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3- s DEVOTED TO SOUTHERN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY, NEWS, LITERATURE SCIENCE ANDTHE A P'lXrojbrietor. a O t ~(fJ ~d.* V. . in ocis ClotVI-tilt ' Strf. . At Y1."- o * * SUMTERVILLE, So. C.* MAY1118 POLITICAL. Jeport of B3. F. Perry, ONE OF TilE COMMITTEE OF TWENTY-ONK. The undersigned, a member of the Committee of Twenty-One, differing front the Committee in their Report on the Act referred to them, calfing this Convention, begs leave to submit the till wiig Preamble and Iesolu tions, as expressing his views in re ganI to the impot tant matters con tained in said Report, and as to the true- policy to be pursued by the State of South Carolina in relation to her difficulties with the Federal Govern mienr. -- 1. F. PE R RY. April 29, 1852. Whereas, the Legislature of South Carolina, in consequence of the ag gressions of Congress and the North ern States on the domestic institutions of the South, deemed it necessary to embody the sovereign powers of the State in Convention, in order that the " commonwealth should suffer no detriment," and for ' the purnose of considering the proceedings'and recommendations of a Congress of the slaveholding States." And whereas, the other slaveholding States have declined meeting South Carolina in a Southern Congress, for the purpose of-considering the past aggressions of the Federal Govrn- 1 ment on the institution in which they 1 all have a common and equal interest: And whereas, it would be unwise and imprudent, and wanting in respect to other Southern States, for South Ca rolina, under existing circumstances, sa to take any decisive separate action in a cause which equally belongs to t thetn all: And whereas, there have r C been recent manifestations on the C of the p t.cof the Federal (0- . Northern pe 1 0 hei greasins t 0 istitutio of th 8oith, anit crry out in goodI altj the gernt~e' of the M( etral Con st ution: And whereas a deep-root ' ed and long-cherished regard for thet union of ;hese States, as "palladium of our independence." "tranquility," "peace.,' " safety," "prosperity," I and "liberty," makes it right and proper, honorable and patriotic, that we should "suffer whilst evils are sutf. iferable," rather "than right our selves by abolishing the form to which i we hiave been accustomed :" Be it therefore resolved, That this i Convention will forbear at present to exercise that highest and most sacred of All rights which can belong to a free and brave people- a right se cured to them by nature anl nature's God, and paramount to all constitu tions and political compacts or agree ments-- the right 'to alter or abolish' their government when it becomes destructive of the ends for which it was instituted, and ceases to protect them in the enjoyment of their "lives, liberty, property, and pursuit of hap piness.", Resolved, That the Union of the several. States of this Confederacy was formed for the pu-pose of pro teeting equally the interest of all the States; their institutions, property, sind'latlustrial pursuits; and the ex istence of Africean slavery in the Southern Stated, at the for-mation of the Fed': ral Union, was not only r cognised in the Constitution, but guarantied, and made the basis, in part, of their representation in the Congress of the United States. Resolved, That this domestic in stitution of the South is not only moral and correct in the opinicn of this Convention, but a great blessing .9.the African race; and absolutely Decessary for the continued pence and prosperity of the slaveholding -8tates; and as such wvill be forever defended and maintainedl by themn at Any and all hazzards, and to the last extremity of their existence as a people: Besolved, That South Car-olina, through her sovereign, Convention, {tow pledges herself to her- sister ,pouthern States to resist, in company A~ith them, or alone if need be, by Ali the means which nature andi God v e given her, any and every at I -npt on the par-t of Congress to in t ~fere with slavery ins the States, or tna slave ti-a I between the States, oh o abolish shaver-y in the District oO jolum1lia without the consenit of 'vuwers, or to excluido slaver-y 'fdm the Souther-n territories of the Um'ted States, or the forts, navy. yards, arnd other pub'io places in the ina the slaveh >!ding $tata bomiibg to the Federal Governent, or refuse the admission of a State into the Union on account of slavery, or re Iuse to enforce and carry out the ex. sting constitutional provisions on the miject of rendition of fugitive slaves. >r alter or change the Federal Con. itittioln inl ally respect touching C lavery. Report of Maxcy Gregg, N . nF Tir c CoMMITiEi OF Twl-INTY-uNl. The