The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-21

Mr. EDWARDS Of g. c., IN behalf Of himself and nve
other colleagues Of his, desired % make statement Of
what he believed TO be public opinion In their STATE The
1855 Gov Adams mentioned in hA message 70 the Ic.
gsature and portion Of hts message Va referred 70
During be session OF 1857 an elaborate report vas made
both sides Of the question Both Of these reports
quietly laid the table The next time IL before
the Legislature in 1855 on the motion Of Mr. Spratt,
who heard in very able and eloquent Argument;
and that Argument was replied to BY gentleman from
whole discussion ended far the Legislature
concerned and the motion was either laid tho table
district in he State in which that quescn resolved any
public prominence except Il were In Charleston The
whole question seemed to be ignored he deemed !.
those who in minority in The delegation from South
| Carolina.
Register the stand and in the course Of his speech
declared bis belief that the State Alabama was fully
y hs a. III sat- on
laws shoud be repealed because they were extracons
tuoDa and therefore, not bindng and further because
BE believed that If the slave trade was reopened they
would have Boston, Portland and Bangor propretors of
slaves and they would thus have their white population
| SEVERAL DK1xaAns--we don't want them.
Mr. Iw1oS, Of South Carolina, was the next speaker
He did not pretend speak the sentiments Of people
OF South Carolina any portion OF them the subject
OF the reopenng Of the slave trade he not here
under any instructions, nor would he accept Instructions
a. 70 how he would vote questions presented in this
Conventon but he would cast that vote him seemed
Mr. THOMAS wARroN OF vcksburg, next took the stand
He young lawyer who deemed that there point
in the question Of The constutionaity Of these slave
trade laws which had not been discussed, and that
omission he thought his duty 70 supply. He read an
from letter Of Luther Martin mot Martin Luther
framed the constitution OF the United statee) explain
the clause in the constitution restricting the Congress from
prohibiting the slave trade before isSs The aim Of ms
the slave trade were nrs stutonal and, second,
insulting to the people Of the South.
Mr.. STRAIT, OF G., the mover Of the resolutions on
which the debate had been conducted TO close the
discussion He said that some he happened 10
have become impressed with the importance of this
sure He had introduced It few years ago in previous
Southern Conventions, and had followed IL up till this
time He had hoped that this Convention would pass the
resolution declaring that the laws against the slave trade
should be repealed He had expected that the measure
which he had far advocated would certainly have been
State Of Mississippi which was, as were the Keystone
State OF the savehoding system. He thought he had
.nc TO convince the ,s south that
sions Of the North and that the measures already pro-
posed not sufficient to protect the South against the
show that the dissolution Of the Union would not
meet the object end the controversy, which one
IDEAS sections Of nations. BE had endeavored
to show that the measure only measure suited to
the exigencies OF the South was the revival Of
the African slave trade. He wanted to show that
the South needed slaves, and that the only Ia
Dor suited to the exigencles Of the South must
come from Africa; (Applause) he had not found
discussion. He felt that they strong they
before the discussion commenced Until to day not
Of them had been attacked had been charged that
this could only be carried out successfully the
jures Of the South being untrue to their oahs He had
intended present such position He bad only said
that all other means failing, the ony buwark against ag
gresson lay in their juries If it were Objectionable that
that bulwark should be erected only showed the more
strongly the necessity Of repeating the law.
delegate here rose to question Of Mr.. Spratt.
The President said that the time 1t which the debate was
to close had already expired and that the gentleman from
nnIu he ha
Convention. Cries Of 'Queson question" were heard
through the ball. Mr. Spratt said he at the mercy of
the Convention. Several delegates to move that Mr.
Sprstt should be allowed TO proceed The cries of Ques
ton, question: were repeatedsome of them coming from
Mr. Foote Mr. McCardle declared that II disgrecefu,
and Mr. Foote denied that it was Several delegates de-
sired 10 make suggestions The President refused TO hear
any Of them There was much confusion and excitement
as the moment OF taking the vote drew nigh. The Presi
dent announced the question to be on the amendment
offered by Mr. Davis of Mfs to the following resolutions
offered by Mr. Spratt of s. c.
Resolved That slavery right and that being right there
can Be no wrong In The natural means TO is formation
trade and that this
It's e that END .
slave State be appointed consider Of the consistent
they plan next
meeting Of the Convention
MIR. SPRATr offered accept the amendment substi
tute for his own resolutions.
The PREsIDENT-Then the vote will be the substitute
as reported By the Committee on Resolutions and which
Resolved That the opinion of this Convention all laws
| be abolished.
Mr. MooDY asked whether the resolution reported by
the minority of the committee could be offered as sub
The PRESIDENT replied that could not inasmuch the
the vote on the resolutions to be taken at Certain hour
operated in the manner Of the previous question.
On the suggestion Of the President recess taken
for half hour TO permit the various delegations TO de-
eide how they were TO VOTE The delegation from Isss
spp being by far the most numerous, retired to end
Of the room, and held meeting there 10 decide what
should be the vote Of their Stethe rule adopted the
first day Of the Convention being that each State repre-
gented-no matter how large how small deega.
ton-should cast the same humber Of votes that it has
electors in the Presidential college TIE other delegations
being small had no trouble in deciding the character Of
sppi delegation had adjourned the result Of their
was announced by yels Of EMULATION from the fire.
eaters.
The Convention having resumed its session, the Chair
put the question on the adoption Of the resolution de-
csring that all laws State federal prohibiting the Afri
can slave trade ought TO be abolished.
each State called, and of its delegates de-
cared ts VOTE the announcement haed by the side
| in whose favor it might be with loud cheers and ap-
pause.
Mr. IAwToS of South Carolina announced, with evident
chagr that the State Of South Carolina with eight cleo
| toral votes, was divided on this question.
Mr. LIVINGSTON, OF Memphis, expressed some doubt as
to the proprey Of his casting the whole vote Of Tennessee
having only received his credentials from the Mayor OF
Memphis The President, ho viewer, recognized his right
| TO do SO, and Mr.. L. theroupon voted g no"
Mr. DEBow declared that Louisiana voted unanimously
Mr.. JONES' when Georgia vas called, got up and pro-
Claimed, amid great applause, Georgia. with ten votes,
votes aye"
Mr. McaAE, when the State of Mississippi was called,
said be instructed by the delegates of Mississippi to
cay that the vote determined by countless leaving
each county to cast the number Of votes to which they
were entitled in the lower branch Of the Legislature
There were thirty votes in favor Of the resolution to eight
against making majority of twenty two votes in favor
of the resolution. The State of Mississippi therefore,
| voted sage" (Yells Of exultaton
The following was the vote -
Electoral Votes
Alabama Q
leXAB
~
Mississippi Observation-Disclosures.
South Carolina (haf its votes Observation-Disclosures.
|
| NAYS
| Tennessee. ....................1 ~
South Carolina (half its votes) Observation-Disclosures.