Year: 1860

on the proposition to adjourn to Charles
ton:


Mr.. Miles said II will say few words of
the question to Law on the table. l will ex-
press my warmest hope that the resolution Of
the gentleman from Chesterfield will not be
adopted, and do so because it is my fixed
conviction that the adoption of the resolution
and the adjournment of this body from Column
ba to any other point without having taken
action on the event which has brought US to-
gether, will have the most unhappy, if not
disastrous effect on the great cause IN which the
South is united. (Applause.) There were
two arguments which were urged in favor OF
this proposition-one is the prevalence of
contagious disease, and the other is that there
is not sufficient accommodation for the mem
bers.


With reference to the first point, if the peo
pie of South Carolina are prepared 10 resume
their sovereignty and take their position among
the nations of the earth as an independent peo-
pie, and are prepared to face all the dangers
and emergencies which must grow out of that
attitude, in my humble judgment and opinion,
they seem to me to be almost puerile. l think
every question is subsidiary to this great and
important matter of withdrawing South Caro-
lima from the Union at the earliest moment
practicable, and the misapprehension and mis-
construction that would necessarily occur out





dampen the hopes of our friends and gladden.
the hearts of our enemies. They would say of
us-they are prepared to face world in arms,
but they runaway from the small poX. With
reference to the matter OF personal convenience
to the members. I hope [ may be excused for
making personal alluson.


There is no gentleman more desirous or who
needs more of the comforts of life than L do,
but. when it is necessary to the action Of the
and tha fI11f Of
the people, will remain here every day, even
though contract the disease, and by staying
should risk my life, | should stay and die.


I am lust from Washington, where l have
been in close consultation with all our South
ern friends. They are unanimous, and their
urgent request is not to delay at all, and the
very last thing urged upon me by my friends
of Georgia, Of Alabama Florida, Mississippi
and Texas, and from every other Southern
State there, was to take out South Carolina the
instant you can and now the members are
panic struck and urge that we forthwith scam
per off to Charleston.


1t does not seem to me the effect would be
little iudicious, if l may be allowed the use of
the provincalsm. l entreat the gentlemen to
look at this matter. | am prepared, the instant
the body passes the Ordinance Of Secession, if
the gentlemen desire it, to remove to any other
point, and to go on and perfect our work but
would not bulge an inch from this, until we
have sundered every tie that binds us to the
Confederacy. (Great applause)


Mr. Deray heartily endorsed every word Mr..
Miles had said Let US wait uutil the act of
Secession is accomplished, and then talk of ad
journing. He urged that elections occur
ring in many other Southern States they are
watching the movements Of this body, all eyes
turned on US the telegraphc wires will flash
the intelligence of our action. If we lose time,
if we delay action, it will dampen the spirit Of
our friends and they will ask with propri-
ETY., us this great body assembled at the Cap
ital to inaugurate in great crisis, a move
ment like this, afraid Of a few cases of small
pox"


He conceived that the malady was a god
send, because our people had too long neglec-
ted a duty which they never should have neglec
ted, that of vaccination. Uaughter) If the
members will attend to that, | guarantee that
in ten days time there will not be single case
of small pox here. There is no danger, il my
opinion. If you will pass the Ordinance of Sc
cession am willing to go anywhere, but now.
beg gentlemen, in view of the public exigen-
cy, not to remove until South Carolina is out
of the Union and we have reclaimed our sovc-
reignty.


Mr.. KE1TT agreed with the gentlemen as to
prompt and speedy action. He said | am ready
to take the State out of the Union. | am ready
to go now and forever, and to go at once, and
to burn the bridges behind us. (Applause)
Not one of these gentlemen will go futher to
bring about all the ends of the Convention than
will But is there anything here in the char
acter of the soil which renders it important
for the honor of the State that your ordinance
of Secession should pass here? VIII not the
same instrument, if adopted in Charleston,
have the same vitality if passed here? They
will sneer at you if you go; why, pray, is it
because you did not come here and run through
a great measure in hot haste with all the stages
Of its detail? 1t is because, when the Conven-
ton assembled, it did not in fifteen minutes
carry out its Ordinance of Secession? Will
they do it because this Convention is not
shocking its own good sense Of propriety see
fit to observe such forms as may be necessary
Or because of the injurious effect it will have
our sister Southern States? Now let me
ask do we doubt what we will do? Is there
single doubt but that the Convention will
withdraw the State from the Unione Is there
any doubt among our sister States that we will
doit? Are we to lose 1000 votes in Georgia by
postponing the Ordinance of Secession till to-
morrow If on the other hand, gentlemen
can show anything we will lose by going to
Charleston, will be the first to stay, and, If
necessary, to make the sacrifice Of my life
aud remain. If this thing do invoke the God
of battles-if the cry is, ''To your tents, Oh
Israel" so be it; but if we go to the tented
field tomorrow, and can sleep in comfortable
bed tonight, will do it. daughter and ap-
plause.)


Mr.. INGLIs said if any one was anxious, very
anxious to take the State out of the Union, he
was more so? If any one desired it more, he
could not conceive he was more ready than
the readiest. Yet, with this sentiment, he had
offered the resolution. He knew that the ar
gument that has been made would be urged, |
but he did not see the force of it. He had of |
fered it, believing they would be made. The |
Ordinance to be passed must have deliberation. !
Not line of it would be adopted that would !
not be discussed, We must deliberate on it
we must take all the advantages that will tend |
to facilitate it. You cannot pass the ordinance |
tomorrow. We will lose nothing by adjourn
ing over to Charleston. [ cannot see how an
over for half day shall be con-
strued into faltering. I do not see why adver-
tisement of our position should be made. fit
is necessary, why pass resolution saying that
it is the judgement of this body that Ordi-
nance of Secession-of instant secession--should
be passed as soon as possible, but in order to
give time for preparation we think it best to ad-
iOl1rn