Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-03-20
THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONVENTION.


We alluded briefly yesterday, to the singular
provisions of the law enacted by the late Legis-
lature of South Carolina, in regard to the State
Convention for the redress of Federal grievan-
ces. As the matter has not attracted that de-
gree of public attention which it seems TO merit,
we will state more particularly the import OF the
law in question 1t was passed by the House oil
Representatives, on Wednesday the 18th, and
by the Senate Oh Thursday, the 10Th of De-
cember last, and was copied, nearly in full, in the
Times of the oath of that month:
The preamble recites the recommendation of the Sc
cond Nashville Con vention that the Soutern States
hold Congress with the view and intention Of ar
resting further aggressons and if possible OF restoring
the Constitutional rights of the South and, if mol
to recommend some provision for their future safety
and independence Sections / 2, ard provide
tor The election OF eighteen deputies our by the Legs
lature and by each Congressional district to re-
peseut South Carolina in such Congress- FIX the fourth
Monday in October 1885 the day for the election by
the people of fourteen deputies, and dneet that the
Governor shal, in concert with the Governor or other
proper authorities Of other States joining in such Con-
gress appoint the time and place ofmeeting"
The fifth section is the first which refers to the State
Convention, and it is as follows:
"SEc 5. And be it further enacted By the aufhori-
ty aforesaid That Convention Of the people of the
State of South Carolina is hereby ordained TO be as
sembled in the town OF Columbia as hereinafter provided
for the purpose in the first place. oftaking into consd-
Grafton the proceedings and recommendations Ola Con-
gress oil the saveholdng States, ii the sha meet
and be held, tor 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 and ttereupon take that the Com
mO nj Car0lna h0 eut}tr
ment."
Section prov ies that the election OF Delegates to
the Convention shall take place on the ID Monday in
February and prescribes the mode in which the election
is to be held qualifications OF voters, &c. Section
fixes the number of Delegates that of the Senate and
House combined Section makes every white citizen
81 years old, eligible.
Section directs the Governor to transmit copy OF
the 10 the Executive of each slavehoding State
and to urge upon him "the desire OF South Carolina
that such State should send deputies to meet hers at
Montgomery, Alabama, son the second day of January
Ammo Domin 1852"
The 10th section is in the following words:
"SEc. 10. And be it further enacted by tie autho-
rity aforesaid That shall be the duty of his Excel
ency the Governor of this State by his proclamation
to call together said Convention and appoint the Time
tor the meeting thereof whenever at any period before
the session Of this General Assembly, the conjunc
IL
pose o this act, shall have ha opened. Provided that
in the Governor shall assemble the Convention
anterior TO The OF this Legislature this Ge
neral Assembly shall by majority of votes fix the
time for the meeting Of said Convention
In accordance with the enactments of this law
the Legislature, before the expiration OF its SEES
sion elected four deputies for the State at large
to the Southern Congress and on the 10th o.
February, proceeding, called an election by the
people, took place by which small fraction of, the
voting population appointed the members of the
Convention, which is to determine the destiny O
the State.
1t will be perceived that the act gives the Gov
ernor authority TO call the Convention together
only in the contingency that Southern Congress
shall have met and promulgated certain recon-
mendations to the Southern States; and until tina
contingency occurs, the Legislature reserves t.
itself the office of assembling the Convention
1nasmch as no State except South Carolina seem:
inclined to take part in the Congress, it is quite
clear that the Convention cannot be called togeth
er before the next session of the Legislature
which, we believe, will commence on the fourth
Monday in November, Qhe Representatives being
but the sessions annually 1t will then be neces.
sary for each House to concur as to both the time
when the Convention shall meet, and the expedi.
ency of such Convention being convoked at all
and if the constitution of the State has not been
altered by the Legislature Gas it may be- it is
questionable whether two-thirds of each House
must not concur; for that instrument contains
this article: "No convention of the people shall be
called unless by the concurrence of two-thirds o.
both branches of the whole representation. The
Legislature has indeed authorized itself, "by q
| majority of votes to fix the time for the meeting
of the said Convention but, in the very same
section, the act authorizes the Governor in a Ger
tain case, "to call together the Convention. -
However this query may be determined, it is evil
dent that there are important obstacles which may
prevent the meeting of the Convention, and at al
events, it is altogether probable that ample time
will be allowed for the sober OF the real PEG
pie Of South Carolina TO manifest itself in stern
condemnation of the reckless schemes of theil
conspicuous busy bodies. Out of that State, il
would assuredy be deemed but proper respec
to the popular will to keep body elected after
The manner Of this Convention in perpetual abey-
ance.
According TO the Enquirer, the delegates to the
Democratic Convention, which met here on Tues
day, had charming time of it. The nomination
of Mr.. Seldom was unanimous, and whilst com
mittee was looking up that gentleman, the Con
vention was addressed by Judge Douglas, of ILL.,
nos, "who was accidenily present" Che is mar
of happy aecidents) and who told them Mr. Sed
dons nomination was a glorious thing. that bv