New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-12-15
SOUTHERN comMERorAI CONVENTION

yention was called to order by his honor, Mayor
Screven, Of Savannah, who, after few appropriate
remarks called upon the Rt Rev. Bishop Elliott, OF
Savannah open the proceedings with prayer which
was done in brief and impressive manner
From the Savannah papers we condense the loloW'
ing account of the organization and proceedings
Mr.. Screven stated that this being an adjourned
meeting of the Convention, the President OF Inc lss
Convention would probably preside at tins Con
yention. ~
Mr. ]. A. Weston, of Indiana, read a letter from
the Hon. Tench Tilghman OF Indiana, the tresaehC
of the last Convention expressing his regret AZ oeS
compeled by imperative business duties to remain
| from tie Convention, and expressing some views IN
relation to the objects and aims of the Convention.
| On motion, Mayor Screven was chosen temporary
/ Chairman. n
/ The Chairman then appointed Hon. Ihos ~. -
Thackston of Petersburg, Va, temporary secretary.
The following resolution was adopted:
Resolcea That committee, to consist OF one 'loin
each State represented be appointed 10 report lel
lnanen officers for this convention, and also ros ioi
| its government
/ The committee was accordingly appointed, each
delegation designating its own member, and the Con-
/ vention then took recess till o. CLOCK
EVENING SEss1oS-Thos. L. Gholson, the CHAIR
mon Of the Committee reported the following as the
officers of the Convention:
Fin, P,esideut-James Lyons, Esq, OF Richmond,
Far pIce Pres,clents-T. B. Bethea, of Alabama
Han loci Crawford of Georgia David Parks OF
North Carolina; John L. Brown, of Indiana lion. Eds
/ win Martin, of South Carolina; Hon. G. Swan, OF
Tennessee; Andrew Hunter, Of Virginia. Fl. Mcleod
Of Texas W. D: Moseey, of Elo n IT,, - A.,
For PRINCIPAL Secretary-W. B. CLOUD, ol Ait
bama. 7,..,4o, ro,o,,;++ of
/ Georgia W. Irving Crandall, Of Tennessee NJ.
Yates Of North Carolina e A. HaraE Io 81 lu'I Ian,
nos. of Louisiana A. F. Crutchiied, OF Virginia
t T. C. Thackton, of Virginia; Octavus Cohen, Of
Georgia; j. H. hangom, of Texas.
/ For the good of the Convention, the committee
recommended the adoption, as far as practicable, OF
the rules of the House of Representatives Of the
/ United States.
Also, that in voting, each State be allowed as many
votes as she is entitled to i'll the Electoral College,
The report was agreed to-
| Upon assuming the chair, the President addressed
the Convention for about quarter of an hour, in an
eloquent and happy manner. We extract the follow
/ ing from his remarks
The time at which you meet the very moment of
your assembling here, makes the fact important in the
ewes and estimation of the nation. The objects and
the influence and the value Of your deliberations are
perhaps beyond that attaching to the deliberations
and results of any convention spontaneous with the
nponle. which has assembled for many years past.
