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


We published in the regular proceedings Of
the State convention, the report introduced BY
Dir. CHEvEs, ~ chsirman of the committee,
which was adopted by vote Of 1856 to 10.
In order that our readers may distinctly un-
derstand the present attitude of the State, we
subjoin the report as adopted, without modifca-
tion
Mr.. CHEvEs' REPoRT-Mr. Cheves, from the
committee of twenty one, made the following re-
port;
The committee of twenty one, TO whom was
referred an act to provide for the election of
deputies to Southern congress and the call of
a convention, with instructions to consider and
report thereon, respectfully report
That they have considered the subject referred
to them, and concluded t. recommend to the
convention the adoption of the accompanying
resolution and ordinance:
Resolued, BY the.pe0ple of South Carolina, in
contention assembled, That the frequent viola
tons of the Constitution of the United States
by the federal government, and its encroach
ments upon the reserved rights of the sovereign
States of this Union, especially in relation to
slavery, amply justify this State, 80 far as any
duty or obligation to her confederates is involved
in dissolving at once all political connection
with her co.States and that she forbears the ex
ercise of that manifest right Of self govern
ment from considerations Of expedency only.
An Ordinance 10 declare The right Of this State 10
secede from the Federal Union
We, the people of the State of South Caro-
lima, in convention assembled, do declare and
ordain, and it is hereby declared and ordained,
That South Carolina, in the exercise Of her
sovereign will, as an independent State, acctde
to the federal Union known us the United States
of America, and that in the exercise of the
same sovereign will, it is her right, without let,
hindrance, or molestation from any power what
soever, to secede from the said federal Union /;
and that for the sufticiency of the caucus which
may impe her to such separation, she is respon
sbe alone, under God to the tribunal of public
opinion among the nations of the earth.
The Charleston Mercury, tho leading seces-
sion organ in the State, makes the following
striking and judicious observations in regard to
her position:
ADJOURNMENT OF THE STATE CONVENTION
The convention adjourned finally at quarter
past six yesterday morning. It's whole action
lie embodied in the report of the committee OF
twenty-oEe, which we publish this morning in
the regular proceedings. The report, the tee
graph informs us, was adopted, by yeas 1856,
nays 49, IL embraces, lst, a resolution TO the
effect that tho State has good cause to secede
from the Union, and forbears to do 80 only
from motives Of expediency; and, I'd, an ordin-
ance, declaring and ordaining the right of seces-
sion as prerogative of the State, for the exer
else of which ut any time she is accountable
only to God and the public opinion of the
world
To many, this may seem but d barren result OF
a session which has been 80 long looked forward
to with socitude, and which,was once thought to
involve the disruption of the confederacy. Let us
not, however, too hastily decide that the con-
vention has not done all that was In it, power
to do effectually. For no one will say that there
would have been wisdom or patriotism In enact.
ing measures that either aimed at no defined
result, or that carried within them the seeds OF
their own sure decay We do not say that this
was the character of one or all the measures that
had been suggested But we know that il was
the settled conviction of many of the most earn
est among those who had advocated secession,
that any halfway measures would effect no
valuable object, and would bear the appearance
of an attempt to hide the retreat of tho State.
It is clear now that such was the conviction Of
large majority of the party or at least, that
they believed more could be gained for South
Carolina by a reconciliation of parties on the
broad basis of solemn enactment looking to
her protection in the future, than by an imper
feet measure of redress for past wrongs a
decision made with so near an approach to
unanimity by the representatives of our party
carries with II too much respectable authority
that we should oppose it. This act of the con.
vention is now the supreme law, for us and for
all. and we bow before its authority
In regard to the past, then, the convention
has done nothing save only to make it the
starting point-the occasion aud the justification
of it's provision for the future. But in regard
to the latter. we look upon its action as full Of
import. It has ordained and enacted the right
of State secession; and though this ordinance
does not invest the State with power which
it had not before. vet it gives a new character
and efficiency to it, by putting it in the form of
a declaratory enactment and thus clearly max
ing it part of the supreme law of the State.
It is now one of the points of our constitution,
the guardianship and enforcement of which is
entrusted to the legislature.
Not only is this great step towards making
the action of the State free, speedy and effec.
tual, in tho event Of future aggressions, but it
mlgOt even pc uouuitu Wuetuct, III iCa"-
ing the action of the Legislature 80 absolutely
unrestricted, prudence has not been slightly at
fault. We take it for granted here that the
amendment Of DR.. Bellinger, which both re-
qured thirds vote of the legislature and
a previous notice to tho other States, was not
adopted. although we have no positive informa.
ton. We think that amendment was desira.
Bile restriction on the exercise of so momentous
a power as that of seeding from the Union !;
but we must rest in the conviction that so grave
a responsibility will never be abused
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