Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-18

Deleeatcs from twelve of the thirteen States was at
length got together having met in the city OF Phi-
adesphia on the l4ih of May, 1857, and continuing
in session until the 18th day Of September In TINS
Convention were present all the States OF the Soush
including the State Of South Carolina. than whchStaie
no one had greater insrumentalisy in framing the
Constitution. as the invaluable record preserved by
Mr.. MADISON distinctly shows. In nindIviduallztng
the State of South Carolina, as we have heretofore
minated. we do SO because Of her being, though
among the foremost in the construction OF the Gov
ernment of the Unicn the first to enlist in scheme
for disruption of 4.
In that Convention the State of South Caro-
LIMA was represented by four Of her most distin-
quished sons, JeHN RUTLEDGE, CHARLES Cores
WORTH PrNcKNEY, CHARLES PINcKNEy, and PIERCE
BUrLEx. One Of these gentlemen, Mr.. RUTLEDGE,
seconded the nomination by RoBERr MoFRls OF
General WASHINGTON for President of the Con-
vention, expressing his confidence that the vote
in his favor would be unanimous and ballot
ting being had, the prediction was justified by the
result Of the election. On the first day of entering
seriously upon business, of two plans offered for
the consideration of the Convention, one was from
VIRGINIA, by Governor RANDcLrH, proposing to
@scorrect and enlarge the Articles Of
so as to accomplish the objects proposed by their
institution % and another, from SoUTH CAROLINA,
by Mr.. CHARLES PINcKNEY, the very title Of which,
ePlan of Federal Constitution" was significant
of its contents, embracing, with the exception of
the composition Of the Senate, (which, by his plan,
was to be chosen by the Popular Representative
bedy,) substantially most Of those features, and es
pecially most of the po,cers to be delegated to
Congress which are comprised within the Consti-
tuition of the United States as it now stands, and
has stood for more than sixty years. Throughout
the proceedings of the Convention, the views Of
the Delegates from South Carolina Except, per-
haps, Mr.. P. BUTLER) were generally as high-toned
in regard to the power and authority to be vested
in the General Government as those of the Dele
cation of any other State whatever For in
stance: In an early stage Of the proceedings.
proposition being before the Convention to give
Congress power to regulate such laws of the
States as might be contrary to the articles of the
''Union or to Treaties with Foreign Powers
Mr.C. PlNcKNEY moved to amend the same, so
as that " the National Legislature should have
/" authority to negative all taUs Of the States
. which they should judge to be improper y urging
in support of this motion that such universally
of the power was indispensably necessary to
render it effectual that the States must be kept
in due subordination to the Nation; that, if the
g States were left to themselves in any case, it
would be impossible to defend the National pre-
" negatives, however extensive they might be upon
paper that acts Of Congress (under the Confed-
eration) had been defeated by this means that
A' this universal negative was in fact the corner
:" stone of efficient National Government" !"
Though this motion was seconded by Mr.. MADI
SON, and sustained by his powerful influence, he
too regarding an indefinite power to negative
Legislative acts of the States as absolutely neces-
sary to perfect system" it was fortunately mega
tived, or as must now be obvious, it would have
been the seed Of early destruction of the Govern
ment: for, as we have seen, in the case of South
Carolina, twenty years ago, State is more likely
to undertake to negative an act of Congress- or even
the most solemn and sacred provisions of the Con-
sttution, las is now proposed by the same State
than the General Government is to undertake
to negative the acts of any State, other than such
as are in themselves void from being in direct
conflict with its authority. 1t does not need
to particularize further the movements or votes
of the Carolina Delegates. 1t is enough to say
that they not only co-operated in but zealously
sustained the main features of the Constitution.
There was one incident late in the proceedings,
however, which reflects so much light upon the
share that South Carolina had in this great work,
whilst it does honor to the candor and liberality
of one of those of her citizens whom at that day
she delighted to honor, that we cannot refrain from
copying it entire.
Mr.. CHARLES PINcKNEy having moved prov-
sion that no act of Congress for regulating COM
merce with foreign Powers or among the several
States shall pass without the assent of two-thirds
of the Members of both Houses" Gen. CHARLES
CoTEswoRTH PINcKNEY said
It was the true interest of the Southern States
I" to have no regulation of commerce. But con-
sidering the loss brought on the commerce of the
(" Eastern States by the Revolution, their liberal
I" conduct toDards the uie,os of South Carolina,
" and the interest the weak Southern States had in
being united with the strong Eastern States,
{" he thought it better that no fetters should be
imposed on the power of making commercial
i" regulations; and that his constituents, though
prejudiced against the Eastern States, would be
reconciled to this liberality. He had himself he
said, prgudiceS against the Eastern States be-
/" fore he came there, but would acknowledUe that