New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-01-31
VOLUME XIII.
LOUISIANA STATE CONVENTION.

crowded with spectators, the ladies' graclng the
galleries in strong force.
The President called the Convention to order at
12l O'Clock.
Prayer was offered by the Rey. Mr.. Markham.
The roll was called, and 122 members answered
to their names.
The reading of the journal was, on notion dis
pensed with
COMMISSIONER FROM GEORGIA.
Mr.. Moore, Of st. Martin, announced Ihe pres
ence of the Hon. W. j. Vason, Commissioner from
the State of Georgia, and asked permission to ill.,
troduce him TO the Convention. Granted
Mr. Moore then retired, and soon rGappeared,
escorting the gentleman from Georgia, and lhtro-
duced him to President Mouton, on the stand. Inc
President welcomed him cordially, and then pre-
sented him to the Convention which received him
standing.
Mr.. Vason, addressing the President and the
Convention stated that he had come to represent
the people of the free, independent and sovereign
State of Georgia with which he presented to the
| President his commission from the President OF
the Georgia State Convention. He then announced
the passage of the ordinance Of secession by the
| Convention of his State, and presented to the
President an official copy of that ordinance.
Georgia. he said, had declared her sovereign will;
from the cupola of her capitol now floated the tag
of her State sovereignty, bearing the pI!ared arch
and the words "Justice, equality and modera-
ton ~ and to the maintenance OF this nag the
people had pledged their lives, their fortunes and
their sacred honors.
The only remaining part Of his duty, he said,
was to invite Louisiana to cooperate with georgia
and all other States that have seeded or may Sc
cede, in the formation of Southern Confederacy,
on the basis of the Constitution of the United
States The people Of Georgia revered the Con-
stitution of the United States aud pointed to it
with pride: bnt in recedng from it now, much as
they regretted it, they felt they were doing right
| in separating themselves from taithess and per-
fdious people.
Mr.. Vason alluded to the present hostile actions
of the Federal Government towards the South
collecting troops at Washington, sending war yes
sells South the motion in Congress to repeal the
duty on sugar. etc.-as indicating foregone inten
ton to convert the American Government into {
military despotism Georgia was conscious OF hel
own ability to stand alone and maintain herself
still she was anxious to cooperate with the othel
Receding States, and especially with Louisiana
She wants to trade with Louisiana she expects II
see New Orleans become the great commercial
emporium of the New World. After some othe
remarks of complimentary nature, the Commis
sioner returned his thanks to the Convention, ant
) took his seat to the right Of the President.
DEBATE on SECRET PROCEEDINGS, ETC.
l Mr.. Texada, of Rapides, moved reconsideration
} Of the vote by which the ordinance for electinI
+ delcgates to the Southern Convention was adopte
| on Tuesday As adopted the ordinance provide
for the election of the delegates by ballot. H
$ was opposed to this, and wanted the vote take
Uiua roce; he was opposed to anything like scores
r in the proceedings of this Convention. Seriou
l. differences might arise among the delegates in th
g Southern Convention; and if any should do wrong
: the people would then ask and have the right
/, know who elected them.
e Mr. Lawrence, of Plaquemines, seconded tt
r motion for reconsideration, and endorsed ii
y Texadas views warmly.
= Mr. Semmes, of Orleans, not entirely agreeing
IS some things sadby the speakers, was still willir
l. to a reconsideration, and gave reasons why Il
e voting of this Convention should be by voice.
+ Mr.. Elree, of Rapides, said that he did not o
J. nose the ordinance its adoption because he b
it leved it was the wish of large number of Il
% members of the Convention. He would now sta
% that he did not agree to all the provisions of Il
n ordinance as to the manner of voting, he reco
nized what he believed was q deviation from t
n established rules of legislatures and convention
nf The qiUa roce system holds in such bodies, tn
IN those who vote may be held to an accountable
l, for their voting The system of voting secretl
III III or by ballot, he held to be inconsistent wi
j. every true feeling of manhood. He regretted
10 discover that a feeling of dissatisfaction with
"a gard to this Convention was spreading abroad
q. belief that there was management going on amo
TO of f1y0rifpa o
I'd Mr. Perkins, of Madison, chairman of the Co
l., mit.ee on a Southern Confederacy, from viii
e. committee came the ordinance under disc,
sion) rose and asked Mr. Elgee if, in speaking
Us rs management, he alluded to the chairman of
IT. committee.
IL Mr.. EIgee replied that such an idea had nes
nd entered his head. If he wished to attack any oil
IL, he would 60 about it in a different manner;
-, would do it directly and openly. But, witht
IT. wishing to impugn the gentleman or any otl
I'D member of the committee he must assert it as
M fact that feeling of dissatisfaction and distr
was abroad regarding the action of this Conv
ng ton as far as it had gone; that there was mana
on ment among members, with view to elect this
Id that and keep their votes secret. Had he
moment believed that the committee could
ssh would have acted in such spirit in framing tn
~ | ordinance, he would nave opposed INT ofulud!
,rt the moment it was presented,
his Mr. Perkins said that notwithstanding Mr.. Elge
uii disclaimer, his remarks suggested reflection VI
III the committee and to show how little it anyth
,ce like mana cement or secret collnsion there was
1es the preparation of the ordinance, he detailed
ese committees proceedings, and his own act
NV (though he stepped over the line of his duty in II
in inviting members of other committees to ii
My room to give their counsel and advice in the fran
% VI Of the ordinance.
tio tr Mr. Moore, of St. Martin, (his name having b
used in connection with the framing of the o
nancy said it was now necessary for him to spe
~ He had never in mis- life (and he had been in p
~ lie life some twenty-seven years)-desired to c
VI cea his vote or shirk the responsibility of
~" actions on any subject In forming the ordina1
;. y, he had followed the proViso in the Confedera
W. Ordinance of Mississppi--and he believed the
oa sissippans were just as Independent and outspo
w. as any other set of men in the country. He
,o lieved he had done right if the Convention sht
/ os decide him to be wrong, he was ready 10 stand
ava responsibility of it. But for shirking his Vot
,or. his actions, he would never do it, never, ne
With never
,iro Mr.. DeBlanc, of st. Martin, defined his posi-
..Ie as Independent and unanching He was
;, IN posed to the reconsideration of the ordina
~, unless Mr. Texadais motion to recOnsider