undersigned, a Ineniber of tle Committee to which was referred or consideration the Act of the GJen. !ral Assembly calling together this LConvention, being dissatisfied with :he Report or the Committee, not mn account of what is contained in it, but of what is omitted, respect Ally asks leave to state his reasons. The position of South Carolinla at .his time is a most dillicult anid CIII ar:-assing one. Sulfering under njuries whlich render a continuance t tie present Union ilcompatible vith honor or safety; but deserted )y other States suffering inder the mme inj'ries, and whose solemn >ledges of resistance gave South arolina a right to expect very liiTreIt action from them, the :itizenis of the State became divided n opinian as to the course proper to ;e taken. One portion of theii >elieved that all hope being lost of my other States' seceding from lie Confederacy by a concerted novement, it was necessary for 3outh Carolina to vindicate herself rom intolerable wrongs by seceding .lone. Another portion regarded his course as unwise, and thought it ecessary to wait for the support of ther States. The prospect of such Ip-t has grown Iainter da by Mmihte distance; and that portion uftr citizens who have placed their If hope in it, now find themselves lowerless to eflect their object. it by the popular majority- which hey have exhibited, opposed to ex reismng t -e ght of secession at this ime, they have also paralyzed the >ower of their fellow-citizens who de. ired to adoit that course. Unler these circumstances this Jouivention mneets, charged with the uity of seeing that the common realth receive no detriment. To ecede under such circumstances is myracticable. To obtain the aid of miy other State in resistir.g the ag. ;ressions which have been committed >y the Northern States and the eleral Government is hopeless. Juless some effective mode of action :ould be adopted, which, while stop. >ing short of secession, might place ind preserve the State in a position ,f readiness to take advantage of the arliest opportunity for successful re iistance, guarding, as far as practica e, inl the meantime, agrainst the nany corrupting influences of a lon ,er coinection with the Government vhich oppresses us, nothing remains )ut submission-a submission likely o be fatal. I any such mode of iction could be devised anid proposed >y those who re-opposed to separate Iecession, it would, beyond dloubt, be icepted ad supportedl by those who iave been in faivor of that maeasur-e. The Report of the Committee is mnsatisfactory to the undersignied, Lecause it Contains 1no recomnlu-da tion of any action whatever beyond r mere declaration of the right of se cession, and of the injuries which have been suffered, justify its exer cise by South Carolina. If a protestation ini favor of our righlts, made at a time when in fact we ale deprived of them can be of any' avail towards preserving them mn recollection and recovering them amt a future day, it is wise and proper to make such protestation. But ac tions outweighs words, and one step in advance towar ds practical resist ance would be worth more than the strongost declaration. If tile mnajori ty of theo Comrmittee hlad devised any measures with a character cf practi cal resistamnco, however rimderate, impressed upon them, the under ignecd wvould have greatly preferredl, for the sake of that hiarainony wh~icha is of such high imp ortanlce if ever thle State is to ho rescued from its pres enit conaditionl, to acquliesce in their Report. lie believes that such Imeasures might be devised by those who hlave opposed separate sCeesion, and thlat, if adopted with unanimity by the people of thme State, they would aff~urd somie rcasiimble Ilh. of ultimate deliverance. But seeing nio prospect that the introduction of any such measures under present circum stances, and against the determined opposition of those who have defeated secession, could result in any good to tho State, he has, as-a member of tie Committee. nothing to recom mend. iHe is willingi to vote for the declaration of principles contained in the Resolution and accompanying Ordinance; but ho desires, at the same time to leave on the record of the proceedings of this Convention his distinct declaration, that it is not in accordance with his wishei that no. thing more should be done to prevent detriment to the Comionwealth. MAXCY GREGG. Mr. Memininger desired to state in writing his reasons for concurinig inl the report of the committee, and proceeded to read them, as follows : The agitation in Congress on the sulject of slavery known under the name of the Wilmot Proviso, excited in most of the Southern States an apprehension of comnon danger ansd a determination