The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-01
AFFAIRS IN CHARLESTON

The debate on the Montgomery Consttuuon, IL
the South Carolina nvention, Wednesday
was animated and significant Mr.. Rhett moved
that the instrument should be discussed IN secre
session, in compliance with resolution OF the Con
gfess of the Confederate States, which removed I'M
injunction of secrecy from their proceedings only
so far as to allow each member to communicate the
same. in writing, in secret session, to any o'at'
Convention.
The motion was opposed by Mr.. Adams, who con
tended that in so grave matter the people naa
right to know the considerations which aHecteo
the action of their representatives; and by General
Maxcy Gregg, who was entirely opposed TO secreI
sessions. The latter also asserted that the first and
the greatest which their ancestors committed
in consenting to that compromise win the
Northern States by which two-tfths of the slaves
in the Southern States were excluded in the nu-
mercal basis OF representation That, in his opin.
ion, has been the great source of all the mscnlei
that has taken place. MIR. Gregg was proceeding
to state fully his objections to the Constitution
when he was called to order, and decision OF the
Chair that his remarks were relevant to the pend
ing gu stion was overruled.
MIR. McCrady stated that it was very remarka-
BILE fact that all Constitutions in America had been
discussed in secret session. He conended that rea-
son established this the best mode of legislatlng
on a subject of so much Importance. Therefore, in
the formation of Constitution they did not wish
for popular information. The people had done
their part in calling the Convention together, and
it was for the Convention to form the Govern
ment.
The motion to consider the Constitution in secret
session was finally agreed to-yeas 100, nays 20.
MIR. Rhett offered the following ordinance, NOV
ing also that it be laid the table and printed,
which agreed to- Whether not he should
call it up again would depend, he said upon the
action of the Convention upon the new Constitu-
tiOn.
An Ordinance Ordering a Contention of the People Of
the State Of South Carolina in Certain Contingency
Whereas, Experience has proved that slaveholdng and
nonsaveholdng States cannot live in peace under the
government
We the People of the State Of South Carolina in Con-
renon assembled do declare and orddi and it hereby
declared and ordained That should any State hereafter
be admitted into the Conederacy of the Conederaed
States of America which by its Constitution does not
tolerate the institution of slavery within its limits and
provide for its protection by suitable legislation the
Governor of the State of South Carolina is hereby order
ed forthwith to summon by proclamation the people Of
the State of South Carolina to assemble in Convention
and issue Wris of Election and determine the time and
places of holding the same and the time and place of
assembling said Convention, in conformity as far as
practicable to the provisions of the Act of the Lgsa
ture convenng this Convention.
A committee was instructed to inquire and re-
port if any alteration in the Constitution Of the
State was necessary a2d proper.
On Friday message was received from Cover
nor Pckens, reviewing the progress of eventssince
the adjournment of the Convention, and also Civ
ing statement of the finances of the State. On
this head he says:
1t will be seen by the report from the Treasury Depart
ment that expenditures have been 500 37 (sX hun
dred and forty thousand three hundred and seventeen dol
lars of this amount $195 500 expended by the Ord
nance Board This includes what has been expended for
ordnance and munitions of all kinds As to all expenses
incurred since the Goth of December last the day on
which South Carolina seeded from the old Confederacy
take for granted the Government of the nfederae
states VIII become to us for the amount as it
incurred in defence of a common cause, parcu
lary the Confederate Government expressly assumed
jurisdiction of all questions between and any other
governments, relating to deences and military opera
tions.
The message concludes as follows:
As far the Executive is concerned, always consid
cred that the peculiar mission of this State by firm
and temperate course lay the foundation of new Con
federacy of States homogeneous feeling and in interest,"
with such institutions and domestic civilization would
unite them in common destiny, with government
devoted to their peace and safety, and with interest
to produce the slightest aggression upon other people
but deeply interested to develop those productions that
so largy demanded in the peaceful pursuits of
kind and entering largely into the comforts and pro
gressive civilization of the world.
When this State first withdrew from the Federal Union
felt that bore, side, critical relations to the
Confederacy we had left and also delicate and pecu
liar relations to those slave States who constituted the
border of the Southern States and had still higher
and sacred duties and relations towards sister
States of the South, who expected nobly
our side in the formation Of new Confederacy.
All these relations made quite complicated
and full of deep obligations, In administering the duties
of the Executive office, truly say that never for
one moment lost sight of the relations State bore to
her separate rights and independence never to do any
snow TO any OF the great
complicated interests and relations with which she
surrounded.
