Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-01-05
THE DAILY EVENING STAR

WHAT SECESSION MEANs-The very best pos
sble arguments against such action as that re-
sorted to by South Carolina on the 10th ultimo,
are embraced In the debates Of that day in her
Convention, when the body set themselves to
work to count the cost Of their movement.
Below we print few choice extracts from their
sage reflections on that occasion, rs fOllows:
Mr. Dunkin said 1t is well known that II
vessel passes the bar Of Charleston without the
regular papers signed by the collector OF that port,
that vessel 10 liable to be taken up In twenty min
utes as 4 vagrant or pirate. No vessel would ven
didn't do it, (Resign his U. 8. commission.
Ed. STAR People without bread
won't bear reason; their patriotism is dead. Sir,
next to brad, In artificial state Of society," is
light. l don't mean the glorious light Of heaveni
! mean information and intelligence. Next to
bread, people must have information. They must
have light. III, sir, you suddenly withdraw this
ruption in postal Arrangements you stop the means
OF communication. Sir, the perilous consequences
which would result from 1t will be easily appre-
ciated by every thinking man in every corner Of
Sir, merely suggest this, as Il has been spoken
Of by others. Secretary Cobb said that the revenue
Of South Carslina from the Custom House didn't
pay the expenses Of the customs. For the last
quarter, understand from the best authority that
the post offices Of South Carolina cost the govern
ment $40 oco and the receipts have been less than
$4,000 Now, Mr.. President, have
Charleston, and the ships now loading with the
products Of our country would rot before they
would go TO sea. IL an ordinance was passed,
they viii have no papers; they are stopped. Pass
your ordinance. and what Is the consequence
Why, sir, we are stopped q single day. II we
were stopped two days, all the eloquence Of Mr.
with the astonishing causes among ourselves.
The stoppage Of postal arrangements is an argu-
ment that will make man silent. This will be
but the beginning. The port Of Charleston shut,
nT.AA he cd
their ships rotting at the wharves, and the whole
Of our ordinary transactions will stop. Is there
any argument that can obviate 1t?
Mr.. Gregg said WE HAVE NOW
ACCOMPLISHED THE WORK AFTER FORTY YEARS
Mr. HAYNES said: y The simple act of
secession does not abrogate all the laws. We
have great many laws on our statute books
which were PAssED BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE
PRIvY CouNCIL!!!
Mr. Chestnut-we must reSivify such laws as
will best preserve from calamities. AS to duty,
If you turn the ship Of State adrift, what will
become of the officers,
Mr.. Maseyck. There is no duty for the collector
Of the port to do. The post office has been swept
of My opinion is, that the present system OF
postal srrangemepts Is a nuisance. The public
can be better served by private parties between
cities like Philadelphia and New York at one cent
instead Of three, AND BETWEEN LESS IMPORTANT
rLACEs TEN OR MORE CENTS.
Sir. Calhoun.-Ws have pulled a temple down
that has been built three quarters ofa century.
Mr. Dunkin said: 4 What is a legal
tender In the payment Of debts, Is It not gold
clearing and entry of vesssls very liable te
have the same confscatcd.
Mr.. Gregg said Is Il necessary tC
maintain the Is to 30 per cent duties imposed by
the Cosgress of the United States. SHoULI
THESE DUTIES CONTINUE TO BE LEVIED, OUR PEo
FLR WILL SUFFER TERRIBLE CALAMITY.
Mr.. Maseyck said: Let the collector Of the por
battle with the difficulties as they come.
We submit to men Of common sense, that thes
extracts show that this Conventio on already realiz
that they have cooked pretty kettle Of fish" 70
their Pecple-an entertainment by no means a
inviting to the people Of the rest of the Southern
States, the latter supposed ere it became neces
sary to begin thus to inquire In earnest what the
have really been doing.