Year: 1861

Convention


The Committee on Relations with the
Slavcholding States of North America" bco
leave to report, that they have carefully con
sdcred the three several propositions con,
tanned III the resolution referred to them,
which were submitted in Convention by
three several members from St Philips and
st. NichaeFs All the resolutions referred
to the Committee look to the purpose of
Confederate relations with our sister States
OF the South, having common interests with
us, and every cause, as VIC trust, to indulge
towards us common sympathies ana to con
tract cordial relations. In such n purpose
the Committee entirely and unanimously
concur and they recommend that every
proper measure be adopted to accomplish
such an end Upon this subject so much
unanimity prevails and has long prevailed in
TINS State, tI!at an argument thereupon would
be wholly superfuous. All seem to agree
that the first step proper to be taken for the
purpose OF promoting and securing the Con-
fcdcracy we seek, is the appointment Of Com.
missloncrs BY the authority of this Conven
ton, to such States of the South as may call
Conventions to consider and determine their
future political relations


/ The Committee advise that such stems be
taken by this Convention, hoping and be.
lioving that our sister States of the South
will correctly interpret our action in taking
the initiative as arising, by no means, from
any prcsumptuous arrogance, but from the
advance position which circumstances have
given to this State in the line of procedure
for the great design of maintaining the
rights, the security and the very existence of
the slavcholding South.


1t has been a subject of anxious considcra-
tion with the Committee whether the Com
mSSloncrs, whose appointment they recon-
mend, should be instructed to tender any
basis OF II temporary or Provisional Govern
mcnt.


The instrn ncnt called the Constitution
OF the United States of America has
been suggested as n suitable and propcr
basis to be offered for Provisional Govern
mcnt.


This suggestion has been commended ,o
the C"mnittcc by various considerations
which cannot now be set forth in full or at
large. Among these arc:


That the said instrument was the work of
minds of the first order in strength and accom-
plshmcnt


That it WAS most carefully constructed by
comprehensive views and careful examination
of details


That experience has proved it to be good
form of government for those sufficiently yir-
tuous, Intelligent and patriotic to cause it to
be fairly and honestly construed and impair
TALLY adm Yistcrcd


That the settled opinion of this State has
never been adverse to that plan of govern
mcnt Of Contcdcratcd States on account of
anything in its structure; but the dissatis-
faction is attributable to the false CLOSES. and
dangerous misntcrpretation, and perversion
OF sundry of its provisions, even to the ex-
tent, in one particular, of so covering up
the real purposes of certain legislation,
(mcant to protect domestic manufactures in
one section as to cstop the Supreme Court
in its opinion, from judlcially pcrccving
the real design


That it presents complete scheme of con-
federation, capable of being speedily put into
operation, familiar, by long acquaintance
with its provisions and their true import to
the people of the South, many of whom are
believed to cherish degree of vcneration
for it, and would feel safe under it, when in
their own hands for Interpretation and adj
mnistration, especially as the portions that
have been, by permission, made potent for
mischief and oppression in the hrnds of ad-
verse and inimical interests have received
a settled construction by the South. That
a speedy confederation by the South is desra-
bic in the highest degree, which it is sup
posed must be temporary at first, (if accom-
plishod as soon as it should bo.O no better
basis than the Constitution of the United
States is likely to be suggested or adopted for
temporary purposes.


That the opinions of those to whom it
designed to offer it would be conciliated by
the testimony the very act itself would carry
that South Carolina meant to seek no selfish
advantage, nor to indulge the least spirit of
dictation


That such form of government is moro or
less known to Europe, and, if adopted, would
indicate abroad thai the seeding Southern
States had the foresight and energy to put
into operation forthwith scheme Of gov
ernmeat and administration competent to
produce Sssfprompt organization for internal
necessities, and a sufficient protection of for.
oign commerce directed hither, MS well as to
guarantee foreign powers in the confidence
that new Confcderacy had Immediately aris-
On, quite adequate to supcrcede all the evils,
internal and external, of a partial or total in
terregnum


That its speedy adoption wonld work hap
PLY as revivilying agency in matters fnan-
cal and commercial between the States
adopting it and between them asa united
power and foreign commercial nations, and at
the same time would combine without delay
"a power-tOuching purse and sword that might
bring to prudent issue the reflections of
those who may perchancc be contemplating
an invasion or TO an issue disastrous to them
-~the attempted execution of such unholy de-
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