to resist. In March 1847, the Legislature of Virginia adopted the folowing Resolutions 1. That the Government of the United States has no control, direct ly, or indirectly, mediatelv or inne diatelv, over the institution of slave ry; and that in taking any such con trol, it transcends the limits of its le gitimate functions, by destroying the imternal organization of the Sover eignties who created it. 2. That under no circumstances will this body recognize any enact ment of the Federal Government which has for its objicthe prohibition of sluvery-in any TL -M It ao quired either by codquest or. trey; holding it to be natural and indefeasi ble right of each and every citizen of each and every State of this Confed eracy to reside with his property of whatever description, in any territory which may be acquired by the arms of the United States, or yielded by treaty with any foreign power. 3. That this General Assembly holds it to be the duty of every man in every section of this Confederacy, if the Union is dear to him, to oppose the passage of any law for whatever purpose, by which Territory to be acquired, may be subject to such a restriction. 4. That the passage of the above mentioned Proviso by the House of Representatives makes it the duty of every slaveholding State, and all citizens thereof, as they value their dearest privileges, their sovereignty, their independence, their rights of property, to take firm, united and concerted action in this emergency. The Legislature of Georgia, after passing Resolitions pledging that State to resistance, did, in February, 1850, pass a solemn act to authorize% aid require the Governor of the State of' Georgia to call a Conventio:1 of the people of that State and to sp pt-opriaite money for the~ same. '!'he followinig preamble and irst section (of the aet will best exhibit its scope anid object. Whereas, the norn-slavehmolding States have, for a series (P / scars, perseverinigly initerferedl m'et w.uun' fully withi the institution If slavlry at the South, by such ,grea.v measures of initolerance a-' to renihl. it no longer a uets. ioni oploubt, that thme Federal Legislactire will soon' adopt suchr restrictive measures against the inistitutio of sla veryv a the South, by such aggressive roeas ures against the institution of shavery, as to trmmel, fetter and confine it within certain geographical limits never contemplatedl by the parties to the coast itumtionial compact ; and, whereas Georgia, in her soverieign capacity as a State, Ihas delegated no other powver to thne F'ederal Govern ment, than those found in the Cot' stitution of the United States, "andc believing that, her best interest andl her honor as a sovereign arnd iindp pendent governient, require 'that she should meet all enecroachrments in a calm andii mmarnly spirit of resist anace: lie it enacted by thre Senate and Ihouse ohf Repiresentati-:s of thne State of' Geor-gia, ke., That shiodd the CJongress of the United States pas any law prohibiting slavery on involuntary servitude in any ter-i itory of thec United States, or any law abolishing slavery in the D)istrict of' C2ohnrnbiti or ano la Imrohibani, the stave irade bitiveenS'il tates .yliere slavery may exist; or admit into the United States as a State of this Con federacy, the 'sparselypo'pulated Ter ritory ofCalifornia and New Mexico, or should the Governor of this State receivo at any time satisfactory evi. dence that any slave or slaves hav ing escaped from this State to a non slavehiolding State, and that such slave or slaves is orare .refused to be given up to the proper owner by, the authorities of the States in which such fugitives may be found, then in either of the foregoing events it shall be and it is hereby made the duty of the Governor of this State, within sixty days thereafter, to issue his proclamation, ordecriig an election to be held in each arid every county to a Convention of the people of this State, to convene at the seat of Gov ermient within twenty days after saill election. On the 8d of September follow. in-g the Governor of Georgia issued his proclamation, declaring that one of the events had occurred, arid re quiring the assembling of the Couven. tion in December following. Resolutions of similar import were adopited by the Legislature of Mis souri in March, 1840, of which the two following will indicate the posi tion of that State : 2. That the teriritoiics acquired by the blood and treasure of the whole nation ought to be governed for the common benefit of the people of all the States; and any organization of the territorial governtents, exclu ding the cltizens of any part of the Union from removing:to such territo ries with their prop ' y would be an exercise of o b gress, incon sistent with , w ie ~r to the sovertn ,dignity i, the States thus a e, calculated to alienate one portiont of the Union from another, and te ing ultimately to disunion. 