The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1861-02-14
FIRST SOUTHERN CONGRESS-
lFrom the Charleston Courier. !

The Convention was called together ut
twenty-five minutes past IL A. M :, by Hon.
w. +. Chiffon, of Alabama. Three raps
of the gavel summoned members to their
seats. The aisIes were cleared, and
MIR. Chiffon then said
GENTLEMEN OF THE CoNvENTIoN:-
/ nominate the Hon Mr.. Barnwell as Chair
man of this Convention. All in favor of
the nomination will say "aye" The mo-
tion was carried unanimously
Mr.. BARNWELL was invited to the
Chair, and after simply returning thanks
for the honor, in the brieiest manner pos
sible, called the Rev. Basil NJ. Manly, for
merly of the Baptist Church, Charleston,
to open the session with prayer. The pc
tition was most eloquent, and was listened
to with profound silence.
The CHAIRMAN suggested that the
first business before the Convention was
permanent organization, aid asked il it
was the pleasure OF the Convention to pro-
coed to take such action
Mr.. RllE1'T asked ifit were not better
to e'act a Secretary first. and then call the
roll to ascertain what States were repre-
scented. He made u motion that t. effect.
Mr. MEM1lNGER moyed tqrhppoint
a atemporary Clerk, and that the Delegations
from the different States be requested to
hand in their credentials. Agreed to-
Upon suggestion, the Chair appointed
A. Il. Lamar, Of Georgia, Temporary
Clerk.
The Clerk took his seat at the desk. Tie
credentials of Delegates from Alahaua
were first read, and The gentleman rep T.
senting that State advanced and sign.o
their names to the roll. In alphabetica
order, the States of Florida, Georgia. Lou
isiana, Mississippi and South Carolina
were called. The credentials of their
respective Delegations were read, and the
roll signed by members as follows:
X. W. WALKER, s f. HALE
Il. IL. SMITH, COLIN J. McREa
J. l.. NJ. CURRY, JNO GILL SHORTER.
W. p. Chiffon, DAVID T.. LEWIS,
THOMAS FEARN.
FLORIDA.
JACKSON MORTON, y. p. ANDERSON.
j. B. OWENS.
GEoRGIA.0
ROBERT TOONBS, BENZ. H. HILL,
HOWELL COBB. A. II. WRIGHT,
FRANcISsB iRTow, r. r. .R. COBB,
NJ j. CRAWFORD, AUG. II. KEENAN,,
r.. NiSBET. ALIEN. u. STEVENS,
LOUISIANA.
JOHN. PERKINS, in d. F. KENNER.
a. DECLOuET. Gex. e SPARROW,
CHAS. NJ. CONRAD, HENRY MARSH ALL.
MISSISSIPPI.
WILLY p. HARRIS, IA. VI. CLAYTON.
WALTER BROOK, w. s. BARRY.
n IS. WILSON, j. HARRISON.
j. A. T. CAMPBELL,
SOUTH CAROLINA
r.. B. 'RiETr, Sn. c: G. MEMNINGER,
X. NJ. BARNWELL, ". =. Miller.
l.. NJ. kElTT, THOS. J. WITHERS,
J. CiESTNrT, JR,, W W. BJYCE
The CHAIR then suggested TIE pro
priety OF electing permanent Sc retary
Mr.. RHETT drought it best to elect
the permanent President first. This he
thought was the proper mode of proceeding.
He would, therefor :, nominate in the name
OF his colleagues, one in whom the country
reposed all confidence, and who has been
as iilustrlOus in the annals Of the broken
Confederacy as he is true and faithful to
to the cause of he South. He nominated
the Hon Howell Cobb, of Georgia The
nomination was received with deafening
cheers from the crowd in the Hobbies and
galleries.
The CHAIRMAN asked how the vote
should be taken, whether by vote of States
or otherwise; whether the ballot of each
individual shall count one, or whether the
votes OF all the members from each State
shall count but one
Mr.. RHETT. AS there seems to be but
one opinion among all the members, | con-
celvc that it is emincntly proper that the
President be elected by acclamation.
The CHAIRMAN. All who are in
FAVOR OF the nomination will say" aye to
the contrary, "no.' The response was gene
raj and wholly affirmative.
Mr. COBB was then declared President
ofthe convention, unanimously chosen, amid
the applause Of the people
On motion, the Chairman appointed
Messrs, Rhett, of South Carolina; Walker,
of Alabama, and Anderson, of Florida, rs the
Committee to wait upon Mr.. Cobb, and no
tify bim of his election and escort him to
the Chair.
Mr. COBB took his seat amid great ap-
plause. He said in substance, as follows:
Accept, gentlemen of the Convention.
my sincere thanks for the honor conferred
upon me. shall endcavor, by the fair
and impartial distribution of the duties
OF the Chair, to merit your commentator.
The occasion that calls us together is no or
dInary one. 1t is solemn and impressive.
We meet as the representatives Of sover
eign and independant States, who have.
'by solemn judgments, dissolved the political
association that bound us to the old Federal
Union. or the causes that led to this de-
s termination, it is unnecessary for me to speak
they have already been announced; and it |
is sufficient now to say that they have al.
ready been announced; and it is sufficient
now to say that they have been declared