not to exceed $1 on each poll, which shall be applied exclusively in aid of the public school fund, and that no other tax shall be imposed upon the people of this State.

Dr. NEAGLE introduced the following:

Be it ordained, &c., That every delegate of this Convention shall receive as compensation for his services during his attendance on, and going to and from this Convention, eight dollars per diem, and twenty-five cents per mile by the most direct route from his home to the city of Charleston, each way; Provided, that any delegate, living in this city, and representing other districts, shall not receive mileage, only as the delegates of this city.

Referred to the Committee on Finance.

Dr. L. B. JOHNSON presented and read a petition praying the division of Pickens District into two parts, which was referred to a Special Committee of five, consisting of Messrs. L. B. Johnson, of Pickens; J. M. Allen, of Greenville; Dr. N. J. Newell, of Anderson; C. M. Wilder, of Richland; Jos. H. Rainey, of Georgetown.

Mr. H. D. EDWARDS offered the following:

WHEREAS, Ministers of the Gospel should, by their profession, dedicate their services to God and the care of souls, and ought not to be deterred from their great object; be it

Resolved, That no Minister of the Gospel, or public preacher of any persuasion whatever, whilst he continues in the exercise of his functions, shall be eligible to the office of Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, or a seat in the Senate or House of Representatives, or work upon any public road or streets, or do patrol duty.

Referred to the Legislative Committee.

Mr. T. HURLEY, of Berkley, introduced the following, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

Resolved, That there shall be incorporated in the Constitution of the State the following sections, to wit:

1. No person shall be elected or appointed to any office in this State unless he possesses the qualifications of an elector.

2. No person who shall hereafter fight a duel, assist in the same as a second, accept, or knowingly carry a challenge therefor, shall hold any office in this State.

3. Lotteries, and the sale of any lottery tickets, for any purpose whatsoever, shall be forever prohibited in this State..

4. There shall be no imprisonment for debt, except in case of fraud or absconding debtors.

Mr. S. B. THOMPSON, of Richland, introduced the following:

WHEREAS, it is currently reported and believed that the inmates in the State Penitentiary are maltreated, in direct violation of the rules of said institution, and that many are incarcerated within said walls that should be now at large; be it

Resolved, That a Committee, consisting of five members, be appointed to proceed to Columbia, with power to send for persons and papers to facilitate a thorough investigation of the above report, and lay the facts before this body.

Mr. B. O. DUNCAN, of Newberry, said he thought this was a question too important to be passed over hastily. It should be remembered that there is not a case in that Penitentiary which has not passed under the eye of the military probably as well as civil authorities; and it is to be presumed that the convicts there incarcerated, being found guilty by a jury of their countrymen, have been properly sentenced.

Mr. J. M. ALLEN. I know there are several men in the Peniten tiary who would not be there but for the passions and prejudices of our opponents, and the enemies of this Convention-men who are the advocates of Ariel, have advocated the incarceration of some of these prisoners; and I call on this Convention to have the matter investigated. I care not whether their cases were examined by the military or executive department. I hope their cases will be inquired into by the Convention. They have been put there by men who would crush the poor men of this State. There are men there accused of murder. and all other heinous crimes, of which they are perfectly innocent, and have documents upon documents to prove it, but which will not be examined by those opposed to them. I second the motion for the appointment of a Committee of five.

Mr. B. BYAS moved that the resolution be referred to the Committee on Miscellaneous Provisions of the Constitution, to report to-morrow, which was agreed to.

Mr. W. B. NASH offered the following, which was referred to the Committee on Education :

Resolved, That all schools, academies, colleges and universities in this State, which are or may be endowed or supported in part or in whole from the revenue arising from taxes or donations to the State, cities or towns, shall be open for the reception of scholars, students and teachers of every grade, without any distinction or preference whatever, to all citizens of the State; also, it shall be the duty of the Legislature, at its first session, to divide the State into school districts, and establish free schools in every District, to be open to all citizens of the State.

Mr. F. J. MOSES, Jr., offered the following:

Resolved, That it be referred to, the Judiciary Committee to inquire and report as to whether or not the reconstruction acts of the United States Congress confer upon this Convention authority to legislate on natters not involved in the formation of a State Constitution.

Mr. S. CORLEY offered the following, which was referred to the Committee on Miscellaneous Matters:

WHEREAS, a large majority of the people heretofore constituting the Government of the State of South Carolina have, by unjustifiable rebellion, forfeited their political rights as citizens of the State and of the United States, and are still hostile to every act of Congress for the restoration of the State to the Union-claiming, as they do, every political right they formerly enjoyed as citizens under the Constitution, which properly defines their late acts as treason, and authorized even the penalty of death for crimes thus committed, instead of equal rights with those who love the Government which they so madly attempted to destroy; and,

Whereas, the officers of the present Provisional Government of the State, from the highest to the lowest have generally exercised their influence, and used the emoluments of their various offices in a manner highly prejudicial to the claims of loyal citizens, and in opposition to the laws of Congress looking to a speedy restoration-the only competent authority that we recognize-and are now marshaling their forces to defeat any Constitution, however faultless it may be, that this Convention may frame as the fundamental law of the State; therefore, be it

Resolved, That we, the representatives of the loyal people of South Carolina, having accepted in good faith the terms offered by Congress for the restoration of the State to her proper relations in the Union, demand for ourselves and our constituents under the law and its Constitution, present and prospective, every right which these embittered and incorrigible enemies to the Government claim as exclusively their own.

Resolved, That the continued efforts of the present disloyal officers of the Provisional Government of the State to continue themselves in power as such, while looking to a speedy reinstatement to place in the Federal position, so lately and contemptuously deserted by many of them, and their systematic efforts to escape the just penalty of violated faith, while their active hostility to the essential principles of Republicanism remain, is substantial and positive proof that the safety of the Government and the welfare of the people demand their speedy removal.

Mr. GEORGE LEE, of Berkley, offered the following, which was referred to the Legislative Committee:

Resolved, That all persons shall enjoy equal rights and privileges while traveling in this State, and all places of amusement, entertainment, refreshment, or of any public nature whatever, shall be open to all persons alike.

Resolved, That no Company, Municipality, Parish or Corporation, shall make any rules or regulations creating any distinction between persons on account of race, color, or previous condition.

Mr. T. HURLEY offered the following, which was referred to the Committee on Franchise and Elections:

Resolved, That in all elections to be made by the people, or of any part thereof, for civil or political officers, every person shall be entitled to vote who has the following qualifications, to wit: Every person who has attained the age of twenty one years, and is not a pauper, nor a noncommissioned officer or private soldier of the army, nor a seaman or marine of the United States navy, provided he shall, for a period of one year next preceding the day of election, have been a citizen of this State, or for the same period an emigrant from Europe who has declared his intentions to become a citizen of the United States according to the Constitution and laws of the United States.

Mr. N. G. PARKER offered the following, which was referred to the Committee on Franchise and Elections:

Resolved, That this Convention recommend to all persons in South Carolina, who are at present disqualified from registration under the Acts of Congress, who are willing to swear allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, and to the Constitution which this Convention shall adopt, to forward. their names to this Convention, with recommendations from the Governor of the State, the Commanding officers of the several Military Districts, the United States Judges, Internal Revenue Collectors, District Attorney, or other United States officers, or Union men of note throughout the State, and this Convention will petition the Congress of the United States to remove their disablities.

On motion, the Convention adjourned.