When your illustrious body adjourned, you saw the
State standing alone surrounded with peril and clouds
resting upon the future Under the kind dpensatons
OF experimenting Providence, able present
her to you under brighter day, surrounded by sister
States rich in their resources, with their brave and
patriotic sons standing guard in the portals of
Temple, reared by councils, and dedicated
to the separate sovereignty Of free and independent SqsS
F. W. PICKENs.
After the message was read, the business being
the amendments to the Constitution, Mr.. Mani
gaut desired to offer the following resolutions, as
covering his objections to the Constitution
Resored That in the Constitution adopted by the Con-
gress of the Confederate States many but
not all of the material defects the Constitution of 1897
pointed out by the experience of seventy years have been
amended. but not removed
Resored, That before the Convention ratifes the
stitution adopted at Montgomery, feel bound
press our conviction that it is imperfect and Objectionable
and ought to be amended in the following points 1st
In leaving open the door for the admission of the
slaveholdng States into this Confederacy ID adopt
ing the basis of only three hs of the slaves entitled
federal representation 3d. In granting to the Govern
ment of the Confederacy unlimited power of indirect
taxation. 4th. In making the prohibition import At
rcan constitutional prohibition and not simply giving
to the Federal Government the power to prohibit it
matter of expediency and in not putting the Cooe trade
the same footing 5th In putting the posoffce
nepoly in the hands of the Confederate Government
The President having commenced the reading Of
the resolution, was interrupted by
Mr.. d. l.. Wardlaw, who remarked that the Con-
venton had determined to consider the Constitu-
tion in secret sesson-as this related to the Consi-
tuition, he would move that the Convention proceed
to sit with closed doors, when the resolution could
be considered.
Pending the question on the motion, discussion
ensued between Messrs. Middleton, D. L. WardIaw,
Mangault, Inglis and Furman, when, finally, the
motion was withdrawn; and, on motion of Mr..
Rhett, the resolutions read and placed on the
calendar of the secret session.
OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
Mr.. Hutson asked leave to offer the following
resolution
ReSoued That the Permanent Constitution for the Con
federate States Of America if it be ratified be accompa
MED with the earnest request that be modified in
following particulars, which deem to be fundamental
In Act section clause 1-Instead of the electors be-
ing citizens of the Confederate States the clause should
read sha be citizens of the Confederate State from
which they are elected" So also no ION shall be an
eec tor unless he is citizen of the Confederate State
whose vote he casts.
Clause Representatives should be citizens of the
Confederate State they represent.
Clause 3The whole number slaves should enter into
the basis Of representation
Section 4, clause 1Congress ought not to control the
time, place and manner ofelecting representatives
Section s, clause 1-Dnties on Imports should be uni
form all goods and there should be free list
though protection may be the accident and commerce
incident of a tariff.
Clause 4-Ths clause should be restricted thus "Pro
vided that every foreigner naturazed shall by sucl
laws, be required to allegiance Confederate
State in which he is naturalized and obedience to the
Constitution of that State and of the States
Clause l7Exclusive jurisdiction is not necessary for
the purpose for which Congress will need these stes
if So the people, and not their Legislatures possess
can part with the eminent domain.
To the 18th clause should be added "But each State
shall be the judge Of the consttutionaty laws
Section 9, clause l, should be wholly stricken out.
Section 10, clause S-The States should be forbid
den to keep troops.
Article 2 section l, clause 2 should read "In such
manner as the people thereof may direct,' instead
Clause 6-The people of the States and not Congress
the mode manner and time Of voting for President anC
Vice-President.
Section 2, clause 2-The President should have til,
power to appoint his cabinet foreign Ambassadors
suls and agents. and the officers of the army and
and all clerks in the several departments; but all officer
whose functions exercised in particular States should
be appointed by the Governors thereof with the advice
State Senates.
Article S-The necessity Of any Confederate Judiciary
is doubtful but if created it should consist of
Judges appointed in each State by the Governor or
ed by its Legislature, and they together should consti
tute the Appeal Court.
Article 4, section Q clause 1Except the right to vote
which shall be subject to the exclusive coutrol of escf
State"
Section 8, clause Add provided such State shall
by law, sanction negro slavery"
Clause AFTER government add: "And the security
the institution of negro savery.r
Article 5-Add "Nor shall any State be hindered in
peaceably seeding from this Confederacy"
Article g. clause 6-Especiay the right Judge of
infracton of this Constitution by any department of
Confederate Government, and of the mode and
of redress.
Mr.. D. L. Wardaw raised the point of order
that the resolutions were not in order except il
secret session; upon which considerable discussion
ensued between Messrs. Pope, Rhett, Hutson
Chestnut, Middleton, Simmons, Read Mazyck
Quattlebaum, Spratt and Richardson. Finally, OIL
motion of Mr.. Dunkin, the question was put =
"Wil the Convention receive the resolution p
and it was decided in the negative--yeas 60
nays o..
MIR. Pope th en- asked leave to introduce the fol
lowing resolution: