Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-22
POEH THCAE.
From the Charleston Mercury.1
SOUTH CAROLINA CONVENTION

SOUTH CAROLINA CONVENTION.
COLUMBIA, March IIth, 1888.
Dedr Sr The Convention Of the State was r q as
semoled to-day at noon. The President called the assem-
bly, to order, precisely at that hour; the Rev. MIR. Ware
la memberl officiating as Chaplain.
The roll being called, 1877 members appeared to be in
their places. "
BY the bye, ISL not singular that two grave JUDGES
not TO speak of other potent Seignors-coninue ~ ,ake
their seats in a body, which they have upon their faith.
pronounced illegal! What a comfort it must be 10 have (,
oh,on cohscience-to be able 10 say and unsay-to do and
undo-just when one finds it good! The only lawful ACT
winch the Convention, [accortling to those gentlemen
can perform, is The issuing certificates for pan.
MIR. Iurnbuli rose, 10 tender the excuse oI a venerable
nlehd Tor his absence. II it had been possible, he said. for
the strong wishes OF the heart to triumph over the ,vishes
OF the body, his friend would have been in his sea, on this
noor' lie had begged, however, to say, hat in .pirit, in
sympathy with the high motives, that directed their acts
IN The full confidence which he gave to their course. in
all That the public necessities might demand he was with
them still and would gladly, il the forms of such an as
semi6ly permitted II, ask permission to record, upon their
Journals, his concurrence in all that the spirit, which he
knew directed that body, could lead them 10 do. The
name OF his friend, MIR. I. said, was James Hamilton.
Senr.
The President then addressed the Convention. in a
speech explaining the motives of his re-assembling them.
Inc clerk then read the correspondence of the Govern
or and President of the Convention, with the commissioner
on the part OF Virginia. The public is already in posses.
sion OF that correspondence.
A further communication from the Governor w also
submitted, which conveys a communication from the
virginia Commissioner, which will be sent.
According TO the intimaton given in his speech. he Pre-.
sident Then requested the convention TO regard the chair
as vacated by his resignation, and to proceed to ballot for A
President.
The ballot was accordingly made, and Governor Hayne
was elected; who, being conducted 10 the chair by Judge
johnston and Col. Thomas Pinckney, addressed the as.
semoly IN a short and unadorned speech Of thanks.
On motion OF Gen. Hamilton, a seat within the bar of
me House was assigned TO the Virginia Commissioner
He was introducedb by Messrs. Howard. Earle and ron.
me assembly received him uncovered and standing.
Oh mouon oil Col. ron, seats were also assigned 10 such
oil our members of Congress and of the Legislature. az
may be present.
Iudga CoIoooI.
oil ihe business before the Convention, moved that a gem
eral committee of 81 be appointed, to which the Subjects
placed before them by the Presidents speech should be
referred. The motion was adopted.
The committee is the same as that of the former sitting
except only that four other gentlemen will be substitute
Tor General Hayne, Col. Manning, Mr.. Robert BarnweII,
and MIR. Middleton; the three latter of whom are alb.
sent.
Judge Harper moved the printing Of the documents sub.
Hited by the President OF the Convention. 1t was or.
The Convention then adjourned to one o'clock to-mor.
row.
From the Columbia Telescope, March Isl
EXECUTIVES DEPARTMENT,
N Columbia, March IL, 1893.
o'dmes banlh'oh, Jr Esq, President OF the ConVen-
ton of the People of S. Carolina:
S"; l herewith transmit you a letter which | have re-
celVed from The Hon. Benjamin Watkins Leigh, Commits
sioner from the State OF Virginia, which, toeether with
the correspondence in relation TO MIR. Leigh's Mission.
aud the resolutions OF Virginia, of which he IS the bearer,
you are requested to lay before the Assembly over which
you preside.
am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
kOBERI Y. HAYNE.
COLUMBIA, March IIth, 1888.
Sir: Having, at our first interview, presented 10 Won
the resolutions OF the General Assembly Of Virginia, oftbe
10Th January last, on the subject of federal relations. I
have now to request your Excellency to lay these resolu-
tons before the Convention of the people OF South CaroIi-
ma, which at my instance, has been re-assembled for the
purpose of considering them.
The General Assembly of Virginia has expressed in its
own language, its sentiments concerning the unhappy con-
troversy between the State of South Carolina and The Fe-
deral government, and its motives, its views and object,
IN making this intercession. In these respects, therefore,
the Commissioner it has thought proper to depute TO South
Carolina, can have nothing to add, and nothing even to
explain. The duty presented to him is simple and precise.
he is instructedto communicate the preamble aud resolu-
lions 10 the proper authorities of this State, and 90 TO give
them such direction as in his judgment may be best cal
culated TO promote the objects which the Legislature OF
Virginia has in view :" and this part OF his duty he has al
ready, by the prompt and cordial compliance of those au-
lhorities, had the happiness to accomplish, TO the entire
satisfaction las he has reason TO BELIEVED Of the Leeisla-
ture oil Virginia. And he is further instructed and " au.
thorzed to express to the public authorities and people OF
this our sister State, the sincere good will of the LegisIa-
ture and people OF Virginia, towards their sister State, and
lhelr anxious sollcltuds that the kind and respectful repre-
sensations they have addressed to her, may lead to an ac-
commodation OF the differences between this State and the
General Government"
Virginia is animated with an ardent and devoted attach.
ment TO the Union OF the States, and TO The rights of the
several States that compose the Union and if similarity
OF situation and OF Interests naturally induce her to sympa-
ihiZe, with peculiar s%ensibiiiy, in whatever affects the
prosperity and happiness Of South Carolina and the other
Southern States, she knows how to reconcile this septi-
ment with her affection and duty towards each and every
other State, severaliy, and towards the United States. She
Is most solcllous, 10 maintain and preserve our present In.
sutuions, which, though they partake Of imperleciion,
from which no human institutions can ever be exemp,
aud notwithstanding some instances Of al-administratio
or error, TO which all governments are liable, are YET. as
sue confidently believes, the %hsPPiest frame OF polity that
! $ now or ever has been enjoyed by any people-to main
tam and preserve the IchOie and eUeTy part of these in.
situations, IN iuli vigor and putty; TO uphold the Union,
ana the states; 10 maintain the Federal Governmental ali
its Just powers, administered according to the pure
principles Of the Constitution without the least de
pariure from the limitations prescribed by the compact.
iairly ~ derstood, and the State governments in ali
,helr rights and authority, as absolutely necessary
TO the good government and happiness of their re-.
spective citizens. Consolidation and disunion are allie
abhorrent from her affections and her judgment. the ono
involving, at the least, a forfeiture Of the manifold sdvsn.
tages and blessings so long and so generally felt and ac.
knowledged to have been derived from the Union. and
the other having an apparent, perhaps inevitable. tenJen-
cy to military despotism. And she is pprebensive-Co
reasons too obvious 10 need particular menGon-tbaf
10 case any differences between the Federal Govern-
ment and the States, shall ever be brought d, the A..
bitrainent Of force, the result, let L be what IL NAV. mus,
effect such a change in our existing institutions AZ eanno,
but be evil, since Il would be a change from those forms oC
government which we have experienced 10 be pood. and
nader which we have certainly been, in the main. free