The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-03


day at ~ m., at the capitol We take from the
.SoutA Carolnian the subjoined synopsis OF what
occurred on the first day:
On motion Of Mr.. T.. Bellinger, it,, The Hon.
ID. L. WardIaw 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. MIR. Bel
linger, from said committee, reported that there
were delegates from all the districts present,
except st. Georges Dorchester, and that one
hundred and forty members had enrolled
their names.
On motion of Mr.. f. BeIinger, jr, the conven-
ton proceeded to ballot for president, and, the
votes being counted, his excelency, Gov J. II.
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 pres-
dent, on taking his seat addressed the conven-
ton as follows:
" Gentlemen IF 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. Unaccustomed
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
ed you to bestow it upon me. While ! am
fully alive to its responsibilities, trust feel
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 deliberation does it become us to
use before we act 1t is useless for me to enter
into a 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 consid-
erations of party strife, or personal ambition, or
which is even worse and more to be deprecated,
vindctive feelings to each other because we
differ in opinion. The external circumstances
by which we are surrounded fearfully admonish
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 as to the remedy.
While this state of things exist among us, the
e. I,.t koIi I.h
tramples all law, both human and divine, under
| foot, is steadily moving forward towards the ac-
accomplishment of its ends. If we intend not
basely to desert the cause in which we have SO
long engaged, and finally submit to our degra.
dation and ruin, this tide of fanaticsm 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-
| tons If we are united, we need fear no
danger. The justice of our cause, and our
strong arms will be sufficient to protect us. 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; o
victory which will bring ruin and disgrace upor
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 prope
for you to pursue to accomplish this great OBJ
ject, and to maintain the honor and dignity o.
our beloved State. This must be a matter Of
consultation and elaboration. 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 tt
| on pfr nd ito tuf; ohonlA ba fht
, polar star to guide us in our course. The arm
of our State, which was recently strong ant
ready to strike, has been parazed alone by on
discussions. Let us heal them at once, tina
with firm and united strength we may meet tn,
enemies of our institutions. Upon The union o
our State, solemnly believe, depends our des
tiny"
! Mr.. DeSaussure submitted that upon an oc
casion which so deeply concerned the honor ant
interest of the State, it was fit that the proceed
ings of the convention should be opened by al
humble suppl cation to the throne Of Divine
Grace to enlighten our counsels and direct GU
course. Wherefore, he moved that the Rev
Mr.. Colt, member and delegate from Chester
field, be requested, on behalf of this convention
to address the throne of Divine Grace.
Mr.. Colt having officiated, on motion of Mr.
E. Bellinger Jr., it was ordered that the conveu
ton on each day be opened by prayer. On mo
ton of the same gentleman the convention pro-
ceeded to ballot for clerk, messenger and door
keeper, J. A. Strobhart, 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. C. Young,
Buchanan, and Harlee was appointed to con,
tract for the printing of the proceedings of the
convention. Several orders in relation to the
hour of meeting, printing, &c. were adopted.
Mr.. Jamison, delegate from Orange, arose,
and, in feeling manner announced the death
of his colleague, Capt. c. Rowe. On his mo-
ton the customary resolutions were adopted.
The president then read letter from the
Hon. G. w. Dargan, resigning his seat a
member of the convention which, on motion of
Hon. w. B. Seabrook, was laid on the table for
the present.
On motion of Mr. Hamilton, the convention
adjourned to II o'clock, NJ, Tuesday
SECOND DAY.