Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-12-21
THE LATEST NEWS
T Ell e G. E A HIO.
SOUTH CAROLINA IN CONVENTION
FouRrH DAY


CHARLHsroN, Dec. % The Convention met at
ii o'elock, and, as usual was opened with prsyer
The journal having been read, . resolution was
on the foor. After being amended 20 az 70 in
clude the Governor Of the State President of the
Senate and Speaker Of the House, Il was adopted
The Chair snnouneed the sPPointment Of the
induced the secession Of South Carolina and also
the four standing committees.
Mr.. Rhett moved a resolution 10 appoint CON-
mittee Of thirteen for the purpose OF providing FOR
the assemblage Of q Convention Of the seeding
States and to form constitution. Adopted.
THE ORDISANcE OF SECESSION.
Mr.. lngls made report from the committee 10
prepare and draft an ordinance proper TO be
adopted by the Convention, as follows:
"An Ordinance TO dissolve tke Uaioa 6etsreeH tks
Stots Of South Carolina GRd other States uzited
toifA hsr Hnder ths compact entitled the CoHsti
tHftoa Of the United States of America
We, the people Of South Carolina, in conven-
ton assembled, do declare and ordain, and II is
hereby declared and ordained, that the ordinance
adopted by US In convention on the 23d day Of
hundred and eighty-eight whereby the Constitu-
ton Of the United states Of America was ratified
and also all acts and parts OF acts Of the General
Assembly Of this State ratifying the amendments
Of the said Constitution, are hereby repealed
And that the Union now subsisting between
South Carolina and other States, under Ia e name
OF the United States Of America, is hereby dis
The ordinance having been read, was taken up
and passed by unanimous vote Of 100 members
The vote was taken at Is minutes past O'Clock.
Az soon as It's passage was known without the |
doors Of the convention, it rapidly spread the
streets, and the large crowd there collected evil
denced their approval with immense cheering.
Mr.. Miles moved that the clerk telegraph the
members of Congress representing the State az
Washington; which was carried unanimously.
Mr.. De Saussure moved that the ordinance be
engrOssed on parchment, under the direction of
the Attorney General, and be signed by the pres
ident and members this evening, at Insttdte Hall,
and that 1t be placed among the archieves Of the
State.
The hour OF half-past six O'Clock was agreed
upon as the hour to proceed TO Institute Hall for
tie purpose Of signing the ordinance.
TKE DEBATE.
Judge Magrath.-I think the special matter of
this ordinance should be Immediately considered
To my understanding there is no collector OF the
port, nor postmaster, now within the limits Of
South Carolina. What you have done to-day has
extinguished the authority of every man I'm South
Carolina deriving his authority from the General
Government. L am In favor Of this body ma king
| such provisional arrangements as may be neces-
sary In the interval which may exist between this
| moment aud the time the Legislature may act 4
am not, however, to be implicated as sanctioniny
the idea that there Is no lawful authority within
the limits OF the State except the General Govern
ment
Mr.. Gregg After South Carolina has abroga-
ted the Constitution of the United States are It's
laws still in force! think not. All the laws Of
Congress fall instantly to the ground on the pas
Mr.. Cheves.-An immense chasm has been made
in law. IL is necessary that to avoid
to the people we should make temporary arrange
ments 10 carry on the government
Mr. Gregg There Is now no law on the subject
of the collection Of duties in South Carolina now
| that we have accomplished the work Of forty
| years.
Mr.. Hayne.-The Congress Of the United States
/ is no longer our government. IL will be for our
Legislature to say what laws Of the United States
1 shall be continued, and what not. The simple
II secession does AL lau a
| have a great manv laws on our statute books
| which were passed by the Governor and Priyy
Council
Mr. Gregg-The Congressional laws for the
collection Of the revenue for the support Of the
| Federal Government at Washington. All the
post ONCE laws fall on our dissolution from that
| Government.
Mr.. Miles.-we have now TO deal with stern
| facts and realities We must prevent confusion
| and anarchy in the arrangement Of our govern
ment affairs. Things must, for the present, re.
| main In stain qEo, or confusion will arise.
| Mr. Hayne.-Sudden action is Injurious
| Mr.. Chestnut-Two questions are involved
not only from inconvenience, but from chaotic
| condition. We must revivify such laws as are
best adapted to preserve US from calamities As
to our duty will you turn the ship Of State adrft
w hat becomes Of her officers!
MIR. Maseyck.-There is no duty collector now
Tor the ports. So too with the post Office All are
swept oil by this act. My opinion is that the
present system Of postal arrangeme nts nuisan
The public would be better served by private
parties between the cities-nke the system ia
Philadelphia and New York. Have postage o.
one cent instead Of three cents and TO less i'm
| portant places axe IL ten cents or more
Mr.. Calhoun-We have pulled the temple dowI
that has been built for three quarters of century
We must now clear the rubbish away and recon
struct another. We are now houseless and home
, | less-We must secure ourselves for storms
Mr.. Durkin-If that ordinance Of secession b
passed things will still go on in the custom hous
and postofice exactly as now until other arrange
| ments are made by the convention. There
| nothing In the ordinance to affect the dignity
honor or welfare Of the State Of South Caroline
| We must keep the wheels Of government going
Q The Constitution OF the United States is not en-
trely abrogated by the ordinance. What is tn
legal tender for the payment Of debts IL IL Is nc
r | the gold and silver Of the United States
) Mr.. Carvello said the present officers OF revsnu
would be continued till the act OF the Legislator
authorized otherwise.
: Dir. Brown.-There Is no longer any commun
. | cation with the Government from which we al
| Just separated.
!. Mr. Durkin.-The spirit Of the ordinance
temporarily suspended Till We treat with the Gel
Mr.. Gregg.-The President of the United Stat,
. has thrown down the gauntlet In his messag,
He has said that II is his duty to collect the
| and he will do It, On one side the Federal Go,
D eminent claims the right and declares the intel
ton to execute the power Of collecting the revenJ
= in our ports. On the other side we have declare
81 that We are free: | desire no compromise. II
= necessary 10 maintain that from Is to 30 per cen
| Of duties imposed by the Congress Of the Unite
Id States should continue to be levied otherwise OF
to people will suffer terrible calamity. AS 10 Il
on carrying Of the mails. let present contract be
sumed by South Carolina instead Of the Unit.
States. .....
Fl MIR. Rhett This great revolution must 90 {
At with as little damage as possible TO the countr
g. By making the federal az ents ours the machine
"a viii move on. The federal laws Of taxation mt
ct not exist over US; we are now contending for Z
by great principle Of taxation. | trust the prese
ur | system Of taxation has fallen forever.
Mr.. BarDwell.-We have seeded from
- United States and established our independence
We can't allow the United States 10 exerci
authority over Us any more. Let the postal co
venience be sacrificed, IL necessary. There new
was anything purchased worth having unless
| the cost Of sacrifice. s...
MIR. Maseyck.-In regard to the mail, all
strictions must be removed. Let appoint o
= own officers. Let the collector Of the port bat
I'D with the difficulties an they come.
70 Ala 40 p. m. the Convention took a recess,
re meet at Institute Hall at 30 for the purpose
~ | signing the ordinance.
m As the Convention were leaving 50. Andrew
Ia Hall. the chimes ~ Michael,G EpiscOr