The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-05-11
Report Of hIaxcy Gregg,

Report Of NIaszcy Gregg
ONE OF TIE COMMITTEE OF TwENTY-uNE
The undersigned, member oI
tho Committee to which was referred
for consideration the Act of the Gen
cral Assembly calling together this
Convention, being dissatisfied will,
the Report Of the Committee, not
on account of what is contained in
it, but of what is omitted, respect.
fully asks leave to state his reasons.
The position Of South Carolina at
this time is most difficult and cm.
har:aSsinS one. Suffering under
injuries which render Il continuance
in the present Union Incompatible
with honor or safety; but deserted
by other States suffering under the
same injuries, and whose solemn
pledges of resistance gave South
Carolina right to expect very
different action from them, the
citizens Of the State became divided
in opinion as to the course proper to
cc taken. One portion of them
believed that all hope being lost Of
any other States seeding from
the Confcdcracy by a concerted
movement, it was necessary fo1
South Carolina to vindicate herself
from intolcrahlc wrongs by seeding
alone. Another portion regarded
this course as unwisc, and thought it
necessary to wait for the support of
other States. The prospect of such
srHpo"t has grown fainter day by
s. Y, ""s2ls sss sasS' rccedcd 40 an
& gnn,te distance; and that portion
ss;sf3ur citizens who have placed their
,onGJ' hope in it, now find themselves
powcrlcss to effect their object.
But By the popular majority, which
they have exhibited, opposed to ex-
crclslny the right Of secession at this
time, they have also paralyzed the
power of their citizens who dc.
sired to adopt that course.
Under these circumstances this
Convention meets, charged with the
duty of seeing that the common.
wealth receive no dctrimcnt. TO
secedc under such circumstances is
impracticablc. 10 obtain the aid of
any other State in resisting the ag.
grcssions which have been committed
by the Northern States and the
Federal Government is hopeless
Unless some effective mode of action
could be adopted, which, while stop.
ping short Of secession, might place
and preserve the State in position
OF readiness to take advantage Of the
earliest opportunity for successful re.
sstancc, guarding, as far as practica
ble, in the meantime, against the
many corrnpting influences of a lon.
ger connection with the Government
which oppresscs us, nothing remains
but sublnission-a submission likely
to be fatal. If any such mode OF
action could be devised and proposed
by those who rc.opposcI to separate
secession, it would, beyond doubt, be
accepted and supported by those who
have been i'll favor of that measure
The Report Of the Committee is
unsatisfactory to the UNDERSIGNED
because it contains no recommends
ton Of any action whatever beyond
mere declaration Of the right of Sc
cesslon, and of the injuries which
have been suffered, justify its cxer
else by South Carolina.
If q protestation in favor Of ou,
rights, made at a time when in fact
we are deprived of them can be Of
any avail towards preserving then
in recollection and recovering then
at future day, it is wise and propc,
to make such protcstation. But ac
tions outwcighs words, and one stcr
in advance towards practical resist
ancc would be worth moro than tn,
strongest declaration. If the MAORI
ty of the Committee had devised an,
measures with character cf practi
cal resistance, however moderate
Impressed upon them, tho under
signed would have greatly preferred
Tor the sake Of that harmony which
IS Of such high Importance if ever til,
State is to be rescued from its pres
ent condition, 10 aoquiescc in thei
Report. lie believes that sucl
measures might bo devised by thos,
who have opposed separate secession
and that, if adopted with unanimit,
by the people Of the State, tho,
would a'ford some reasonable hope 0