Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-11-05
The Legislature.

the Chair.
The Senators elect were then qualified, and
the Senate then proceeded to the election OF
President when the Hon. r. I. W. Allston was
unanimously elected. A committe was appoint
ed 10 Conduct the President to the Chair, and
on taking his scat, he addressed the Senate as
follows:
accept with lively sensbty, the honor
wi ch you have conferred anew, 10y appointing
Inc to the Chair Of this honorable body. will
construe this evidence of your favorable regard
into an earnest of future support in the discharge
of the duties devolving upon me.
1t shall be my constant aim and endeavor to
perform those duties faithfully, mpartially and
firmly, to the best of my ability. lfin doing SO
fall short of your expectations, let the failure
be ascribed not to my WILL but rather to infGmi-
ty inseparabe from my nature.
You will adopt system of rules for the gov
ernment of the Senate. Those rules it will be
nv study TO understand, in order to apply them /:
as it will doubtless be the pleasure of every MEM
Der to become familiar with, and to abide by
them.
Let us not dispense with forms as useless
The observance of them is as necessary to the
prompt, accurate and agreeable despatch of bu-
siness as it is to the grateful intercourse and gen
tie courtesies of society.
Gentlemen, I trust we meet with minds will
ling to unite in counsel, and harmonic i'll action
for the common veal; intent to develop more
fully the resources of the State; to promote the
education and training of her youth; to secure
the industry and wealth Of her people; to cult
vate all the elements of moral power and pros
porous happiness.
Let there be cherished amongst us no latent
spark of bitterness, which may blaze up at some
unpropitious moment, and mar the promise of
our peaceful progress.
Two years ago the walls of this chamber were
clad in mourning for the death of our lamented
Calhoun. Recently both of his distinguished
compeers have passed away, who constituted
with him, so remarkable trio in the Federal
council individually great in influence, in intel
lectual achievement, in intimate association with
the history of their country.
From their school of politics, differing widely,
as we do vet the personal feelings which that
difference may have engendered we can lay down
on the graves where they sleep and do reverence
to their genius rendering the homage of our
respect for those eminent characteristic abilities
which they possessed and which have so often
called forth, in conflict, the highest powers of our
own cherished statesmen.
We are about proceeding to the business Of
the sessions May that Almighty power from
whom all good counsels do proceed watch over
and guide our deliberations, control and mould
our actions for the honor and welfare of the State.
W. E. Martin, esq.swas elected Clerk, and J.
T. Goodwin Reading Clerk. The other officers
were reelected.
On motion of Gen. Adams, Mcssrs Johnston
& Cavis were elected printers to the Senate for
the extra session.
On motion of Mr. earn, a committee was ap-
pointed to wait on his Excellency the Governor,
and inform him that the Senate was organized,
and were ready to receive any communication
which he might see proper to make to that bo-
dy.
Shortly after, the following message was read
by Beaufort t. Watts, ESQ., the Secretary:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
COLUMBIA Nov. l, 1852.
Gentlemen Of the Senate aad
House Of Representatives.:
l have deemed it my duty to call You together
on this occasion, to enable the State to cast its
vote for Electors Of President and Vice President
of the United States.
Some doubts have been entertained and ex-
pressed as to the constitutional power Of the
Governor to call the Legislature together for the
purpose alluded to- The Constitution authori-
zes the Governor to convene the Legislature on
extraordinary occasions. 1t has been seriously
mooted, whether this Is an extraordinary occa-
sion, as the Legislature were aware Of the con
tingency that would happen, and ought to have
provided for it. This may be the case but it is
evident that no provision was made, and that
the State would lose its vote in case | were to
neglect or refuse to call you together.
l think that any doubt which may have arisen
on the subject has no real foundation in truth
1t seems to me that the clear meaningof the Con-
stitution is that the Governor should have power
to convene the Legislature to transact any dHsi-
ness for tie good Of the COmm0nwcalM, which
could not be transacted at its regular session.
Acting under the belief of the correctness Of this
construction, have called YOU together. | am
sustained in the propricty Of this course by the
precedent set by that able jurist, Ex-Governor
Johnson.
The Act Of Congress requiring the votes for
Electors 20 be cast on the same day throughout
the United States, was passed January 2, 1886
and Governor johnson convened the Legislature
on the first Monday of November, 1913. So
you will perceive that two regular sessions had
intervened between the date Of the Act of Con-
r