The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1860-07-12
From the South Carclinian
Remarks Of ME-. Reed ia the
Convention.

Convention.
The published reports of the speeches
made by various gentlemen, during the sit
tings OF the recent State Convention, hav-
ang been very meagre and imperfect, we
present below corrected version of the re-
marks made by j. p Reed, Esq, delegate
from Anderson District. The resolution
introduced by the Hon. Edmund Rhett to
appoint committee, consisting of one dele
gate from each election district of the State,
to nominate delegates for the State u, large
to the Richmond Convention, being under
consideration, Mr. Reed, of Anderson, said:
Mr.. PREsIpENT: | regret, exceedingly,
to see so great division Of sentiment sx-
listing in the Convention, as was manifested
by the vote just taken, and | would not,
willingly, sir, say one word to increase it !;
but the mode proposed for appointing a
Nominating Committee is 50 extraordinary,
and SO unjust o the masses of the people of
the State, that must insist on the rejec-
tion Of the pending resolution, offered by
the gentleman from st. Helena, unless some
amendment is suggested, rendering it less
objectionable.
The Convention determined, last evening,
to vote by election districts, each district
casting number of votes equal to its repre-
,sentation in the General Assembly, under
the apportionment of 1919. That deter
minatlon, and more especially rs the basis
OF 1919 was adopted, gave an unjust pre-
pondcrance OF power in the ballotiDgs to
the low-country; but, inasmuch as the node
OF voting was analogous to joint ballot of
the Sanafa onl Hn,,a oc
and in exact accordance with the compro
misses of the State Constitution fixing the
basis of representation, it was eheerfully
.acquiesced in. But here it is propo cd to
appoints Nominating Committee, consistin;.
ot one delegate from each election district.
which will be analogous to the State Senate,
and consist of 40 or 46 members, almost,
one-half of whom. under our peculiar sys-
tenn OF Senatorial representation. will come
from tie three Judicial Districts of Charles
ton. Colleton uni Beaufort, thus almost en-
firely ignoring the popular voice. pro
test, sir, that such II policy wall dn great IN
justice to the section of the State which
represent, and am amlzcd to find gentle
men from the upper district, aLvoc .tiny il
1t Is indeed SD remarkable L ut yautlem II
u. IDttr oW
rights, and the ights of their section, that
cannot understand it. except upon the as
sumption that some decided advant.l. 20 is
expected to be obtained in the nomination,
by the gentlemen holding tke particular
sentiments OF the majority ot he Ceuv.n.
ton. am, SIR. anI have always been. in
favor OF maint,inng thr com ,romscs of
the State Constitution. fixin. the basis of
representation in the Legislature. and in
the administration of the State government
generally, the system has hcen the pecu. lar
element of our conservatism aud interuni
quiet, and am Tor adhering to it in all
matters To winch 1t as designed tu apply.
But L protes: that it has no application to
a mere political organization. or to the no
mination and election of Federal officers
We were sent to Columbia, Mr.. President,
for specific purpose; which purpose, is tn
appoint delegates to the Richmond Conven-
ton, whose mission will be To nominate
candidates tor the Presidency and Vice
Presidency of the United States. These
officers, when nominated, are elected Gin
theory at least, and in tact by every State
In the Union except South Caroina) by
the people, and insist thit the vniee ot
the free voters Of the State should he heard
IN every proceeding having reference to the
Presidency, from the primary meeting 10
the election, and more plrticuiarly in IA
mere Nominating Convention For, sir, If
the present state OF p,!itel i!sseuiipn shall
dead to a disruption OF the Conic ieracy, and
end In a conflict of arms they IRE the men
who will be caIlel to fight the battles of
sthe Palmetto State, and OF the South. and
who stand ready at all times, as thei. pre-
vious history has abundantly proven, to en-
Hist In the service OF their c,un'ry. Is it
sright, then, that the 1850 voters of Spar
hamburg District, or the 1000 OF Pickens
district, having enrolled between them
smore than 1000 arms,bearing men, should
nave no more voice in the nomination and
eoleetlon OF u Chief Magistrate of the Con
'federacy, whose Inauguration may rend in
I twain the bonds of our political Union. than
fifty or a hundred gentlemen who reside in
one OF the parishes below? IwouId appeal
to the characteristic utice and magma
nimity OF gentlemen from the parishes to
reject proposition so manifestly unfair to
the citizens of the upper-country. If thew
DO not, IT the policy proposed by the reso
luton Is persisted in and carried out, fear
there can be harmony amongst US; and
that this Convention may, perchance, do as
the Charleston Convention did. When the
Southern delegates withdrew from that BODY.
the Impression was universal throughout
the country that South Carolinians, mt least,
were to bea united people, prepared and
determined to man to vindicate their con.
stitutional rights at all hazards. Such has
been the unJni istakeablc manifestation of
public sentiment at home, for we came here
Instructed in effect by every primary meet
ing which has assembled in the State TO
approve Of the policy inaugurated by the