Amendments by the Legislative Council

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Message from the Legislative Council, by the Clerk of that House:

"In the Legislative Council, the 10th day of October, 1776.

"Mr˙ SPEAKER AND GENTLEMEN: Upon reading a third time ‘A Bill establishing a proper oath of qualification to be taken by the members of the General Assembly, directing the method of choosing Parochial Committees for authorizing the returning officers of the Parish of St˙ David' s to hold their elections one day at the Church and one day at the Court-House, and for other purposes therein mentioned,’ this House propose the following amendment may be made to the latter end of the clause of the said Bill, which discharges the Members of the General Assembly from taking the State oath, viz: ‘But instead thereof the Members of the General Assembly respectively, at the time of their taking the oath of qualification as aforesaid, shall, before the same Justice of the Peace, take the following oath or affirmation, viz: I, A B, do swear or affirm that I will, to the utmost of my power, support, maintain, and defend the Constitution of South-Carolina as established by Congress on the 26th day of March, 1776, until the legislative authority of this State shall determine otherwise.’"

This House likewise propose the following clause should be made part of the said Bill:

"And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all Church-Wardens or other persons who shall hereafter manage elections for members to represent the several Parishes and Districts respectively, within this State, shall, and they are hereby authorized and empowered, before they receive the vote from any elector who they may suspect and believe hath not taken the oath of fidelity to this State, administer the same to all and every such elector or electors; and in case of their refusal to take the said oath, he or they shall not be permitted to give his or their vote," — to which we desire the concurrence of your House.

Resolved, That this House do concur with the honourable the Legislative Council in the amendment proposed in the foregoing Message.