Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-01-09
The Report
OF THE COMMITTEE on RELATIONS WITH SLAVE
HOLDING; STATES.

taliled i'll the resolution rc!crreu 10 taeIil,
which were submitted in Convention by three
several members from ST. Philips aud 81.
Michae:s. All the resolutions referred to the
Committec look To the purpose OF confederate
relations with our sister States OF the SOuthr
having common interest with us, aud every
cause, as we trust, to indulge towards Us COM
luon sympathies and 10 contract cordial rela'
tiuns. In such Il purpose the Committee en-
tirely nd unanimously concur, and they re-
commend that every proper measure be adoF-
ted to accomplish such al end. Upon this
subj .ct so much unaninity prevails and ha'
long prevailed in TIL, State, that an argumrn'
tnereupon would be wil"l> superllunu'' al
seem to agree that the first step proper 10 oe
taken for the purpose OF promoting an secu
ring the Confederation We seek, Is the arp'hs
nieut Ut Commissioner, by tie authority o.
tLis Convention, to such States rl the South
as NAV call Conventions to CONSIDER ana de-
termine their future political relations.
The Committee advise that such steps be
taken by this Convention, hoping and be!lev.
iur that our sister States of the South will
correctly interpret our action in taking The
initiative as arising, by no means, from any
preSumptnnus arrogance, but from tie ad'
vance position which circumstances have gwen
to this State, in the line ol procedure iur the
great design of maintaining tic right, the
security and the very existence OF the slave
holding South.
1t na, been a subject of anxious conSldera-
ten with the Commte whether the Com
m,,sioners whn,c appointment they recon
mend, should he instructed To tender any ba-
f,,,y mani
The i;,>tru,nGn. called the Constitution of
the United S;atrs Of America has been sug-
gesr,l 4, suitable and proper basis t" be
offered for Provisional Government.
This -n".cslion ha$ brei commented To the
Committee by various considerations which
t:,,.:,oi nuw Le SC, forth ia full - at large.
Among these are
That tue SAID lnstru,acnt WAS :.lc work Of
minds of the first order in strength aud ac-
complishment.
lpat it was most carefully constructed b;
comprehensive views and careful examination
of details.
That experience has proved it to be good
form of government for those sufficiently ,ir
1uous, intelligent and patriotic to cause 1t t"
be fairly and honestly construed and impair
tally administered.
Tia. tue settled opinion Of this State has
never been adverse tn that plan Of govern
ment of Cuniedcrated States on account OF
anything in its structure; but the dlSsatisfac.
tinn is attributable tu the false CLOSES, and
dangerous mi>intrrpretatlon and peryerSloii OF
sundry Of its provisions even to the extent
in one particular oi 80 covering up the real
purposes of certain legislation ('ncant to pro
tect d,n,estic manufactures in one scGtioii,) as
TO .stop the Supreme Court in lis opinion.
from iu,!icially pcrcriving the real design
That it re.eilts complete scheme of con-
federation, capable of being speedily put int"
operation. familiar, by long acqualntanc"
with its provisions and their true imp'rt to
the peoplr of the Soltli, m.ny oi whom are
believed TO Cherish degree OF rencraton iul
II and would feel safe under it, when i'll their
own hanls fur Interpretation and administers
ton, especially as The portions that have been
br permission, lna'c potent for mi cei an1
oppression in the hands of adverse and inm
ica interests have received settled conStruc
tion by the South. That speedy Con!ele-
r,tion by the Southis is desirable in the highest
,,ecr.r. which it is surpn e'l must be tempo
rary al first (ii accomplished rs soon as il
.hn,,d II, no better basis than the Cunsttu'
of the United States is likely to DC suggested
Or adopted for temporary purposes.
--CAat the opinions Of those to whom it is
tbl1IvsT7;noH,ri itss tss: itwnuld hecsuc:lated- 9y
t;,at South Carolina meant 10 seek no sclfisl
advantage, nor to indulge the least spirit o.
dictation.
Ina, such form ofgovcrnmcrt is more on
less known To Europe. and, if adopted, would
indicate abroad that the ScceIing Southern
States had the foresight and energy TO pu
into oneration forthwith i Schctne ot govern
ment and .Iu.:ni,lra,ipn Competent to pro-
duce = prun;,t organization for Internal nrces.
sites, aad Il sufli :icni protection of foreigi.
Commerce directed hither. rs well rs to guar
antce foreign powers i'll the confidence that .
new C,n;cderacy had immediately arisen.
quite adequate to supcrccd, all the evils, in
terna and cXierna Ut 4 partial or total inter.
res:um.
rnat its speedy adoption would work hap.
pily as a revivifyng agency in matters tinan
cisl and commercial between the States adop-
ting it and between then. AZ uaited powe:
and foreign commercial nations, and IL th'
sarc time would combine without delsy u
power-touching purse and sword that might
brl,.g to prudent Issue tue reflections Of
those who may perchance he contemplating
IN invasion or 10 al issue disastrous 10 them
the attempted execution OF such unho!y
design.
Such are some of the considerations ver.y
rapidIy stated which address themselves t"
this subject. II is cuntendcd that some lIm!-
tation of the power to levy duties, and that
to regulate commerce (and perhaps other pro,
visions of the said Constitutional may be de-
sirabIe and are III fact So to soule OF the Com
mit,et; vet these notifications may be safely
left to a period when the articles of Il pertna
ucnt Government may be settled, and that
meantime the Constitution referred 10 will
s.ryc the purpose of temporary Cunfedert,
lion. which the Committee unite in believing
ought to be sought, through all proper ;nea-
sures. mast earnestly.
Il is also submitted, that if the tnadcr Of
the said Constitution, c"en as Provisional
Government, should, in The o.i;iion Of the
Convention, be accompanied by :: condition
that it be subject 10 specific limitations, cX-
po>itions of ami Equities, or notifications, tie
Committee would respectfully refer to the
Convention Itself such matters; aid this j,
done not because the Committee would not
willingly consider and report upon such sub
iect, but because they deem it due 10 the
Convention and tie public interest that they
should now lay before the Convention the
substantial propositions contained in tie fol-
lowing resolutions, which the majority Of tie
Committee recommend to the Convention as
ii: 10 be adopted, viz:
Rcsocied, First. That this Convention do
appor,t Commissioner to proceed to eaca ol
tre slave-holding States that may assemble il
Convention, for the purpose Of laying our
Ordinance OF Secession bcfoie the same, and
respectfully i..vi,ing their cooperation in the
rrmaion with us Of Southern Cnnfccracr.
Second. That our Commissioners aforesaid
ho fnr, her authorized to submit, on our part.