Resolved, That the allegiance of the citizens of this date is due to the Federal Government and to South Carolina, only so long as she continues a component part of the American Union.

Mr. J. H. RAINEY offered the following, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

Resolved, That it is the sense and wish of this Convention that the next Legislature take measures for a revision of the code of State laws as speedily as possible after its assembling.

Mr. W. E. JOHNSTON offered the following, which was referred to the Committee on Franchise and Elections:

WHEREAS, it has been proposed to this Convention that all ministers shall be debarred from participating in all political affairs, be it

Resolved, That all men, whether ministers or otherwise, shall be liable to any position in the government that the people in their judgment may honor them with, providing that said minister or man be qualified to fill the offices they may be called to serve in.

Mr. A. J. RANSIER offered the following, which was referred to the Committee on Education:

Resolved, That the Committee on Education inquire into the expediency of establishing a Board of Education, consisting of three from each Congressional District. Such Board shall have power to divide the State into school districts, and provide for a thorough system of common schools, elect a Superintendent from among their number, and make all needful regulations for the education of youth, no discrimination to bet made in favor of any class of persons.

On motion of R. C. DĒLARGE, the Convention adjourned to meet at 12 M. to-morrow.

SEVENTH DAY.

Wednesday, January 22, 1868.

The Convention assembled at 12 M., and was called to order by the PRESIDENT.

Prayer was offered by the Rev. F. L. CARDOZO.

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

On motion of Mr. N. G. PARKER, the reading of the Minutes was dispensed with.

The PRESIDENT announced the first business in order to be the reports of Special Committees.

Mr. C. C. BOWEN made a report of the Committee on the Judiciary on a resolution in relation to contracts, where the consideration was for the purchase of slaves, stating that they had considered the same, and recommend for adoption the following Ordinance:

We, the People of the State of South Carolina, by our Delegates in Convention, do hereby ordain and declare, That all contracts, whether under seal or not, the consideration of which were for the sale of slaves, are null and void and of non-effect.

2. No suit, either at law or equity, shall be commenced or prosecuted on such contracts and proceedings for the satisfaction and payment of judgments and decrees which at any time heretofore have been recorded, rendered, enrolled, or entered upon such contracts, are hereby forever prohibited.

3. All orders relative to such contracts which may at any time heretofore have been made in any Court of this State, either of law or equity, whereby any property, real or personal, is held subject to decision as to the validity of such contracts, are also declared null and void, and of non-effect.

The PRESIDENT stated that the Convention having at an early session of the body adopted the rules of the House of Representatives, and regarding the term ordinance in the Convention as synonymous with bill in the Legislative Assembly, the Chair was compelled to decide that no ordinance can pass the Convention until it has received three readings. The Chair decided therefore that this ordinance had received its' first reading.

Mr. WM. McKINLAY. It is my opinion that all matters coming from Committees in the shape of ordinances or resolutions should be printed for the use of the members, so that they may have as much light as is possible to be thrown upon the subject. I therefore move that all ordinances and reports coming from Committees, intended to be passed into permanent laws by this Convention, be printed, and copies laid upon the table of the members.

Mr. R. J. DONALDSON. I think that course will entail a great deal of unnecessary expenses, and delay the business of the Convention. I move as an amendment, that ordinances and resolutions shall only be printed after the second reading. A great many resolutions may be introduced here, which if printed simply when offered, may get no further than the hands of the printer, and would, therefore, be a use

less expense; but if they pass after a second reading, then they should be printed.

Mr. L. BOOZER. After a second reading a measure is considered as passed. It is true the Convention still has the subject under its control, and may reject at the third reading, or may depart from the usual course, and consider the subject at the third reading. What I mean to say is that the discussion on all subjects generally take place at the second reading; that is the usual course of all legislative bodies, and to print all reports of Committees. The members will then be able to understand better, with copies before them, and as there was no necessity for hurrying through our proceedings, we can deliberate more carefully and cautiously. I hope everything will be printed as it comes from the Committee.

Mr. WHITTEMORE moved, as an amendment to the original motion, that all ordinances and reports be printed after the first reading.

Mr. WM. McKINLAY. I merely desire to state that I am not at all convinced, from what has been said, that the printing of the resolutions and ordinances after the second reading will entail less expense upon the Convention than what it will at first. If only a certain number be printed, it will not cost more to print at first than afterwards.

Mr. R. J. DONALDSON said his motion was to postpone until after the second reading.

The question was then taken on the original motion, and decided in the affirmative.

Mr. C. C. BOWEN made a report of the Committee on the Judiciary, on a resolution appointing a Committee of five to investigate affairs in the Penitentiary, and report relative to the treatment of prisoners in the State Penitentiary, stating that the subject matter is beyond the jurisdiction of the Convention, the Penitentiary being under the control of the Provisional Government of this State, and subject to the military authorities of the United States. The Committee recommend that the matter be referred to General Canby, with a request that an investigation be made of the charges contained in the resolution. Adopted.

