The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-12-25
, Convention Bill.

Convention Bill.
The following is the bill which has pass
ed our General Assembly, there being
but twelve votes against it in the House,
and three in tho Senate:
A bill to provide for The appointment of
deputies to a Southern congress-, and to call
a convention of the people OF this State.
Whereas, the Convention Of the slave
holding States lately assembled al Nash
vile, have recommended to tho said States
to meet in Congress or Convention, to be
held at such time md place as tho States
desiring to DO represented may designate;
to he composed Of double the number Of
their Senators and Representatives in the
Congress OF The United States, entrusted
with full power and authority to deliberate,
with the view and intention of arresting
further aggrcssions, and it possible. Of res
torlng the constitutional rights OF the South,
and If not, to recommend some provision
for their future safety and independence.
Sec.l. Be it enacted by the Senate and
House Of Representatives now met and
sitting in General Assembly, and by the
authority y: the same, That eighteen dep
uties shall be appointed in tho manner
hereinafter provided, who arc hereby nu-
tflorized, as deputies from the State. to
meet such aeputics as may be appointed and
authorized by any other s!avellolding State
in Congress or Convention as above recon-
mcnded, and to join with them in discuss
ing and dcvising such measures, as in their
opinion may be adequate to obtain the OBJ
jccts proposed by the said Convention at
Nashville, and in reporting such measures
to the said several slavcholding States, as
when agreed to and fully confirmed by
them, or any OF them, will effGctually pro-
vide for the same.
Sec. IL. Four of the said deputies shall
be elected b. joint ballot Of tho General
Assembly at its present session, and the
qualified voters in each Congressional Dis
trict; and the said Managers shall there
upon advertise and hold such elections, and
make duo retutn thereof to the Governor.
See. ". That the Governor shall duly
commission all the said deputies, so to &c
elected by the General Assembly and by
the people; and shall, in concert with The
Governors or other proper authorities Of
other States joining in such Congress, ap-
point the time and place of meeting, and
give due notice thereof; and any Of the
deputies on Ike part of this State. who may
bSlt'i - quill lliIic illI pldNt, SIlll hive
full power TO represent the State, us here
in before prescribed.
Sec. V. And be it further enacted nv the
authority aforesaid, That a Convention of
the people OF the State of South Carolina
is hereby ordained to be assembled in the
town OF Columbia, az hereinafter provided,
for the purpose, in the first place, Of taking
into consideration the proceedings and re-
commentator Of n Congress of the slave.
holding States, it the same shall NEE, and
he held: aud for the further purpose Of
taking into consideration the general vel.
fare of tins state in view Of her relations
to the laws and Government of the United
States, and thcrcnpun, tn takO care thai
the Commonwealth OF South Carolina shall
suffer no deiritncnt.
Sec. W. And be it further enacted by
the authority aforesaid, Tina, ON the second
Monday in February next, and on the day
following, the managers OF elections for the
several Districts in this State shall, after
giving public notice, as in cases OF elections
for Members of the Legislature, open the
polls and hold elections IN their respect yc
Districts Tor Delegates TO the said Convcn-
ton, in all respects IN the same manner
and AT the SANE places, as elections
are now conducted for Members OF The Leg
islaturc. And all persons who are qualified
and entitled, by the Constitution and laws Of
this State, 10 vote for Members Of the Leg
~islalurc, shall be quail fled and entitled TO
vote for SAID Delegates to SAID Convention;
and in case of any vacancy occurring 10y
death, resignation. removal from The State,
or refusal To serve, OF any person elected a
Delegate TO the Convention, the presiding
officer Of the said Convention shall issue
his writ authorizing and requiring The man
ayers Of election districts in which Such va
cancy may have occurred, after giving due
notice thereof, Ia open n poll and hold an
election to fill such vacancv, as in eases for
the election OF Members OF the Legislature.
.Sec. vi. And he it further enacted by
The authority aforesaid, That each ~c.cction
district throughout the State shall TO emit
tied to elect a. send to The sad Convention,
a number of delegates equal TO the whole
number OF Senators and Representatives.
which such District is now entitled to send
to the Legislature; and the delegates TO the
said Convention shall be entitled to The
same freedom of arrest in going to return
ing from, and whilst in attendance on said
Convention, as is extended to the Members
oil the Legislature.
Sec. VII. And hc it further enacted by
the authority aforesaid, That all free white
male citizens OF this State, OF the age of
tweniy-onc years and upwards, shall be
eligible to a scat in said Convention.
Sec. TX. And he it further enacted By
the authority aforesaid, That the Governor
be and is hereby requested, forthwith, after
the passage of this Act, To communicate an
authentic copy Of the same 10 the Exccu-
tives Of each of the slavchoIding States of
the Union, and to urge upon the said
authorities, in such name az he may deem
best, the desire of The State Of South Caro-
lima that the said sIaveholding States do
send, duly commissioned, deputies, to meet
ibo deputies herein provided 10 be erected,