The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-04

!
day at II M, at the capitol We take from the
South Carolinian the subjoined synopsis Of what
occurred ON the first day:
On motion of Mr.. II. Belinger, jr., the Hon.
! ID. L. Wardlaw was called to the chair, and X.
J. Davant, esq, appointed secretary. The mem
bers present then proceeded to enrol their names,
and committee was appointed to verify the
credentials of the members present. Mr.. Bel.
| lnger, from said committee, reported that there
were delegates from all the districts present,
except ST. Georges Dorchester, and that one
hundred and forty-seven members had enrolled
their names.
Onmotion Of Mr. f. Bellinger, jr., the conven-
| ton proceeded to ballot for president, and, the
votes being counted, his excellency Gov. j. III.
Means, was found to have received 1876 votes,
scattering z.
On motion of Mr.. j. Bond Ion, committee
of three, consisting of Messrs, John Cantey, w.
! f. DeSaussure, and w. A. Owens, was appoint
ed TO escort the president elect to his seat The
committee returned with the president, and the
convention received him standing The presi-
! dent on taking his seat, addressed the convcn-
| ton as follows:
/" Gentlemen Of The Convention Although
am fully aware that am indebted more to my
official station than to any merit of my own for
the distinguished honor you have conferred
upon me, yet | must be permitted to express
my profound gratitude to you for having hon
ored that station in my person. Unaccustoued
as am to parliamentary usages, should be
| disposed to shrink from the position You have
assigned me, but that feel assured that will
be sustained and assisted in the discharge of its
duties by the same kindness which has prompt
j ed you to bestow it upon me. While | am
| FILL oli 10 I I al
still deeper the solemn responsibility which
rests upon me as member of this convention.
We have met together clothed in the sovereign
| power of the land. The voice of this conven-
ton, when it speaks, must be potential for good
or for evil How much prudence, how much
caution and deliberaton does it bece me us to
use before we act? 1t is useless for me to enter
into detail of the peculiar circumstances under
which we have met; mere allusion to them is
sufficient to bring to your minds the fact that
they are full of embarrassment. We certainly
have most delicate part to act; one which we
can not perform with credit to ourselves, or
with honor to the State, unless we are buoyed
by devoted patriotism above the petty censid.
eraions of party strife, or personal ambition, or
which is even worse and more to be deprecated,
vindictive feelings to each other because we
differ in option. The external circumstances
us that we have no strength to waste in internal
feuds. The very dangers Of our position call
loudly upon us to be united But unfortunate
| ly for US and the great cause of the South, we
are not united. We have been divided and dis
tracted by the convulsve throes Of party strife
The great question of our wrongs has been for
gotten amid our wranglings 10 the remedy
While this state of things exist among us, the
fendish fanaticism of an abolition spirit, which
tramples all law, both human and divine, under
foot, is steadily moving forward towards the ac-
compshment of its ends. Ii we intend not
basely TO desert the cause in which we have so
long engaged, and finally submit to our degra
dalton and ruin, this tide of fanatcism must be
sooner or later met. As dark as are the dangers
which surround us, still more gloomy are those
which threaten US from our internal commo-
tions-4e we-are united, we need fear no
danger. The justice of our cause, and our
strong arms will be sufficient TO protect u.s. But
if, in the madness of party strife, we fall upon
each other, and forget the common enemy, an
easy victory will be accomplished by them; a
victory which will bring ruin and disgrace upon
, us The very first object of this convention
should be to heal these divisions, will not pre-
sumo to suggest the course which will be proper
for you to pursue TO accomplish this great OBJ
ject and 10 maintain the honor and dignity Of
1 our beloved State. This must be matter Of
2 consultation and deliberation. The intelligence,
the patriotism, the dignity Of this body is in
earnest that that course will be one which will
involve no sacrifice OF principle; one the object
Of which will be to promote the best interests
Of our State. We meet together as members
Of one common family, whose interests honor
and destiny are the same. A deep devotion to
our country and its institutions should be the
. / pnla IN 40 In.
Of our State which was recently strong and
ready to strike, has been paralized alone by our
discussions. Let us heal them at once that
with firm and united strength we may meet the
enemies Of our institutions. Upon dle union Of
our State, solemny believe, depends our des.
tiny"
Mr. DeSaussure submitted that upon m oc.
casion which so deeply concerned the honor and
interest Of the State, Il was fit that the proceed
/ ngs Of the convention should be opened by an
humble suppl cation TO the throne Of Divine
Grace to enlighten our eounses and direct our
course. Wherefore, he moved that the Rev.
Mr.. Colt, a mem Der and delegate from Chester
field, be requested, on behalf Of this convention.
to address the throne Of Divine Grace.
! Mr. Colt having oficiated, on motion Of Mr..
r. Bellinger Jr. il was ordered that the conven.
ton on each day be opened by prayer. On mo-
! ton Of the same gentleman the convention pro-
ceeded 10 ballot for clerk, messenger and door
keeper, J. A. Sirobbart esq, was elected clerk,
b. !, Hayes, messenger, B. O'Neill, doorkeeper
On motion Of Mr.. Burt, committee Of FIVE
consisting Of Messrs. Burt, Nance, II. &. Young
/ Buchanan, and IIsrlee was appointed TO con
tract for the printing Of the proceedings Of the
convention. Several orders in relation 10 the
hour Of meeting, printing, &c, were adopted.
] Mr.. Jamison, delegate from Orange, arose.
and, in feeling manner announced the death
| Of bis colleague, Capt. &. Rowe. On his mo-
ton the customary resolutions were adopted
The president then read letter from the
! Hon. G.. w. Dargan, resigning his seat as
member of the convention Which, on motion Of
Hon w. b. Seabrook, was laid on the table for