American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-02-27
TERMSTThreeD Dollars per annum.

pect Of success. Our Strcngtk and
our prosperity will depend Oh our
"niiy; and, the secession of even
four Of the smallest States, inter
spersed as they are, woald, in nv
mind, paralyze and render useless.
any plan which the majority could
devise. | shouldtherefore be grieved,
Mr.. President, to see matters brought
to the test, which has been, perhaps,
too i'ash}y threatened on the one
hand, and which some of my honor
ed colleagues have treated too Itghtlu
on the other. am convinced that
it is a snbiect which should be ap-
preached with caution, treated with
tenderness, and decided on with can
dor and dberdlitg.
1T is, however, to be feared that the
members OF this Convention are not
in temper; at this moment, to ap-
proach the subject on which we differ.
in this spirit. I would. therefore.
propose, Mr.. President, that, without
proceeding further in this business
at this time, the Conventiun shall
adjocrn three days, in order to let the
present fement pass off, and to af-
ford time for a more full, free, and
dispassionate investigation of the
subject: and l would earnestly re-
commend to The members of this
Convention, that they spend the time
of this recess, not in associating with
their oun party, and deyising new
arguments to fortify themselves in
their old opinions, but that they mix
with members Of opposite sentiments,
lend a patient ear to their reason
ings, and canditily allow them all the
weight to which they may be en-
titled and when we assemble again,
l hope ii will be with a determina-
ton to form a constitution, if not
such a one as we can individually,
and in ill respects, approve, yet the
best, which, under existing circum-
stances, can be obtained Here the
eountenance of Washington bright
ened, and cheering ray seemed to
break in upon the gloom which had
recently covered our political hori
zon. The doctor continued: "Be-
fore i sit down, Mr.. President, / will
suggest another matter and | am
really surprised that it has not been
proposed by some other member at
an earlier period of cur deliberations.
| will suggest, MIR. President, the
propriety of nominating and appoint
ing, before We separate, a chaplain
to this Convention, whose duty it
shall be uniformly to assemble with
us, and introduce the business of
each day by an address to the Creator
of the unirei'se, and the Governor of
all nations, beseeching Him to pHe7 p21;s,
minds with a portion of heavenly
wisdom, influence our hearts with a
love of truth and justice, and crown
our labors with complete and abun-
dant success y
|. The doctor sat down, and neyt
(saiu Gen. D. did behold counte-
nance at once so dienJfed and delight
ed asSwas that OF Washington, at
the.close of this address,! Nor were
the members OF the Convention, gen
orally, less affected. The words OF
the venerable Franklin fell upon our
ears with weight and authority
even greater than we may suppose
an oracle to have had in u Roman
senate! A silent admiration su per
! Seded, for moment, tho expression
Of that assent and appreciation which
was SO strongly marked on almost
every countenance; | say almost, fol
ore man was found in the Conven
ton, Mr.. H, from --, who
rose and said, with regard to the first
motion of the honorable gentleman
for an adjournment, he would yielt
his assent; but he protested agains
the second motion for the appoint
ment OF chaplain. He then com
mencea il high strained eulOgium OF
the assemblage of uisdom. talent ant
experience, which the Convention EN-
braced; declared the high sense h
entertained of the honor which hi
! constituents had conferred upon him
in making him a member of that re
, spectacle body; said he was conf
7 IDENTITY of opinion that they acere con
/ petent to transact the business whic
7 had been entrusted to their care
: Il al they were equal to any exigenc
; which might occur; and conclude
! by saying, that therefore be did nc
: see the necessity Of calling i'll toreig
!, aid!
II Washington fixed-abis eve upo
the speaker. with a lnixture of su
e prise and Indignation, while <e ute
l. ed this impeItiuent and impio,
speech, and then looked around
y ascertain in what manner it affecte
d others. They did not leave him
5. moment to doubt 4; no one daigned
Is rrplr, or take the smallest notice
IS the speaker, but the motion for a
n pointing Il chaplain was instant
n seconded and carried whether II
n der the silent diSdpprObatiOa of NJ
st II, or his solitary negatirc, | ,
G not recollect. The motion for :
IS adjournment was then pat and ca
le rieI unanimously, and the Conve
lie tion adjourned accordingly.
S. The three days of recess we
T. spent in the manner advised by u
'2 tramkllr; he opposite parties mix,
n with cacn "th"r, ana Il free and fran
III interchange q. sentiments took pIaC
lc On the fourth day We assemble
lo again, and if great additional liza
ID had not been thrown on the subie,
n every HntrieHdjy JfeiiEg had been c
II. PEELED and a spirit Of conciliati
lie had been cultivated, which prom