The national Republican., 1860-12-22
THE SECESSION CONVENTION


Prior to the passage Of the ordinance of Sc
cession, on Thursday, the following debate took
place in the Convention:
Judge Magrath. think the special matter
Of this ordinance should be Immediately con.
sidered. 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 in South Carolina deriving his au-
thority from the General Government. I am
in favor of this body making such provisional
arrangements as may be necessary in the in
terval which may exist between this moment
and the time the Legislature may act. I am
not, however, to be implicated as sanctioning
the idea that there is no lawful authority within
the limits Of the State except the General Gov.
ernment.
Mr.. Gregg. After South Carolina has abro.
gated the Constitution Of the United States, are
its laws still in force? l think not. All the
laws Of Congress fall instantly to the ground
on the passage of the act Of secession.
Mr.. Cheves. An immense chasm has been
made in law. 1t is necessary that, to avoid in.
convenience to the people, we should make
temporary arrangements to carry on the Gov.
ernment.
Mr.. Gregg. There is now no law on the sub
ject of the collection of duties in South Caro-.
lima, now that we have accomplished the work
Of forty years.
Mr.. Hayne. The Congress of the United
States is no longer our Government. 1t will
be for our Legislature to say what laws of the
United States shall be continued, and what
not. The simple act of secession does not alb.
rogate all laws. We have O great many laws
on our statute book which were passed by the
Government and Privy Council.
Mr.. Gregg. The Congressional laws for the
collection Of the revenue are for the support of
the Federal Government at Washington. All
the post Office laws fall on our dissolution from
that Government.
Mr. Miles. We have now to deal with stern
facts aud realities. We must prevent confusion
and anarchy in the arrangement of our Gov.
eminent affairs. Things must, for the present,
remain in statn quo, or confusion will arise.
Mr.. Hayne. Sudden action is injurious.
Mr.. Chestnut. Two questions are involved ::
power and duty. We must prevent our people
not only from inconvenience, but from cha
otic 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 What becomes of her officers?
Mr.. Maseyck. There is no duty collector
now for the ports So, too, with the post Office
All are swept off by this act. My opinion is,
that the present system Of postal arrangements
is a nuisance. The public would be better
served by private parties between the cities
like the system in Philadelphia and New York.
Have postage of one cent instead of three
cents, and to less important places make it ten
cents or more.
Mr.. Calhoun. We have pulled the temple
down that has been built for three quarters of
century. We mus. now clear the rubbish
away, and reconstruct another. We are now
houseless and homeless-we must secure our.
selves from storms.
Mr.. Durkin. If that ordinance of secession
be passed, things will still go on in the custom.
house and post Office exactly as now, until other
arrangements are made by the Convention.
There is nothing in the ordinance to affect the
dignity, honor, or welfare, of the State of South
Carolina. We must keep the wheels of Gov.
ernment going. The Constitution of the Uni.
ted States is not entirely abrogated by the ordi
nance. What is the legal tender for the pay
ment of debts, if it is not the gold and silver OIL
the United States?
Mr.. Carvello said the present officers of rev.
enue would be continued till the act ofthe Legis
lature authorized otherwise.
Mr.. Brown. There is no longer any commu