5. That in the e et of the pas sage of any act of Congress conflict. ing with the principles herein ex. pressed, Missouri will be found in the hearty co-operotion with the slaveholding States, in such Meas. ures as may be deeied necessary for our mutual protectln against the encroachments of 1Nrthern Fanati cisml.I The States of ississippi and Alabama, adopted r lutions indica ting the like spirit an determination. South Carolina, though equally alive to the comm I danger, and equally determimred on resistance, gave place to her iter States and cordially adopted I course which they 1inted out. er first step in December, 1847, as precisely in the footsteps I Vii -inia, and each h-anch of her L 'islature. IIer rext action was in 1848, when her L[egislatuie resolved as follows Resolved, Unanit ously, that the time for discussion y the slavehold. ing States, as to the r exclusion from the territory recentl acquired from Mexico, has passed,, and this general assembly represenitigg the feelings of the state of South Carolina, is pr prdto co-op'erate with her sister Mtates, in resisting thme application of the pinciples of the Wihiiot Proviso, to) such territory, at any and every hazard. Ini Decemnber, 1849, the subject wvas again brought before the Legis hature of South Carolina, by a Mes sage of the Governor, communicating ai proposal fro:n the State of Missis sippi, to send delegates to a Conven tion to lie held at Nashville, in June, following, and the l lowing repox t and resolutions werec adopted by the L egi slatunre. J-'.tracts- frao h Iejrfts and lies Ia the Seniate, D~ecembler 13, 18. 49 . Tfhe Comm~nittee on F'ederal Relations, to whomr was referredl so mnch of thme message of his Ex'>celleni cy the Governor, as relates to thie reconunendtiationu of the people of the State of Mississippi, for a convecntion of the peoplo of the Southern States, to bec held in Nashville, in J1 une next; and also, so much of the mressage as relates to convening the Lecgislature of this Sta:t e. ini thIoe event of the pas sage by Congress of thie Wilmuot Pro viso, or arny kindre i measure, beg leave to repuort: That they cordhially concur with the views exp~ressed by hmis Excellency the Governor, as t'o the necessity, on the part of the Somuthierni people, of a united action againist the enieroachniwnts utn- their domestie institutions and their condi tion of equality in this Confederacy by the people of the North, and 1 dhe Congress of the United States and rejoice with him in the lofty anc dignified Fosition assumed by ,th people of the State of Mississippi against any such infractions of th< comapromises of the Constitution; an(' the appeal which she has made to th< people- of her sister States of th< South, to unite with her in conino,, COu18el against conlon aggregsion. The committee are of the opinior expressed by this Legislature, at it last session, that the period of deci sive action has arrived, and that thc authorities of South-Carolina should be prepared, promptly to take such steys, as the other States of thi South shall recommend, and her ows )oition (emands. The committee, therefore, in conformity with thei own opinions, and, as they believ'e, with the expressed and understood wishes of this Legislature, and of the people of the whole State, recom. mend for adoption the following reso lutions: Resolved, That. in the event of the passage by Congress of the Wiluot Proviso, or any kindred measures, that his Excellency the Governor be repiested forthwith to convene the Legislature, in order to take such steps as the right, interests and hon or of this State, and of the whole ,South. shall demand. Resulved, That the Senato do agree to the report. Ordered, That it be sent to the House of Representatives for concur rence. By order, W. E. MARTIN, C. S. In the House of Representatives, Ordered, That it be returned to the Senate. By order, T. W. GLoVER, C. H. i. In the House of Representatives, December 38, 1849. The Commit tee on Federal Relations, to wlim was referred so much of the Govern or's Message, as relates to the recoM inondation tt the Southern States, by a Convention of th people of Mississippi, to send delagatui to meet at Nashville to consult in conmnon, upon conmon rights, with a view to unitq of action. And, also, so much of the message as relates to the convening the Leg islature, upon the Wilmot Proviso, or any kindred measure, becoming a law of Congress, report, that the people of this State entertain an ar dent desire and fixed determination to