Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-26

S"TVNOH u WHtH MT. JOhn3On moved That Tho WOrl,
or appointed. be introduced in the 10Th line, after the
word elected" so that the section would be rendered
elected or dPpointed;" which being agreed TO, the aues
uon required on the motion to strike out the three last
sections OF the Ordinance. The Chair was about 10 pu,
the question, when MIR. j. ID. O'Neal rose, and gave his
opinions on the ineSpediencya and in tendency OF The crea-
uon oil a new oath. Tie denied the right OF the Conven.
lion in the matter; contended that the oath, as prescribed
oy the Constitution of the State, covered all the ground
required by the new one; that a new enactment on the
SUBJECT would not be calculated TO heal the divisions of
the State, which were now sufficiently wide. He said
he stood on his native Carolina, and he should speak the
SehumehtS oil a freeman, and he ardently trusted, that lie
should be able to convince gentlemen of the total mex.
peWehcy oil tis provision of the Ordnance. He then
proceeded TO define what was the allegiance Of a citizen.
lie showed that the oath required by Virginia and Mas
sschusetts, demanded no more of their citizens. than
does the presenl oath OF this State fher citizens. lie stat
eo 'nat'ne puohc mind was not prcpared; that on this sub
Ject there was much difference OF opinion, even among the
majority OF the State, and he asked gentlemen To pause
Mhal dd they intend to do' Were they W ling to add to the
excitement! Already were families arrayed against families.
father against son, brother Against brother, and even The
hame had been carried TO the Temple OF God would such
an enactment serve TO extinguish the fire. WouId il make
TIE opposers OF IL any better citizens? lie thoupht moi,
ne adverted to the enforcement bill. For one, said MIR
oNoa'e' wish IT had never passed; but, under present
circumstances, he thought il would not be acted upon: il
wasa dead letter on the Statute Book. He gave il h.
dsapprobahon, and as an individual he considered i, nm
wise aud iihpoliic-he thought one clause unconstitu,ion-
A. IN 10 whole as granting powers which might here, al
ter be abused. lie concluded by Il TOUCHING appeal to the
oonVehuoh' urging gentlemen TO pause, ere they were
100 late, and refer the enactment to the IeyisI,ture
where, IN his view, by the provisions OF the Constitution
II properly belonged.
MIR. Harper followed, in speech Of considerable Length
lie expdua,ed largel, on the rights OF the sovereignty of
a State; and argued IN at in tines like these. il ira, necss.
ssry and expeaient, that the : tate should know on whom
she could depend. He said he had no doubt of the move,
VI ue convention TO pass the Ordin .nce, embracing the
declaration OF allegiance, which it contained he u,gsd
,ne absolute necessity OF such a declaration, and said lhai
he did not wish TO leave this OaIh TO the Legislature for
IL would be leaving it to chance. He advert,d 10 the meet.
irg OF the Unio Convention i'm this pace. a .videncing
in a measure, The spirito the opposing party in the State:
dUu sdlu Und the Government Of tha Stat. II l.. -
moderate in their course, and instanced their toIeratin1
ne Meeting Of the Union Convention! ~! He spoke Of
MT wilkins bill as abominable, aud calculated 10 subvert
the liberties of this country. He thoughi the South yt
IN much danger-the split of emancipation was abroad.
a"u u u snoulI not De astonlshrd, il, in another year, a re
voluuon like th't of 1900 should take place.
MIR. Turnbull took the floor, and rendered TO the remarLs
oil Judge oNealc, a high compliment. Spoke of his
warmth OF personal friendship TO thai, een,len,n-of tho
distinguished estimation in which he W held nv him
and very many others, of the pleasure which il gave him
10 near MIR oNe1le deliver the sentiments which he had
Just gwen, on the bill of Mr.. Wilkins. He then ndverieJ
10 an argument, long, but interesting on the topics which
hah occupied public attention for ten yearspast He urged
very strongly the adoption of the Ordinance, i'm all lis nro
VISIONS ana concluded III a very strong appeal TO the ma
Jority, not to suffer the moment to pass, but 10 act nm 70 the
expectations Of the people.
MIR. Philips OF Chesterfield, replied IN Mr. T,r,b,Ji
ana In consequence OF some remarks which a from
VIZ :, relative to the Union Convention, said thot he
wouIu not yield his love for Carolina 10 that gentleman.
