Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-05-07
Report of Maxcy Gregg,
ONE OF THE COMMITTEE OF TwENTY-oNE.


The undersigned, member of the Committee,
to which was referred for consideration the Act
of the Geueral Assembly calling together this
Convention, being dissatisfied with the Report of
the Conimlttee, not on account Of what is con-
;aincd IN ii, but Of what is omitted, respectfully
asks leave to state his reasons. -...
The position of South Carolina at this time Is
most difficult and embarrassing one. Suffer-
ing under injuries which render continuance IN
the present Union incompatible with honor or
safety but deserted by other States suffering
urdcr the same Injuries, and whose solemn pledg-
rs of resistance gave South Carolina right TO
expect very dtfcrcur action from them the
citizens of the State became divided III opinion
us to the course proper to be taken. One Por-
ton of them believed that all hope being lost
of any other States seeding from the Contcde-
racy by Il concerted movement, it was neccssa-
ry for South Carolina to virdicate herself from
intoerable wrolng> by seeding alone. Another
portion regarded this course as unwise, and
, thought it NECESSARY to wait for the support OF
other States. The prospect of such support has
grown fainter day by day, until it has receded
to an indefinite distance; and that portion of our
citizens who have placed their only hope in it,
now find themselves powerless to effect their OBJ
jcct But by the popular majority which they
have exhibited, opposed to exercising the right
of secession at th!s time, they have also paral-
! wed the power of their fcow-cilizcns who de
sired to adopt that course.
Under these circumstances this Convention
meets, charged with the duty of seeing that the
Commonwealth receive no detrimcnt 10 Sc
cede under such circumstances Is impractlcable.
To obtain the aid of any other State III resisting
The augrrSsions which have been committed by
the Northern States and the Federal Govern
ment is hopeless. Unless some effective mode
of action could be ad, ted, which, while stop
ling short Of scccssloll, might place and preserve
the State in Il position of readiness to take adj
vantage Of the earliest opportunity tor success
fu resistance, guarding, as far as practicable, in
the mean time, against the many corruptlng IN
hucnces Of longer connection with the Gov
! ernmcnt which oppresses us, nothing remains
! but suhlnission-a submission likely to be fatal
Il any such mode Of action could be devised
and proposed by those who are opposed to sep
crate secession, it would beyond doubt he accept
ed and supported by those who have been III
favor of that measure.
The Report Of the Committee is unsatisfacto
ry to the undersigned, because 1t ntans no re-
cummendatiun Of any action whatever beyond
mere declaration of the right ot secession, auc
of the injuries which have been suffered, justify
ing its exercise by Sou,h Carvliua.
Ii Il protestatlon in favor Of our rights, made
at time when in fact we are deprived Of them
can bv Of any avail towards preserving them IL
r, ,coilection and recovering them at future day
it is wise and proper TO MAKE such proteStat'on
Bat actions outweigh word, and one step III au
vance towards practical RESISTANCE would be WORTH
more than the strongest declarations. II the
majority of the Committee had devised any
measures with a claYacttrof practical resistance
however Md rate impressed upon them, the
undersigned would have greatly preferred, FOL
the sake of that harmony winch is oi such high
importance if ever the State is to b. rescued from
it.; present condition. to acquesce IN their Report
He believes that such measures might be devised
bv those who have opposed scperatc secession
and that. if adopted with unanlnitv by the pco
rlc of the State, they would atiord Sonle reason
able hope o: ultimate dnllv"ranc". But seeing
No l,roSpcc, that the introduction OF any such
measures under present circumstances, and
against the determined opposition of those who
have defeated secession, could result in any good
to the State, he has, as member Of The Com
mittec, nothin.c to recommend, He is willing
to vote for the declaration Of principles contain
ed in the Resolution and accompanying Ordl
nance: but he desires at the same time to leave
on the record Of the proceedings Of this Conven
ton his distinct declaration, that it is not in ac
cordancc with his wishes that nothing more should
be done to prevent dctrilnent to the Common
veal h. NANCY uREGG.