The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-11
THE FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
Personal sketches of Prominent Dele
Cates-The Il marks OF President
Porter-The Various Resolutions,
Committees, Sc.-A Full Report.
-FgoM Our OWN CORRESPONDENCE

| NOT since TIE year loou Hhs llel = os"eui"iS"
in South Carolina such an array of marked
and distinctive men as are now in convention
in this city. Scan the names, and you will find
that they have been repeated tor nearly a
Generation of public life. Scan the faces, and
YOU will see something of the strong individ-
ualty which has left its imprint on the people,
directed public sentiment and achieved power.
You will find among these delegates men OF
rare prudence, ability and forethQught; men
who have filed the highest Offices in the State
and 6igniled the councils Of the nation; men
who have been battered and Scared BY the
tempests OF war; men who once possessed al
most the wealth OF princes, and dispensed hos
pitality with lavishness that knew no limit;
men whose influence at home concentrates
and directs the public will, and makes them
the mouthpece for its expressions; men iden-
tilted with the past, tie present and the future
of south Carolina-the owners of its soil, and
by right the best representatives Of its inter-
ests in the body now assembled.
Take look at some Of them as they sit in
this spacious Senate chamber. There is the
president, Hon. William D. Porter, Of Charles
ton, former lieutenant governor Of the State.
and wearing still the front of statesman
one whose voice in counsel has been heard on
thousand occasions. in peace and in war;
and whose courlly grace as q presiding officer
has lost none OF its charm, although, for the
moment, he occupies The chair OF colored
successor to t:4e ::onors of Senate.
Yon6oc sils Hon. Gabriel Cannon, OF Spar
tanburg, also former leutenant-gove
His hair is frosted by time, and his tall figure
droops a little under the burden OF years, but
they have been years ol usefulness, and his
people love him. Standing near BY is Major
General NJ. C. Butler, OF Edgefeld, the hand
soonest man 10 the convention, and one Of the
brightest intellects in the State. Popular in
manners, frank in address, Auent in speech,
and ready de0ater, II is no wonder that he
has met with success in every department OF
lie. So, too, with that keen, restless-eyed
man, General Gary, also from Edgefela. One
would not Judge from his quick, elastic step
and flowing locks that forty-odd years have
played their prnnks with him, but he has been
admirably preserved, and few men in South
Carolina enjoy more deserved fame. He is q
torcbe speaker-sliarp, lnclsve; and an ugly
antagonist.
On the other side OF the chamber is General
Johnson Hagood. Of Barnwell-calm, undem-
onstrative, and so full Of geatleness in speech
that you would not suspect how, on more than
one occasion, he led, as il were, the "isrlorn
hope" and once charged, almost alone, into
the laws of death 10 relake his captured flag.
Generals Kcrshaw and Kennedy are not yet
here; but there sits Wallace, OF Union, the
hish-toned Christian soldier, who, always
honored by the citizens oil his district, does
equal honor to them on every public occasfo n.
There. too, is Hon. James Chestnut, Of ker-
shaw, Ex-Governor, eX-Unted States senator.
and eX-Confederate gcneral-perlect type OF
the old time statesman. Sitting by him is Hon.
A. p. AiGrich, OF Barnwell, formerly the speaker
OF the House of Representatives and Judge. A
magnificent head and face, out Of which gleanl
pair OF gray eyes that mean business, tell
you OF intellectual power and resources
that have never failed the people in their tim e
O, need But to-day he is only \ taxpayer. '
Yonder, three or four seats distant. is another
public man, whose naIne has been house.
hold word in South Carolina for generations
Ex-Governor Manning, Of Clarendon, whose
prncely home and library were given to the
flames by Sherman's troops. ] see, also, in
wonder corner, quietly watching the tide Of
events, Hon. George a. Trenholm, once the
Secretary Of the Treasury Of the Confederate
States. Few excel him in speech, and none
in financial ability. At his side is Colonel
Richard Lathers, who, alter a quarter OF u
century in New York, where he won wealth
and distinction. returns 10 his native State TO
assist in working out the problem Of her well
fare. Col. Lalhers has such o happy way Of
presenting dry facts and figures. that they
seem almost picturesque. One OF the solid
men Of the convention. and greatly beloved
by his people. is Colonel T. C. Weatl erly. of
Marlboro. Practical. progressive and hopeful
of the future, No member will. in quiet way,
more impress his Influence upon this body.
Colonel F. T. Warley, ol Darlington, is another
strong man, whose ''volce was for war when
war meant fghring,.' but in peace is heard
hopeiully encouraging his people and de-
nouncing their oppressors He is one Of the
prominent lawyers OF the eastern part OF the
Stale.
might go on and ill columns with personal
descriptions Of the distinguished pnblicists
around me, but enough has been written to
convey an idea OF the character Of the conven-
ton. These gentlemen have met tc discuss
the situation calmly and without passion; not
10 grieve over the past. not TO do one foolish
act that good Judgment can avoid, and not 10
wranslc over political differences. Trey will
simply probe the fostering wound from which
the Stale is now suffering, and, II possible,
suggest the remedy. They will examine the
books and accounts Of officials, Investigate, as
far as lies in their power, the condition OF the
public treasury, strengthen the credit Of the
State, .and prevent, if practicable, the issue OF
further bonds of Indebtedness. The idea of
repudiation has not been broached, and would
not be entertained Tor moment.
REMARKS OF HON. W. D. PORTER.
After the election o.: officers this morning,
J Messrs. Chesnu'. W.. on and Sir.ons were ap-