resist the lawless and unjust en croachinents of Congress, on the rights of the South, and have pledg ed themselves, through their Legisla ture, to co-operate with the other Southern States, in opposition to all such measures. They, therefore. concur with his Excellency in the be. lief, that South-Carolina hails with delight the proffer by the people of Mississippi, of meeting. by delegates in consnion counsels, at Nashville, and will heartily and promptly scnd delegates there to represent them. Thait they conicur, also, with lis Ex cellency, in thme propriety of calling together tho Legislature, should any such contiigenmcy oceur as is alluded to by his Excellency, and therefore recommend the adloption of the ful lowing resolution: R&esolt'ed, 'That shoul the Wilmot Proviso, or any kindred measure, be come a law of Congress, the Govern or is hereby earnestly requested to call together the Legislature, should it not he in session at the time of the passage of such law. Concurred in by the Senate. ls -rmiE I IUUSF or I i'PHESENTATvE-6, )( I)ecenuber 10), I184.11) Rlesolv'ed, Thait we cordially ap prove the course of those Southern members of Coingress, who have re fused to vote for any member of that body as Speaker, in thie slightest (10 gree taintod with unsoundness on the slavery question-. and that we fully respond to the sentiment of our dele gation, expiessed by one of them, that if slavery be abolished in the D istrict of Columbia by Congress, ori the Wihnuot Prioviso be adopted, thec Uion woul ho dissolved. Concurred in by the Senate. Th~e Nashville Convention met and I reconmmended thmo appointment by tho States of dlelegates to a Southerr ICongress or Conivention. The Stat< of Mississippi hand cal!ed a Conven Loislature ofU9outh' Catolinn, with a view to ibeet fully and promptly every oblidation which she had in curred, ahY to carry 'ut the recom mendations of the Nashville Conven tion, passed an.act- tg prpvido for the appointment of deputies to a South ern Congress, and to call a Convon tion of the people. The preamble and 'declared purpose of this act will best explain its object. -They are as follows: - "VWhereas, the Convention of the slaveholding States lato assembled at Nashville, have recommended to the said States to meet in Congress or Convention, to be held at such time and place its the States desiring to be represented may designate, to be composed of double the number of 0their Senators and Representatives in the Congress of the United States, entrusted with full power.aiid autho, rity to deliberate, with the view and intention of arresting further aggres sions,--and if possible,. of restoring the Constitutional rights of the South and if not to recommend due provii sion 'for their future safety and inide pendence." The act then proceeds to make provision for the Election of depu ties to this Congress, and for the call of a Convention of the people, "for the purpose iii the first place, of ta king into consideration the proceed ings and recommendations of a Congress of the slaveholding States, if the same shall meet and be held, and for the further purpose of taking into consideration the general welfare of this State, in view of her relations to the laws and government of the United. States, anid thereupon to take Ier, that t16ca_ eommupIwerh Q olin su nlfe o Ib I - e Xi~ . 01 ~ e qption of South OrOlintl and A wi that her constitti'ed aithIrities1 ave never proposedany othoadtion than thro g1 a union of the South, and witi the joint counsel and co-opera tion of the States aggrieved. These States had, by their constituted au thorities, solemnly adopted the reso lutions which have been cited, and South Carolina believed that she was acting in strict conformity with their suggesticus. So exactly did she fol low in the footsteps of Virginia, that in 1847 her House of Representa tives refused to adupt a resolution of the Senate, proposing and extra call of the Legislature in case of certain action by Congress, while in 1849 both branches of her Legislature unanimously agreed to such a clause. Upon examing the records, it will be found that the Virginia Legislature in 1849, had re-affirmed their resors tions of 1847, and had added to them new resolutions in the following terms Resolved, That we regard the passage of a law by the Congress of the United States abolishing slavery or the slave trade in the District of Columbia, as a direct attack upon the institutions of the Southern States, to be resisted at every hazzard. liesolved, That in the event of the passagTe by Congress of the Wilmot Proviso, or any law abolishmitg slave ryor the slave trade ini the District of Columnbia, the Gover nor of this Comn to convene the