He never expected to hear the attachment of the Union
Party to the state questioned, and least of all from tina,
quarter He thought at least that the gentleman should
""'S SP"Su 't ttlIiB u MS opponents that occasion
anu CONSIDERED the time rather for cancellation, han an ex-
tension oil the breach. He was surprised that sncb a.
"n"senn.s snouIu nave escaped one, to whom he could tri-
charge OF enmity and ~disloyaliy TO the State, into the teeth
d me gentlemen and wonld tell them. tina, there were
men in that Convention, who would no sua.r in conn,rison
WIN me proudest son OF Carolina in this. He asked if the
opinions oil seventeen thouSan of his fellow citizens were
not enUtIed to respect; and was he to be told OH that noor
tnat unless The party with which he had the honor to act
uu come forward ndbend TO the opinions of the majority,
That they were to be deprived of their rights anil priv Ieoes
lnere Mr. Harper rose and explained) MIR. Philips pro-
ceedei TO remark OH the inexpediency of the oath. and oh.
served that for one, he neUer toOuId take IL. The Union par
" were devotedly attached to the State-they sought to
preserve the State by preserving the IJpion-tbst Tho
Union alone could preserve the rights of the States. and
disunion alone could force consolidation on the broken So
uon' 1 mere was IN his heart a single hope, or wish
or ieeling, inconsistent with the honor and the we lfaro nj
south Carolina, he would tear it from his bosom. Ue
heard 1t said that the dominant party had shown great
moderation. and torbearance, in suffering the late JGnion
convention TO assemble here 'no,ing the Legislatures" as
the gentleman (AIr. Harper) had said. wa, he n
De tod al ms day, that gentlemen Of equal virtue and cha.
racter Is those composing this body, REPRESENTING II OOo
Ireemen' met to express their opinions upon the acts of tho
Legislature only by SuGerdncei Was he TO hear creJi,
claimed for iorbearance towards an assembly Of 9 m,,ci,
rcsPectaOlHiy, and representing so many freemcn, because
they were permitted 10 assemble and declare their SEMI.
ments upon an act OF the State Government. Bnt il wa sail
,hat ihis Convention ought to adopt the Oath because il
az ,e power ana recommending its Adoption TO the Lee
gislature, was leaving il to chance. II was for tiis 49,
reason II should be left to the Legislature. The people
had never had this question before them, and his convan.
hon ana not represent the people on that subject. WouLI
not the members of the Legislature also reprcsent tho go
pIes ihis was the chance then 10 which this measure
would be let, to the chance that every republican ,yould
cheeriully submit ito the chance which was ,ha -
o.. IL republican lnsiitutions-ihe will of the people.
The chance was, that the people might will Otherwise
ahh ms they were not 10 be allowed TO do. He urgod
the pledge that the Convention had given rot TO interEerc
with the Constitution of the Siate-and said This ynuIJ ho
such an interference. He desired peace and reconcili,.
llon-but Tor no purpose of advancement, for he was from
a district where the Union Party had the ascendancy and
tC0uid maintain IL. But he desired once mora IN
be able to take his old friends by the hand. witbon,
ieehng that there was something in the bosom of each
not as ii used 10 be. He concluded by contending MT
Tie Convention had no authority from the peopIe of this
State, to interfere with the Constitution, as that noyver
was not delegated 10 them, nor were gentlemen sent here
10 assume IT,.
AT The close OF the remarks, Mr.. Samuel Warren moved
an adjournment to Monday, at 10 O'clock. This motion
was followed by a motion tor a recess of Two hours which
latter motion prev, led, and the Convention adjourned To
half past 5. "
Alter recess, the Convention me-, and after being called
to order, Mr.. Wilson moved, that the Ordinance and mo-.
ton TO StIike out, be laid on the table, which was carried
almost unanimously.
The Report of the Committee on the Viruicia Couni.
sioner, and the Resolutions submitted there with. .
on motion, taken up and read by the Prcsi lent. who
said, that unless some gentleman should request other.
wise, ne should put the question on them together
MIR. Perry, from. Greenville, rose and moved. that thew
be considered separately; on which, the President nut the
question on the adoption Of The Report, which was carried
with only a few noes in opposition. The Resolutions
were then passed unanimously, and the word "unaniaous-
ly" ordered TO be inserted in them.
Mr.. Hamilton's resolution, and Mr.. Smiths , @ q ~ ac
compartment, were then put for adoption, were carried
and the Convention adjourned TO Monday at 10 O'Clock.
| have only time to add, that there is a great doubt
whether the declaration of allegiance in the ordinance