Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-11-10
EXECUTIVE DEpARrMEN7
CoLuMnIA, S. G., Nov ), 1860.

N-'i'I NINA, -. ", NOV. y, lSbU.
GcmHcmcn Of Mc Senate and House M
Representatives.: The Act Of Congrcs pass
cd in the year 1916, cnacts that (" the Elec
tors OF President and Vice President shall be
appointed on the Tuesday next after the first
Monday of the month of November of the
year i'll which they arc to be appointed. ~
The annual meeting of the Legislature of
South Carolina, by a constitutional provision,
Will not take place until the fourth Monday
IN November instant, and have considered
it my duty, under the authority conferred
upon me to convene the Legislature Oh extra
ordinary occasions, to convene YOU, that you
may tomorrow appoint the number of Elcc
tors of President and Vice President to which
this State is entitled
Under ordinary, circumstances, your duty
could be soon dischargcd;' by the clcctiu,. of
Electors, representing the choice of the pco
pie of the State; but in view of the threat
ening aspect of affairs, and the strong proba
bllity Of the election to the Presidency of
sectional candidate, by party committed to
the support of measures Which, if carried ont
will inevitably destroy our equality in the
Union, and ultimately reduce the Southern
States to mere provinces of consolidated
despotlsm, to be governed by q fixed MAORI
ty in Congress, hostile to our institutions and
fatally bent upon our ruin, would rcspect
fully suggest that the Legislature remain in
session, and take such action as will prepare
the State for any emergency that may arise. A
That an expression of the will of the poo
pie may be Obtained OH a question involving
such momentous consequences, | would ear
ncstiy recommend, that in the event of the
election of Abraham Lincoln to the Prcsiden-
cy, Convention of the People of this State
be immediately called, 10 consider and deter
miro T" the mode and measure of redress. -
My own opinions of what the Convention
should do ere OF little moment; but believing
that the time has arrived wien every one
however humble he may be, should express
his opinions in unmistakablc language, am
constrained to say, that the only alternative
lett, IN my judgment, is the secession of
south Carolina from the Federal Union Inc
indications from many of the Southern States
justify tho conclusion that the secession of
South Carolina will be Immediately fGlowcd
II not adopted simultaneously by kiem, and
ultimately by the entire South Ffhc long
desired cooperation of the other States, hav-
ing similar institutions, for which the State
mas peen waiting, seems to be near at hand
and, II we are true to ourselves, will soon be
realized. The State has, with great unanim-
lty, declared that sire has the right peacabIy
10 secede, and no power on earth can right.
fully apreyentit. If In the exercise of arbi-
trary power, and forgctful Of the lessons of
history, tho Government of the United States
should attempt coercion, it will become our
%lcmh duty to meet force by force; and
whatever may be the decision of the Conven-
ton representing the sovereignty of the State
and amcnable to no earthly vtfibunal-shall
during tho remainder Of my administration,
pc carried out TO the letter, regarGGss Of any
ha2ards shat may surround it's EXECUTION /
wonld, also, respectfully recommcpd,a thor
oggh reorganization of the Militia, SO as to
place the whole military force Of the State
IN position TO be used at the shortest notice,