Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-12-24


with few troops and is obliged to make these prepare
tons for bis defence. His preparations are Tor the
protection of the lives Of that handful OF men. Where
il the reason then, that should be excited or that it
should tonch the Of the least scnsvty AS TO the
works at Fort SUMTER so much the better Let the Gen
era Government spend much money as It chooses and
employ as many hborers necessary and put in
A good condition. / say SO much the better-it must
eventually be ours. 1t is but an empty fortress and We
can seize aud control it in single night.
Mr.. Harlee moved to fill this blank with thirteen.
Mr. Shinger suggested an amendment, that the Com
mttee be instructed to report the debts due by the Uni
ted States South Carolina, or in others words TO bal
ance the accounts of South Carolina and the United
States.
Mr. Harlee moved to lay the amendment on the table
Agreed to.
The resolution was agreed TO.
The third special order being resolution offered by
Hon. K. DsTreVlle was taken up:
RESOLVED That It is expedient that Council, to con-
st of FIVE citizens OF the State TO act with the Cover
nor of the State as his councillors and advisers and
to be called Council of Safety should be forthwith APP
pointed and that it be referred to Committee OF this
Convention to report thereon by Ordinance otherwise
Discharged and made the special order for tomorrow
at 10 o'clock
Mr. Memminger offered the following:
Resolved That Committee to consist OF seven men,
beers be appointed TO draft summary statement OF the
causes which Justify the secession Of South Carolina from
| the Federal Union.
Mr.. Memlninger said II appears to me outside OF the
Republic of the United States, and outside oil South
Carolina the position of this State in taking her place
among the nations of the world, is not at All understood
We have directed Committee to prepare the Secession
Ordinance; have directed another Committee TO pre-
pare al Address 10 the savehoding States II the Com
mttee on the Secession Ordinance see t then OF course
the functions of this Committee will be discharged aud
shall move for it, discharge from further considering
the subject But as apprehend that the Committee on
Ordinance will cohfne itself TO its legitimate purpose, it
appears proper that another Committee should be
appointed to present in some succinct and permanent
form the causes which produced the withdrawal Of South
Carolina.
This resolution agreed to-
Mr.. Dunkin In accordance with my proposition, an
nounced in my remarks the postal question, now Of
fer the following:
Resolved That il be referred to the Committee on Com
mercal Relations to enquire aud report what measures
temporary permanent or both ii may he proper TO
adopt in reference to the custom house aud postal
raugements in consequence OF the contemplated With
drawal OF South Carolina from the Union.
Adopted.
Mr. Hayne offered the following:
Whereas the which have produced the separa
ton of South Carolina from the Federal Union, have
emanated from States North of Mason and Dixon5 line
using hireng labor only and, whereas has not been
against the Constitution of the United States that South
Carolina has opposed her sovereignty bu. the usurpaton
Of government in violation oil this instrument, there
fore,
Resolved, That Commissioner be sent TO each of the
slayeholdng States bearing copy OF the Ordinance OF
Secession and prOcr 10 each State OF Them
ihc existing Constitution of the United States basis Of
the provisional government TO be adopted the part Of
South Carolina and any other slaveholding State or
States which, after seeding from the present Federal
lnion shall be willing to unite with South Carolina in
tie formation Of neS COniederacy; and do hereby
r,ify and conirn from the date thereof any action Ia
ken Low such Commissioner Commissioners by and with
the consent OF the Governor Of South Carolina in the for
nation of such provisional Union; and do further
csy recommend that in -- days, after two or more
States in addition South Carolina shall have aCcedcd
70 the said provisional UIon election shall bc held
tor Senators and members of the House Of Representa-
iiyes of the Congress, acd President aud Vice
President of the CoHledsiacy.
