Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-01-04

limits of the State except the general govern
ment.
Mr.. Gregg After South Carolina has abro-
gated the Constitution of the United States are
its laws still in force! l think not. All the
laws of Congress fall instantly to the ground
on the passage of the act Of Secession.
Mr.. Gheves- An immense ehasm has been
made 10 law. Il Is necessary that, to avoid
Inconvenience to the people, we should make
temporary arrangements to carry on the gov
ernment.
Dir, Gregg-There Is no law on the subject
of the collection of duties IN South Carolina,
now thatwe have accomplished the work of
forty years.
Mr.. Hayne The Congress of the United
States is no longer our government. 1t will be
for our Legislature to say what laws Of The
United States shall be continued, and what not.
Tue simple act of secession does not abrogaie
all laws. We have great many laws on our
own statue books which we're passed by the
Governor and Privy Council
Mr. Gregg The congressional laws for col
lection of the revenue are for the support of
the federal government at Washington. All
the post office laws fall on our dissolution OF
that government.
Dir. Miles-We have now to deal with stern
facts and realities. W. must prevent coniusieu
and anarchy in the arrangement of our govern
meut affairs. Things must, for the present, re-
main in stGtu quo, or confusion will arise.
Mr.. Hayne-Sudden action is injurious
Mr.. Chesnut : Two questions are involved:
Power and duty. We must preserve our peo-
pie not only from Inconvenience but from 3
chaotic condition. We must reyigify such laws
hos ada fa1 fs,r ,l.,
tiles. As to our duty, Rlll you turn tie ship
of State adrift! What becomes Of her ofIi-
GERS
Mr.. Maseyck- There is no duty collector
now for the ports So too With the post Office.
All arc swept off By this act Ny opinion is
that the present system Of postal arrangements
! is nuisance. The public would be better
served BY private parties between the cities
like the system in Philadelphia aud New York.
Have postage of one cent instead OF three
cents, and to less important places make Il ten
cents or more.
Mr.. Cahoua-We have pulled the temple
/ down that has been built for three quarters of
century. We must now clear the rubbish
/ away and reconstruct another. We now
/ houseless, we must secure ourselves for storms.
/ Mr. Durkin.--If shat ordinance of secession
! be passed things will still 60 on Ia the custom
/ house and post Office exactly as now until other
arrangements are made By the congeniion.-
/ There is nothing in the ordinance 20 effect the
dignity, honor OF welfare OF the State of South
Carolina. We must keep the wheels of govern
/ ment going, The constitution of the UnltNi
/ States is not entirely abrogated BY the ordi-
nance. What is the legal tender for the pay
mens Of debts if it is not the gold aud silver Of
the United Statess
Mr.. Caryoilo said the present officers of rev.
enue would be continued till the act Of the Leg
islature authorized otherwise.
/ Mr.. 3rown-T Tbera is no longer any comWu-
nication with the government from which we are
just separated.
Mr.. Durkin-The spirit of the ordinance is
temporarily suspended till we treat With the
general government.
Mr. Gregg-The President of the United
/ States has thrown down the gauntlet 10 his mes
sage. He has said that it is his duty to col
lect the revenue, aud he will DO it. On one
side the federal government claims the right
/ and declares the intention TO execute the power
/ Of collecting the revenue 10 our ports. On the
! other side we have declared that we are free.
| desire no compromise. 1t is necessary TO main
! tain that from Is to 80 per cent. of duties im-
| posed by the Congress of the United States
should be continued to be levied, otherwise our
| people will suffer terrible calamity. As to the
carrying of the mails, let present contract be
assumed by South Carolina instead OF the Uni-
ted States.
Mr.. Rheti-This great revolution must 20
on with I'd little damage as possible to the
country. BY making the federal agents ours,
the machinery wall move on. The federal Laws
of taxation must noe exist over US; we are now
contending for the great principle Of taxation.
| trust the present system of taxation has fallen
| forever.
Mr.. BarnwelI-- We have seeded from the
United States and established our independence
We can't allow the Uoited States to exercise
authority over us any more. Let the postal
convenience be sacrificed, if necessary. There
never was anything purchased worth having uu-
less at the cost of sacrifice.
Mr.. Maseyck-In regard to the mail, all
restrictions must be removed. Let us appoiEt
our own officers. Let the collector of the port
battle with the difficulties as they come.
AT $40 P. NJ. the convention took q recess
to meet at Institute Hall, at $50, for the pur-
pose Of signing the ordinance.
As the convention were leaving St. Andrews
Hall, the chimes of 81. Miehael's Episcopal
Church peuled forth odd Lang Syne' and other
airs.
The convention, which passed the above or
diuance, consisted of 169 members, elected not
by the people but by those who either own 80
Acres of land or House and lot: for that State
with all her boasted democracy, has never been
democratic enough to do away With .he proper
ty qualifSatlons for voters, and hence denies
to the poor man the privilege of saying who
I shall rule over him. II will be seen that the