Legislature of this State, (if it shall have adjourned,) to consider the mode and measure of redriess. So too, it will be found that the ac tion of South Carolina in 1850 was in exact accordance with the previous action of Mississippi and Georgia. Bloth these States had authorized the call of Conventions of their people, and Mississippi had appropriated $350,000 to meet the exigency and prepare for the contest. South Ca rolinra followed their lead and in like manner called a Convention and ap propriated $250,000 to meet the like emergencies. Thus, in each and every movement did South Ca rohina evince her confidence in her isisters anid her determination to give them full suppoirt in every particular; while on no one occasion did she indi cate a desire to assume the position of leader, or leave the company of her sister States of the South. Unfortunately for the South a plan of coimpromise was afterwaird s con coct ed at WVashington, which, for the time, has diverted our sister States of the South from the executin~ of their declared purpose of concerted Southern Resistance, and has left the peOople of' South Carolina to (Ie ternmine whether they will pursue the contbdt-alofij ot' W t her sisters.- This quet6ida considered iby i 4; 61uhs which met in'Chirlestortin consisting 'f. deyuti " "fr Statd lights"Assobcitiondl out the State, and r them in favor o'the sepa 6 of South Carolina. G followed and by the 0o0, parties, the question was deiaI 1 the people themselves at th of deputies to-a1Suther held in October followihig'A. it clear and deeisie vo, th ment has been podce separaftion by thif question has been t highest tribunal, and it the duty of this Conventipn' - form to that judgment. . While, therefore,- the 1coe South Carolina'are prepa e t~ff cognize and maintain the ri each State to sccede from the'. and would. willingly. havo ei' this right in conjunctiOvit ti sister States of the South, they declared that 'they do '. wise or expedient to exere same alone. Coupled with this declaratka South Carolina can point het'iskrt States to the prompt and. effet support which she has hitherto giftei to all their measures, as a substiatial pledge of her readiness to unite"A, them in counsel or actioni t went they may indicate a eiKe0. advance the causeo of Sontl t Rights. Mr. W. W. HAM.EE ;tten' o the adoption of the Report oft alitteeg ofTenty-On PiiP? to.v. .AY OWN Allston, AjgplebyA~4 Barnwell, Jnin -el Bellinger, E. St. 'P, B l * Bobo, Bonham, Bookter, - Bradwell, Brown, Buoa Burt, Cantey, CaiglimanChe Cook, Craig, Cunningm t Davant, David, De__sa DuBose, Dunkin, DuPre, Elg Elliott, English, J. J. EV Evans, Farrow, Finley, i - Frost, Furman, Gadberry, iGl S. E. Graham, Gre, Gramb Grimball, taigler, i Harrison, Hayne, Hay-nsWo dersOn, Higgins, Hope, H11'"P Hugete nin, l'On, Irby, Jamison Jo nt6 C. Jones, J. Jones, Hartfoid Joi~z King, Kirk, Landrum,'OA Lehre, Livingston, Mae E. Martin, I. Martin, J. C. Mason, R. A. Maxwell, John Max" Memiinger, Moble-, Moon,McAlff Macbeth, McBride, fellwaine,mNies O'Bryan, Patterson, Peay, Pi9-. Pickens, Poole, Porcher, Pjie iz Reed, Rhett, Rice, Richardson, Rive Rosborough, Russell, Ruth, Schnierie, Scott, Scabrook,Sims, S, Sumter, Symnimes, Traipler, Vpght,. Wallace, Walker, D. L. W d F. H. Wardlaw, Waring, Whaley, B. Wilson, Hugh Wilson, Whyte, Wh!V Miv ner, John Williams, J. D. Will4ut, smith, Young, the President-35 Nays-Messrs. Adams, Brocknp, Chrles, (Mr. Charles was tudort~ to vote No, upon the ground thatbe conisiderd the resolution as denyirig our duty' to regard the wishes and opinions of' the people of the 'ti" slavehxolding States,) Duncan <Elfe, Fripp, Gourdin, WV. Craham,. familii tonm, Latta, Jf. V. Martin, Mc'es, Callh,, McCready, (Mr. McCrdyVP ted No, becauise ho thought thee raslu tion should be limited. Hie ,aydge the right of a State to seeede for.igo and in time of' pcace. H~ecoga dis her the judlge of what shall be suffei*b cause, and as responsible for her mecnt only as a sovereign,)0. Palmer, B. F. Perry, Sentor, T~~ b Trotti, Wright-21. EMANCIPATION OF SL.Avry,' LoUI8IANA.-A law has passed Louisana legislature, and goes.4 affect in six months time which pre hibits the emancipation of slaves is that State except upon the express condition that they shall be senit dot of the United States within tdte months and requirinj; the pain ~r $160, to be deposited i the' trids*k ry for each slave to' bo apphid iet - paymfenltKof passago "to 4lc,.e support after arrival. How To, CURR ' ~amAn.oNsel 08, " heP~st"of' Boston,'i responsjto 'tbr theofollowinggood-ht - *~ 0' Go to a'printer whom you ow .a-, rub-an eaglein 'hs thsnd tIlt"k Tlhe eikect on yourself ill; bd t~ .heerig and ons hinm astonishtE