We are assembled a convention OF men, tree cltl-
zens of the South not for the purpose OF discussing
political questions in the manner and estimation, and
with the interests and feelings of politicians but Tor
the purpose of considering what do, all admit
ting and conceivng that something we ought to do,
to restore what has in past been lost the commercial
independence, and with that independence Ill every
sense of that South to which We are all III heart ana
spirit devoted. (Aprlausc)
it is but q moment, gentlemen, since We have
passed through one of the most memorable struggles
which this country has Witnessed since hst her CHAR
acter as q free and independent nation was estab'
ljshed 4 war as unprecedented for the motives
which prompted it, as unprecedented for the means
and manner in which it has been conducted has put
recently been waged upon US. But, thanks to that
God who has always governed and controlled the des
TIMES of our land, have come through 1t nation
vet united happy and free, and the stout South still
as she always has been, loyal and true to the whole
country (Applause) But 1t Is not TO De dsgnlsee
the man who would disguise it from you would, II
I nv humble Judgment niislead you-it is not to be
disguised that the contest is not yet ended Already
from the Senate chamber Of the United States, has il
only deferred to be finished in the year 1850, wher
this war upon institutions and houses, and o
7 course upon liberties is to be renewed. Unde
these circumstances, following in the footsteps o
others who have gone before us, we have CONT
together for the purpose of considering what is to b
l. | done-not to dissolve this Union, as our enemies
st falsely charge upon us not to disturb the constltl
IT tonal compact i'll any WISE nor TO war WIN lhe gene
raj happiness of the country, but for the purpose
l. considering what we do on this occasion to max
this Union if it can still be preserved, union OF tn
s. whole countrya union of the free and Independent
70 Morrill, less than union OF the tree and lndepeL
~ dent and equal Sout (Applause9 Our enemie
~ have already assaed us in advance already hay
III tbey endeavored to bring charges against lis whic
lg your deliberations will prove, as all deliberations
n Southern hitherto have proven, to be unoundet
- At one time possessing the almost entire trade an
commerce of the country have seen by degrees, an
wear after year. this trade and commerce transferred
other portions the country, our cities dwlndng gu
lg gone. and those who have derived the ben
SC Jncn and lor-h hat n
have lust said, as OF warning upon us an
our institutions in this Union, which our iorcathe
lat formed not as the end but as the means by Whlc
Ter liberty and happiness and more perfect union and
err nestle tranquility were to be obtained. we con
here not for the purpose of disturbing the N0rth nj
III for the purpose OF disturbing the Union but for tt
an" purpose of determining what can do by our ow
Of | means, and by our own agencies for the purpose
ILL making more comfortable more strong more equa
w in all respects, that portion Of the Union which u
1li, nishes the means for the whole What is there
leu that that should excite the hostyo any just MAJ
lily What is there that should be regarded as ininica
of any obligation of any patriot, in the fact that tt
- people Of any portion of the country should come
gether for the purpose of considering what they MI
S. do with their own means, by their own agenclt
ter for the purpose Of securing the common lndepen
the ence OF that part of the country they represen
49,. beg leave to say this for myself, I am sl
may say for all Of you that there is not within ii
ore assembly heart disoyal to any patriotic obigatit
The South asks but Justice, but equality, and to I
st. thing less will she submit. (Applause)
w.. She asks only that she may enjoy with others VIII
NV this Union was intended to to all, to her
is well as to the rest and she is too proud, too I'M
ter pendent too just, too patriotic to ask anything
will, herself which should not be conceded to all. w
then should there be doubt or hesitation in respect
etS the course we are to pursue here? We come here
dc Southern men, it is true; but a Northern man
but is true the South cannot be otherwise than true
ucb the Union while the Union is 4 union under the g
49, stitution and according to the constitution. &
o'io plause9 What we may do within these limits
ON under these feelings and guided by these prncpl
has what do to restore what has been lost rea
and problem perhaps yet TO be solved. Your dclbc
49, lions am will point to u practical result.
laef have come here for the purpose of defamation
the abstract resolution, but have come here to asc
ans tain some practical result, which, while it shall
AR Justice to the South shall also strengthen the Nor
, | while the North is loyal to these obligations VIII
up we admit and by which we mean to abide while t
ion Union remains Constitutional Union. But the
of may come, do not attempt to disguise it, Tor
is q do so were worse than folly when the South n
find that she will be driven to the necessity OF eNt
I'LL ing and will have need and occasion for all her pc
nne ers preserve her rights and honor Is it to be
pected then that in that view Of the case, we will
7o, down quietly and permit our resources and means
'' power to waste and waste and waste away, until
le last, when the moment for action shall come we
24th have the misfortune to find that have overlook
the neglected and slept upon all the which we h
n ot had at disposal, and which VIC should have
~. to place us in condition to protect and preserve
MI" which every man in this assembly am sure value