The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-12-17
I,egislature of South Carolina.

Legislature of South Carolina
In the Senate, on Saturday, considerable pro-
eress was made in the general orders
On motion of MIR. DeTreville, bill to pro-
1de for the election of delegates to Southern
CONGRESS was discharged from the special or
der and placed on the general orders.
The bill was taken up and amended, SO as
IN anpoiut the time of electing said delegates
on the first Monday in June next. After some
discussion thereon, the Senate resolved itself
into q committee of the whole, MIR. Wltherspoon
in the chair, and the various bills concerning
our federal relations having been referred to Inc
committee,
After some discussion Ia recess having been
taken in the interim) the committee rose' ana
the Senate proceeded to business. . 81,
Mr.. Witherspoon, from the committee OF the
whole, made the following report:
The committee of the whole, to whom were
referred bill to provide for electing delegates
to Southern Congress, and two bills to pro,
vide for calling a convention OF the people Oh
this State, and suudry resolutions upon the
same subject, beg leave to report:
That the committee have had the same under
consideration, and respectfully recommend to
the Senate to pass one of the bills, providing
for the calling of a convention of the people OF
the State; and also the bill to provide for elect
ing delegates to Southern Congress.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
Id. WrruERspooN, Chairman.
The bill calling convention Of the people
was taken up, discussed, and amended. AS 1t
passed, the election of delegates is to take place
at the usual time of our State elections, the Sc
cond Monday in October next; the convention
to be held on the second Monday in December,
1851
The question on agreeing to the bill was or
dered to be taken by yeas and nays, and they
are as follows:
Yeas-Hou. R. F. w. Allston, President;
Messrs. Adams, B. G. Alston, Barnes, Bedon,
Buchanan, Bull, Caldwell, Cannon, Carew,
earn, DeTreville, Eaves, Evins, Fielder, G'st,
Griffin. Hanna, Hibben, Irby, Lawton, Mar
shall, Moses, Palmer, Perry, Porter, Quattle.
baum, Skipper, Taylor, Townsend, Ward,
Ware, Williams. John Wilson, |. D. Wilson, J.
J. Wilson. and Witherspoon-37..
Nays-Messrs Barker, Dudley, Cause, Man.
ming, Mazyck, and Nowell-6.
Two.thirds of the whole representation in
the Senate having voted in the affirmative, the
bill was agreed to, and was ordered to be sent
to the House Of Representatives. On motion
of Mr.. Porter all the other measures referred to
the committee were laid on the table.
The Senate adjourned at halfpast 8 o'clock
p. m.
Of the Committee on Federal Relations on the
Bill to provide for the election of Delegates
to the Southern Congress
The committee on federal relations, to whom
was referred, bill to provide for the appoint
ment Of delegates to Southern Congress, the
communication from the president of the late
Southern Convention, transmitting the pream-
BILE and resolution adopted by that body, re-
spectfully report, that they have patiently con,
sidered the matter referred in all its aspects and
relations, as suggested to them by an earnest
and anxious desire for the good of the State
The questions involved, are the gravest which
can be submitted to the arbitrament Of the free
people. A government which was intended to
be free, Just and equal in all its purposes, and
actions, which was established by the joint wis
dom and energies of independent States which
has existed for more than half century, and
BY the united efforts and contributions Of those
who framed it, has become prosperous and
great among the nations of the earth has by
the perversion and abuse Of its powers become
an instrument of wrong, and probable ruin to
large portion of the interests entrusted to it
for protection and preservation. Nearly one
half of the States now parties to the Federal
Government have their chief interests invested
in the institution Of slavery. This was the
main interest involved in the original compact,
by which the Federal Union was formed. That
compact by special provisions recognized and
in terms protected that interest and under this
guaranty, these States have aided largely in
the expansion Of the Republic-have contrbu-
ted literally to its strength, its necessities, its
character and its glory, and have at all times
maintained firm and unwavering devotion to
all the requirements of the compact, and all the
purposes of free government.
They have submitted to threats, denuncia-
tions and actual wrong, from the people and
authorities oftheir confederates, and to serious
and dangerous aggressions by the federal pow.
er until the bond of fraternal confidence has
been broken by the frst-and system Of pol
icy has been adopted by the latter which must
destroy the highest political and social interests
of these States. Its immediate effect is to de-
prive the slaveholding States Of an equal power
in the Union, and its ultimate and certain con.
sequence, must be the total destruction Of the