Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-06-02
STATE CONVENTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

The steamer Arago brings intelligence from Port Royal
Is. CO. to the 22d instant.
The news from that quarter which will attract most at
tenton the proceedings of the Union Mass State Con-
venon which held at Beaufort Tuesday, the 18th
instant The call for this Convention invited the people Of
the State without distinction of color, to parti
cipate the election of delegates to the National Union
Convention to bs held at Baltimore the 7th Of next
month. The consequence Gas We learn by letter
dated at Port Royal the 22d instantly that about
hundred and fifty negroes and twothrds as many whites
assembled at the Saxton House, Beaufort, and after
some noisy and acrimonious debate selected twelve whites
and four Africans delegates. Robert Small is among
the coored delegates. The other three are including
two alterDates Prince Rivers King Thomas and Sergeant
Williams The delegates a. large are Brig. Gen. Rufus
Saxton Major Edward J. Porter, A. ID. Smith, and b. G.
Dudley.
Prior to the selection of delegates long of
lutions was passed. We copy nearly al! Of them
Whereas the National Union Committee have issued
call for National Union Convention to assemble in Bat
the 7h day of June next for the purpose of
minating suitable to be elected to the high Offices
of President and Vice. President of the Uited States
and whereas there before in the history of
country have been interests at stake Of such momenous
importance as are involved the of the next four
years &c &c. Therefore,
Resoiped That we the free and loyal citizens of South
Carolina, Convention assembled without distinction of
race party color plant ourselves upon the broad prn
cipes of the Constitution of the United States in it's
gnal purity taking for platform the Declaration of
Independence.
Rsolped That we here now constitute ourselves one
corps the great army Of occupation posess the land
which brave troops have conquered from the enemy
and coneecrate the and forever to freedom
And here world take cannot breathe
in the lands of Port Royal They touch shores
and their shackles all"
Resooed That this first Free State Convention in South
Carolina assembled at Beaufort this 18th day of May
1864 will elect the full number of delegates to which
entitled sixteen citizens, good and true, repre-
sent the State of South Carolina in the Convention
Baltimore.
iesoiped That these delegates from the people be in
struced represent that portion of the State which has
been restored and which feay and aeg
Federal Governments broad Deep and permanent founda
lions being laid which civil aud religious liberty
may stand for the coming ages
Resolsed That in the irrepessble conflict" now going
on 10 this country, the wicked days Of
ry and Of completely with that sum OF all vllanies
past, never to return.
Resoloed That we view with intense satisfaction the
action of the Government in armng and sending the
field thousands of cnored troops aud rejoice that by
act of Congress and the decision Of Attorney General
Bates they will at last have justice done them in the mat
Rssoped That Port Royal which includes the town of
Beaufort is by the proclamation of President Lincoln
free port opea to the world and consequently should be
subject 10 restrictions whatever upon its trade and
merce any than laid on Boston, New York or
any other port in the United States and that we will
our best endeavors to have all such restrictions
moved
Rsolued That should be the policy of the Government
TO encourage and help the emigration of the citizens of
the North all portions Of the territory of the
South that the lands by troops shall be forth
with taken possession of by the loyal people of the South
in conjunction with those of the North reserving however
lands the soldiers of the Union army, and also taking
special consider the solemn fact that the people freed
by the incidents Of this turned homeless and land
less upon the world and that it lie the duty OF the Govern
ment provide them adequate homestads at the mini
mum Government price, enable them to become they
and competent to become not only sesustan
ing and sefgoverning, but tax paying citizens.
ResOtred That while recognise the fact that there
differences Of opinion the man best fitted to
ceve the nomination OF the Baltimore Convention for the
Presidency, content to acquiesce in its choice let
that choic, fall on whom 1t may.
The letter before alluded relates the following as one of
the incidents Of the Convention:
During the proceedings while the meeting waiting
for its committee resolutions TO report Mr. Ashburn,
from Tennessee happening to be present called upon
to speak He and proceeded IT, let himself the
subject of negroes soldiers and delegates to national
conventions He tod the c0Ored men that long they
not equal to the whites the field they should not
aspire to be their Equals PRECEDENT makers Cries of
OATS lie fllowed this remark He questioned the
capacity o the black for self government when several
uDgovernsbe black to resent the sentiment.
When he finished his remarks there half dozen
negroes their feet in oratorca positions in various parts
OF the hall but the President had the tact knock them
to order with his gsve and w6 missed the negro eoqueDce
which Mr. Ashburns speech near fomenting."