Rcselrcd That three Commissioners be appointed TO
carry an authenticated copy 1.-THE Ordinance Of Secession
to Washington, be laid before the President OF the
lluei States with the quest that the shall he
communicated to the Congress IA session; and said
Commissioners hereby authorized aud empowered TO
treat for the delivery of the ior, magazines and light
houses other real estate aud all appurtcnanccs thereto
within ia, geographical limits of South Carolina, the
authority treat upon these subjects TO he extended to
day of February which shall be in the year OF our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixy-onci PrOued
in the meanmc, the said forts, magazines, and other
places are AliuWCd to remain ~ the condition III which
they may BE- ar-the adopt on of this Ordinance. And
4hcy shall he further empocd TO treat upon the subject
of the public debt aud for proper division OF all other
property wilhinIhe above, held 10y the Government
of the United States agent OF the States nov cm
braced in said Concdefacy, until such time as new
GqP62SFs &c S Ghe shall h" formed oil -H'' SH"i
Mr. Hayno begged to say single word in eIplaI
nation:
The Object Of the first resolution is Of the very gravc
Importance aud will direct itself to- the consideration OF
every member of this Convention. Ii is, that in thu
prospect Of the secession oil several States from ihi
Union there should be- possible provis
q Of hui,
these States act together Il had been supposed by
myself in submitting these resolutions that provision
al Government could be adopted except in the form Of
that to which our peopelh ave been accusomedthat is
the Government Of the United States and which they
all understand That Government no matter what mis-
interpretations has been pride and the pride Of
fathers. am ofthose who admiPe the present Con-
stution and see in it more permanent form Of Gov
ernment, in some respects, perhaps, amended.
Tie second resolution explains itself. | perfectly
willing il should be referred any proper Committee,
take under consideration. propose TO refer the first
to the Committee the Slavehoding States Of North
America and the second to the Committee on Foreign
Relations
| Mr.. Rhett. believe upon the question OF reference
the subject is debatabe at least it used TO be- when
was in Washington. | wish to say few words on this
AFTER The project is that We shall have provisional
government Now in order to establish government
81 this kind il depends much upon the intervening time
when we shall secede aud that period when again
| have permanent government. How hong is thatg
Suppose We appoint members 10 attend n Vention
OF the slaveholdng States such agree meet and
foUnd n constitutional Union. Georgia cannot appoint
these commissioners beiOrc the Goth OF January Alaba-
ma, Florida and Mississippi will have met before that
time and if they send delegate aud agree to constitute
a separate cOnicdcracy, meet in convention by
the lst day Of February next.
Ia worth our while to have any Provisional Govern
for that tmey Is il worth while to take up this
constitution Of the United States for any purpose under
Heaven constitution under which have suffered
aud which il has taken R the cloquence Of your
to break down. constitution full Of equiyocaiiOas
aud doubt that whilst the people of the North seek
make 81 it, it is set up as dcspOsm over the
| free people Of the South
What has brought this Convention here to-day? Il is
because that constitution longer guarantees
liberty safety. !! is essentially despOlism of North
ern tyannyby which the South has been oppressed for
50 years. Our Institutions threatened and are 10
trust any mao under Heaven erect over again such
Government that? II is useless TO say that it has
been cxpOunded and exposed If you have the decisions
Of the Supreme Court in its favor do know that
it, decisions have been dsregardcdg The construction
of the North t. that majority should rule the South
| That il what they dote upon.
But ask what do suffer in remaining alone little
whitley How do we suffer- Why, gentlemen seem TO
be in hot haste TO away from independent posi-
ton. We are 10 run away from this state of indrpcnd-
and seek shelter under constitution which is to
| all inieuts, dead. Why can't remain in a condition
of independence little longer do gentlemen dislike il?
South Carolina has the underground of the South and
| the South has the advantage of the world
We have only to remain in our present position, and
the whole SOnth viii come into the circumstances which
you wish to bring about With free Constitution in
hand and free trade in the other can make what
terms please Wherefore then, any haste in running
away? / hopa will proceed with deliberF.on, aud
establish Constitution which will endure and he free in