Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-05-29
: The Convention Usurping Power.

counterfeits. Charleston Courier, 2lst.
The Convention Usurping Power.
A Convention is a body elected by the
people for single definite purpose; it
usurps power; the Convention has exceed.
ed the single definite purpose for which
it was elected, it is therefore usurping a
power to which it has no just claim.
The purpose of Convention is to form
"a Government or to modify Government
already existing. It's power extends no far.
ther, not an inch. 1t has n, right to exer-
else any one power of Government, either
Legislative, judicial, or executive. This is
clear both from the history Of Conventions
and from their essential nature.
The Convention of 1857, having formed
a Government Immediately dissolved itself.
Their journal ends with saying the mem.
bers signed the Constitution adopted and
adjourned sine die. They did not sit an
hour longer. The Conventions in the
States as soon as they passed resolutions
accepting the Constitution adjourned With
the same promptitude. 1t neither case did
the Convention, State or General, presume
to exercise any power Of Government
Nor could they properly. Such an ex-
ercise of power is inconsistent With the es
sertial nature of a Convention. We live
in an age of representative Government,
not of pure Democracy. A pure Demo
cracy like of that of ancient Athens is ad-
Judged universally to be inadmissible. 1t
consists in peoples exercising legislative,
judicial, and executive power, in their
own persons. The people of no American
State pretend to do this. They entrust to
a Legislature, Judges, Chief Executive
and other officers, the powers of making,
administering, and executing law. When
they elect Convention it is to represent
them in their organic character, their Gov
ernment.making capacity and nothing
more. I have heard men say the Conven-
ton were the people. 1t is an impudeut
assumption. They are the servants of the
people to do certain thing only.
The present Convention of the State diff
fers in no wise from any other Convention.
1t was called to modify the State Govern
meut by resuming the powers entrusted to
the Federal Government. 1t was expect.
ed farther to cooperate with other States
in establishing new Confederacy. When
that was done, the Convention was functus
o6icio. 1t had discharged all its legiti-
mate duties. 1t should have dissolved it.
self Immediately. What has it done? It
continues to exist. 1t undertakes substau
TALLY to supersede the regular Chief Exc
cutive officer by Council of Five. 1t
suspends Ha6eas Corpus. It exercises
Executive and Legislative powers. 1t is
a despotism to all intents and purposes
Every mans life, liberty and property is
at their mercy. After what it has done,
what may it not do? The people who
submit to the ursurpat:on are slaves-tick.
eted and passported slaves, unable to move
a step bu. at the will Of their masters.
Iimpugu no motives. 1t is not ques-
tion of motive but of principle. I have no
idea that the Executive Council will set
about Systematically, to abuse their P, wer.
But DO man living should trust himself or
be trusted by others with despotic authori-
ty. Philip II. Of Spain, the very type of
tyrants was a laborious, conscientious ruler,
governing in his judgment with view solely
to his peoples welfare, while be burnt
them in auto de tes and massacred them BY
the sword of Alva.
1t may be said that such remarks are of
evil influence, that it leads to divisions
deny it. The best way, the only way, to
secure united councils and hearts is for
our rulers to be scrupulously exact in keep.
ing within the bounds of civil and political
liberty. The Convention has exceeded
those bounds. Let them undo their work.
Let them relieve the people from the
curse of the double Government under
which We live. Let them restore to the
Governor of the State the legitimate au-
thority of which they have plundered him.
Let them meet and adjourn sine die. G.
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