The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-05-18

Georgetown-Benj. Fl. Wilson.
GreenwHe-J. l.. Westmoreland.
Keyshaw-James Chesnut, w. NJ. Shannon.
| Lancoster-W. NJ. Conners, ]. B. Erwin.
Laurens-B. w. Ball, G. w. Sullivan.
Lerington-J. N. Huffman, F. S. Lewie.
Mar;o,,-Wm. Evans.
Marl6oro-C. w. Dudley, T. c. Weatherly.
Nepberry-Ellison S. Keitt, Robert Nc
Caughran.
Orangeburg-T. J. Goodwin, D. J: Rumpf.
Richiand-Wm. Wallace, Edwin j. Scott,
D. H. Chamberlain, R. D. Sem, w. K. Green
field, G. II. Baldwin.
Spartanburg-G. Cannon, A. D. Woodruff.
iSumter-John B. Moore, F. II. Kennedy.
Union-lY. H. Wallace.
JVilliamsbug-David Epps.
York-John r. Lindon, Cad. Jones.
Mr.. B. w. Ball moved that the chair appoint
committee of nine to nominate permanent
officers of the Convention.
Mr.. Wilson, of Georgetown, moved, as sub
stitute, that the Convention proceed at once to
ballot for permanent officers without commit
tee.
Some discussion then sprang up, participated
in by Messrs. Ball and Butler, for the motion,
and Messrs. Wilson and SiHons, for the substi-
tute. The question was then put, as to the
adoption of the substitute, and carried, by
vote of q to %.
On motion of Mr.. Chesnut, the Convention
adopted the rules and regulations OF the House
of Representatives of the United States for the
government of this body.
The Convention then proceeded to the cleo
tion of officers. Gen. Chestnut was nominsted
for President and declined, and suggested the
name of Hon. w. D. Porter, of Charleston.
Gen. M. c. Butler then nominated Gen. NJ.
w. Gary, of Edgefeld, who declined the NOM
inatiOn in the following remarks:
] am here, not as an aspirant for any office
within the gift of this Convention, but as a
representative of the people of Edge6eld.-
Since the results of the war have been so dis
astrous to US, must confess that whatever am
bition might have had previous to that time,
[ have none now. am therefore unwilling
that by the use of my name the harmony Of
this Convention should be disturbed. l do
think, at time like the present, when We are
oppressed we should present united front-we
should have no differences between US. Actu-
ated by these feelings, npst decline the NOM
ination. Applause.
The ballot was then ordered and resulted in
the choice of the following officers:
President-Hon. w. D. Porter, of Charles
Vice Presidents-Gcn. NJ. c. Butler, of Edge
field Col. c. W. Dudley, of Marlborough; (;
Hon. D. H. Chamberlain, of Richland, and
Hon. Gabriel Cannon, of Spartanburg.
ecretaries-Wm. NJ Connors, of Lancaster,
and Myron H. Fox, of Charleston.
Messrs James Chestnut, B. Ii. Wilson and
T. Y. Simons were appointed a committee to
conduct the President elect to the Chair, and
upon assuming the duties Of that position, MIR.
Porter addressed the Convention substantially
as follows:
Gentlemen of the Conventional thank you for
this compliment, which is priced the more high
ly because see so many of the old familiar
faces around me; so many of the good men
and true" to whom South Carolina, in her
better days, was accustomed to confide her hon
or AMI her interests and who now in the hour
of her distress are rs faithful as they have
always been. My only regret is that the occa.
sion of cur meeting is not less pleasant and
happy. We have met for the purpose of taking
measures to save ourselves from absolute ruin.
To rebuke corruption in high places, and to be
obliged to take measures to save ourselves from
irretrievable ruin, is duty by no means pleas
ant AS it has been placed upon US, let us dis
charge it manfully and with fidelity. The fun
damental law of the State and the United
States secures to the people the right to assem-
BILE peaceably, and to seek by all lawful means
redress for their grievances We are assembled
in such manner and for such purpose. 1t
is admitted by fair minded men Of all parties
that there are great public grievances, and that
by their presence, there has been called into
existence such Convention as this. A Con-
vention unprecedented in all the history of the
State. A Convention to secuse to ourselves
proper share in representative government.
We have no legislative power; we are simply
an advisory body. But we can enquire aud in
yestigate we can collect and embOdy investi-
CATION we can recommend to the people, who
have conferred upon lis this trust, such measures
as we may deem necessary for their security in
the future. Let there be fairness and justice,
if we nothing extenuate, let US set down naught
in malice. The first great wrong is the increase
in the public debt An extraordinary increase,
as is admitted on all hands. The people of the
State are entitled to know and must know the
amount of that debt. They must know what
is the actual as well as the contingent liability
of the State of South Carolina.
That the application of the public moneys
have been extravagant, wild and prof1igate, adj
perhaps, never in the history Of a people was
there an instance where this recklessness and
prohigacy was more shamclcssly apparent
Corruption yaunts itself in the light of day,
and assumes to itself the garb of honesty. If
these things are not checked and rebuked they
will result not only in generalization, but in
bankruptcy and ruin. The credit of the State
Is dearer to none than it is to lis. 1t has been
our traditional policy to keep and hold the
public credit, not only unquestioned, but un-
suspected. We mean not repudiation, but We
do mean openly aud in the most solemn man. !.
ner to give notice that the public credit OF
South Carolina has been strained to the most
extreme point, and that whatever obligations
financiers take, they must take them at their
own peril.
to avoid party politics. For every fasr1ninded
man who is willing to put his seal eff disap-
proval on corruption, or is willing to 60 with.
US in correcting abuses, we have welcoming