Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-01-15

| have been serious conflict between the pow
crs of the Governor and those of the Presi
dent of the convention; for by the act refer
red to, the President alone is authorized II
require the filling of vacancies, &C., and nc
cording TO the terms of this amendment, th'
Governor was, exclusively, or, NJ least, con
currently, to be clothed with the same au
thority.
1t strikes me, too, that in the; change pro
posed by my friend, there was not only sc
great an incongrui'y with,the bill 10 be modi
fled, rs to contravene the rules of this House
but. there was a palpablc violation of the
constitution of the State. If the Governor
had been empowered to change the complex
ion Of the convention, by receiving rrsigna.
tions, and causing new dclegatesto be elected
he would unqucstionably have become a part
of the convention of the people-a transfer.
nation which the constitution never contem,
plated
The Commander-in-Chicf Of the State is
so intimately connected with the Legislature
being It's servant and first executive officer
that lie may almost be said to form part OF
the regular Legislative body Of South Caro-:
iil''. III may cNcH 'Iu III C'iHPicilHS VI
pcrfecting an act of this General Assembly
rs he was appointed TO do, at the last session
but we have no power to constitute him IN
important member of the highest assembly
known to the people of the State.
Whilst am truly dcsirous, that tile CO.
operation party shall have.a control in the
convention. according to the expressed wish
es Of the people, it is painful for me to dis.
cover, from tho conduct of some honorable
gentlemen, that the resignation of the scces-
sioniSts, anterior to the meeting. of the con-
vcn,ion, is, with them, condition precedent
TO The restoration of harmony and good feel
ing. Many-of them coincide with me, in the
opinion that the convention should meet, for
they believe .;liat it may accomplish good, and
promote the welfare Of the Stale; but, Mt
the same time, they contend that in order to
effect this important result, their party should
have the majority at lie first meeting. This
is doubling the purity Of our faith, and in
tliclng upon US treatment we have not
mcrtcd at their hands,. Itell them again, that
we desire that they shall beaenabcd to carry
outytheir own measures, and | know Espcak
the. sentiments OF the great majority of the
secessionists il, the State. We have not yet
learned that mysterious branch of political
science which teaches US to enlighten the
people by concealing our own designs. Our
principles and our purposes have been en-.
blazoncd on our foreheads, during the whole
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have no strategy TO put in operation, no game
to play, and if we lose the victory in an open
field, we will srorn to fight from i hidden
position. If the people will not march
straight up TO this issue with us, we will
throw out no snarcs to cntrap them In Il
dreadful emergency small cNpcdicnts fti, and
we purposcd to make secession 4 matter of
moment that should have been felt all over
the world.
Some members who supported the amend
ment, opposed the call of the convention
afterwards, on the ground that to effect the
aims of both parties without such amend
ment, it would require two sittings Of the con-
vcnton, and greater expenditure of money;
and this brings up The last and in my cstima-
lion, one of the most forciblc reasons, have
to urge in favor Of the convention.
Though at the first meeting Of the dele
gates there may be nothing new to engage
their attention, yet so swift is the recurrence
Of the oppressive acts Of our Congress, and
so rapid have been the strides of dcspotism
i'll this country for twenty-five years, that we
shall be happy, indeed, if twelve months arc
permitted to elapsc without some other enor-
nous aggravation Of out grievances. Free
soilsm. abolitionism. and tyranny have grown
so bold in the United States. that would as
soon expect to see the millennium us ccs-
saton of their monstrous outragcs and OPP
prcssions. No, Mr.. Speaker, We have sub
mittcd so quietly to past aggrcsSions, that the
thirst for plumber in our oppressors has
grown rampant, and We may anticipate no
more peace until our hearts become dead 10
the sense of shame, and to every honorable
impulse of human nature. Our convention
should remain organized until the very last
day of its legal existence. 1t should hold
itself in readiness, like faithful sentinel, to
take counsel for our safety, and to take ad-
vantage of the OCCASION, on the preparation
by tho Government of the very first new
outrage. The spirit of i gallant people can
not sleep always-the soul of the poor South
is not yet harrasscd to death, and if we will
only be prepared to act promptly, nobly, and
couragcously, provocation will soon be
afforded us upon which we may strike the
proud opprcssor to the earth. They little un-
derstand the true condition of our affairs
who deem the emergency too trifling for the
meeting of so august body as the conven-
ton of the people. We have had sufficient
cause to induce us TO remain in one continued
slreplcss convention, until We shall have
wrought ont some cx1rdicnt for the deliver
ance of the South. Every man in South
Carolina who yet loves liberty and honor
should now devote himself, body and soul, to
their preservation.
Sir, We have heard much of the expense Of
the convention. learn from The honorable
chairman of the committee Of "ways and
means" that it's assembling will cost about
ten or fifteen thousand dollars-thc amount
usually appropriated to build a Jail in York,
or Marion, or Horny. / have laborcd to con-
vince this House of the correctness of a
principle, and if have succeeded, am ready
to vote any reasonable amount for It's estab-
lishment. A great princip pie cannot be valued
in money, nor can liberty herself be mea.
sured in pounds, shilings, and pence. hate
the man that estimates the price of his free.
dom; apd that nation is too mean for the
enjoyment of independence, that can count
the cost of its assertion.
T,,r R,nt of Goorrptown. 6. c., has