Mr. C. C. BOWEN, from the same Committee, to whom had been referred a resolution relating to jurors, reported it back, with the recommendation that it be referred to the Committee on Legislative Provisions of the Constitution.

The report was not adopted.

Mr. N. G. PARKER made the following report, which was adopted : The Committee on Finance, to whom was referred an ordinance relative to the validation of a portion of the bills receivable of the State,

and the sale thereof, and the manner of levying and collecting the tax authorized by Act of Congress, to defray the expenses of the Convention, with instructions to report thereon this morning, beg leave respectfully to report, that they are in correspondence with Major-General E. R. S. Canby, the Governor of the State, and other State officials, from whom information is asked, and that it was impossible to arrive at any conclusion at so early a day, and respectfully ask further time, with the assurance that an early report may be expected.

Mr. S. A. SWAILS, from the Committee on Rules and Regulations, made the followig report, which was read, and, on motion of Mr. PARKER, one hundred and fifty copies were ordered to be printed:

SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, CHARLESTON, S. C., January 22, 1868. .The Committee appointed for the purpose of drafting Rules and Regulations for the Government of this Convention, beg leave to report through their Chairman, that they have had the matter under consideration, and respectfully submit the following:

I. ORDER OF BUSINESS OF THE DAY.

1st. This Convention shall meet at twelve o'clock, M., and continue in session until three o'clock, P. M., each day, unless otherwise ordered. 2d. Prayer by the Chaplain.

3d. Calling the Roll of Delegates, a majority of whom being present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

4th. Reading and disposing of the journal of the preceding session. 5th. Report of Standing Committees.

6th. Report of Special Committees.

7th. Receiving Petitions and Resolutions.

8th. Unfinished Business.

II. No member shall absent himself from the service of this Convention without the consent of the Convention, under penalty of losing the pay for the day absent, unless he shall give a reasonable excuse.

III. No member shall be allowed to speak more than twice on the same question, nor for more than fifteen minutes each time, unless by the consent of the Convention, and for the purpose of explaining some point in question.

IV. No Article, Section, Paragraph or Clause, intended to be embodied in the Constitution, or a Petition to or from the Convention, shall receive its final adoption, until it has received at least two readings: Provided, That twenty-four hours shall elapse after the first reading And all amendments thereto shall be subject to the said stipulation.

V. It shall be the duty of the subordinate officers of this Convention to attend the meetings of all Committees held in this building.

VI. So much of the Rules of the House of Representatives as do not conflict with the foregoing Rules are hereby adopted for the government of this body.

Respectfully submitted,

S. A. SWAILS, Chairman.

Mr. L. B. JOHNSON made a report of the Special Committee, to whom was referred a petition for the division of Pickens into two Districts, one to be known by its original name Pickens, the other to be called Oconee. The Committee report an Ordinance, and recommend its adoption or reference to the Judiciary Committee, with instructions to incorporate such portions in the Constitution as may be necessary to carry out the object of the ordinance.

The ordinance appoints commissioners to select proper sites, lay out a new town for a Court House and jail, sell property, apply proceeds, and make titles to purchasers of lots in the name of the State.

Mr. J. J. WRIGHT moved that the report be retained by the PRESIDENT until the Legislature has assembled, and that it then be referred to them.

Mr. JOHNSON hoped the Convention would take some more direct action. This division of Pickens District was earnestly desired by all classes and parties in that section of country. A very strong petition had been sent here, signed by all the officers of the Court residing at Pickens Court House, including the Clerk of the Court, Sheriff, Commissioner in Equity, Judge, the United States and State Tax Collectors, all the lawyers, and other prominent citizens. There are only thirteen families residing in Pickens Court House, most of them officers of the District. They are all willing to sacrifice their property to get another Court House. The present Court House is located in a very poor section of country. Oconee District, when the division takes place, will contain one thousand four hundred and six square miles. Pickens District will contain one thousand two hundred and twenty-five square miles.

Mr. N. G. PARKER said he sympathised with the gentleman from Pickens in his desire to to have the District divided. He knew something of that District, but to facilitate business he would lay on the table the motion to refer it to the next Legislature of the State, in order to have it referred to its appropriate Committee. He deemed it, however, a fit subject for the Legislature and not of this Convention.

Mr. R. C. DELARGE moved that it be made the Special Order for to-morrow (Wednesday) at one o'clock, which was agreed to.

Mr. B. F. WHITTEMORE offered the following, which was referred to the Committee on Legislation:

Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the General Assembly, as soon as circumstances will permit, to form a penal code, founded on the principles of reformation and not of vindictive justice, and also to provide one or more farms to be an asylum for those persons, who, by reason of age, infirmity, or other misfortunes, may have a claim upon the aid of