The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-01-11
South Carolina Convention.

South Carolina Convention.
giG 3G CHARLESTON, Dec. 81.
The Convention remained in secret ses.
sion until adjournment. nW
I CHARLESTON, Jan. l.
+ The Convention received very impor.
tant communication from the commission.
ers at Washington, and they Immediately
went into secret session. ~ .'.'' ,'.-
Commodore Pettigrew of Castle Pinck.
ney has issued orders against the approach
OF boats to the wharf under serious pen.
atty. Harbor and river fronts are carefully
guarded. Ladies have rendered their servi-
ces at the forts. The city Vigilant Rifles
have been despatched on secret service to
Morris Island. The Zouaves and German
rifles have proceeded down the Harbor.
The Palmetto Guards have charge of the
arsenal where the Palmetto flag waves.
Several interior Banks are to take respec.
tive portions of the loan. - ".a.-.52 b
& Collector Colcock advertises that all the
vessels from ports outside OF South Carolina
can enter and clear at Charleston.
< The President of the convention appoint
ed commissioners to Alabama, Florida, Mis-
sisippi and Georgia, but none to Texas.
/. In secret session yesterday an ordinance
was passed defining and Furnishing treason.
It declares that in addition to former def
nitions, treason shall consist of levying war
against state adhering and giving aid to
enemies and is to be punished with death,
without the benefit of the clergy. An Or
dinance Was also passed providing that all
Judicial power delegated to the courts of the
United States shall be exercised by the
state courts, and another that all power
heretofore delegated to Congress shall be
vested in the General Assembly, excepting
that during the continuation of the conven-
ton this power shall not extend to levying
duties on imports, postof6ces, declaring
war, negotiating treaties with other coun.
tries, the rights of citizenship, and treason.
"a ...,e... CHARLESTON, Jan. 2.
The President of the convention announ>
ced the result of balloting for commission
ers in certain states. The convention then
went into secret session to ballot for COM
missioners for Georgia and Texas.
/ The Columbia artillery, numbering fifty
men, arrived here at one o'clock to-day, and
proceeded to the Harbor. They will use
cannon belonging to Charleston, and 1000
pounds Of powder have been ordered to one
of the forts.
The convention has adopted as amended
the report recommending that proper meas
ures be adopted to ensure the forming of a
southern confederation, by the appointment
of commissioners to the slave holding states
asking them to call conventions to consider
future political relations. This step arises
by no means, from presumptuous arrogance,
but an advance in the position of circum.
stances, places South Carolina in the line
of precedence for the great designs of main.
tanning the rights, security, and the very
existence of the slave holding states.
The instrument called the constitution of
the United States is suggested as suitable
and proper basis to be offered for provi.
sional government. The following are the
principal considerations which induce the
convention to give that the preference That
the said instrument was the work of minds
of the first order, strength, and accomplish
ment; that it was most carefully construct
ed, by comprehensive views and careful ex.
animation OF details experience has proved
it to be good form ofgovernment for those
sufficiently virtuous, intelligent, and patriotic
to cause it to be fairly and honestly con-
strued and impartially carried out that it
is the opinion of this State that it has not
been disadvantageous form OF government
for the confederated states, on account of
anything in its structure but the dissatis-
faction attributable to false constructions of
the instrument itself.
CHARLESTON, Jan. 3.
A resolution empowering the citizens Of
the United States, domiciled outside of
South Carolina, to hold and dispose of real
estate without hindrance or molestation,
was introduced in the Convention to-day,
and tabled for the present. a-t.u s. eel.
Mr.. Dunkin, from the committee on COM
mercial relations, made report on the
communication from the Governor in rela.
tion to Mr.. Presbury, Assistant Treasurer
of the United States. The Convention then
went into secret session to consider the adj
journment, and appointment of delegates to
the general convention of the Southern
States. aGt I'd v-1r;c9 ~, Il T..---r =, r ri