Year: 1860

sion subject the direction Of the Convention Of the
people of South Carolina, when here assembled Hc
knew that a sudden stoppage would have been accom-
panied by the most mschievous consequences He is
prepared now and he holds his commission under the
direction and at the will Of the Convention this body


of which he expects to allegiance and to whom he
expects to allegiance alone. Let pass postal ar


rapgements Mr.. President Mirabeau many years ago
said that the ercest instructions those which
from the stomach People without bread won't bear
reason their patriotism is dead Sir next TO bread in
artificial state Of society is light don't the
glorious light Of the heavens; / mean the infor-
nation and intelligence Next 10 bread people
must have information. They must have light. If
sir you suddenly withdraw this light eight and forty
hours interruption in postal arrangements


you stop the of communication Sir the perous
consequences which would result from it will be easily
appreciated by every thinking every corner OF
the State. Sir, 1t shouli not be done suddenly. We
should have little time 10 effect arrangements


Now in regard to postal arrangements 1t is TO be done
by congress. Don't let me be misunderstood as
sumo that tomorrow we take the attitude of sovereign
sate viii assume that the national the head OF
the federal government, when the presented
them, will that the rights assume-our rights
must be recognized Without that they win prepared
soon TO hear we out of the Union BY slowly acting
they win then be prepared to treat with in commerce,
upon postal arrangements, upon any other matter Let
say, Mr.. President, don't argument from their
feelings but their interests important to them as to
US, and certain time should be giveM As m the in
stance Of copartnership proposed to bo drawn up,


it reasonable that ordinary time be given 10 effect our
purposes You can't act until you out Of the Union


The object should be make temporary
that shortly 80 as TO keep If please,
the postal arrangement, which consider part Of the
great commercial relations of the country kept up
until we hear the government is prepared say yea
about the Collector from the newspapers the post
masters Of the State think might say the thing.
From number know could say they ready; they
are only desirous knowing from this Convention what


proper for the welfare and the advancement Of this
great cause Mr. President, what have said as to the
Collector Of Charleston could only specify from what
read in the papers For the Postmaster of Charleston
have right 10 speak little more automatically. say,
sir that at this very moment he prepared to put his
commission in the hands Of the Of the State to
be forwarded to the Department whenever in the opinion
Of the Governor, through this Convention shall be
deemed expedient for the welfare of South Carolina 10
which alone, after its withdrawal he will look do in
Justice, however. come short. He has lived TO tho
time appointed for man and rather beyond H. and say,


in all the difficulties and troubles he may have encoun


tered in that long period Of time that they have been
nothing to the relief which he Is Afforded He has init
mated that he is ready TO put his commission tlls
night in the hands Of the Governor Of the State.
Now sir, we know what the Collector win do /; we know


what the posmastes throughout the prepared
10 do. Now sir have resolution which intend
to this committee, not merely for them but TO find


what temporary permanent arrangements IL Is ex-


pedent adopt In reference 70 the withdrawal Of this


State from the unon for postal arrange
report until it had conferred with the Governor, 80
not to disturb the ordinary relations and until


had heard what was proposed TO be done the subject


Some gentlemen suggest allowance for conference Of


ten days some suggest one month suggest longer


time say two months after the assembling Of the two
conventions Of sister states which meet the 7h
and nth OF January respectively. II was sug-


gested that temporary arrangement could opera


given for the general TO know our views and
make ready to answer, yea nay, whether they


disposed to treat but in the meantime the ordinary
occupations oi our citizens are 10 go One matter
20 the The Postmaster OF Charleston
likely, would keep an account until the transaction
was settled-JanuaIy 17th. My friend from st.
Michaels proposed one item. II was proposed that


the money received by the poetmasters any OF them


should be considered in account and settled with the
general on the day OF the Of the
ordinance At the sitting of this convention q month


hence all these matters win be arranged as between two
parties In the meantime the accounts should 90 on
that sudden disruption shall take place Sir, merely
suggest this has been spoken Of by others Secretary
Cobb said that the revenue OF South Carolina from the
Custom House didn't pay the expenses


For the last quarter understand from the best authority


that the post Offices Of South Carolina the govern
$40 ooo and the receipts have been less than
$50 COO Therefore, Mr. President there rs great ap
prehension In that way. But accounts should be kept
In the meantime the usual business transactions
should be allowed 10 proceed until II ascertaned what
were the views OF the administration, who
have doubt entirely friendly us and will do
every thing that be order prevent any in
convenience Mr.. President, have only word more:
win take my scat We are at the Inauguration Of


great cause All OF MS look with an undiyided eve w
the consequences OF that One OF the prom


nent and most favorable s the unanimy which prevails
in this state OF South Carolina, unanmity not only
unexpected SIR but unprecedented might 20 further


and say 20 the sympathy found In other States 1t
a certain degree unexpected II has surpassed may
say, every expectation The great object should be 10
preserve unanmity and form and chill this sympathy


81 our southern m sisters, Now MT. President have


ton and the ships oa hng with the products OF


country would rot before they would 20 to II


dinance was passed, they will have papers they
stopped Pass your ordinance and what N the conse
suenccs Why, sir, We are stopped a single day. n


stopped two days the eloquence Of Mr. stevens


would be but penny whistle compared with ihe astound
ing causes among ourselves The soppagc Of postal ar.
rsngenens is an argument that win make man silent


This VIII be but the beginning The port Of Charleston
shut, postal arrangements stopped, The people united


their ships ro,tng at the wharves the whole of our
ordinary uansactisns win stop Is there any argument
that obvIate ~ Look at the States hest.
atss, than ready Georgia, whosc coope
exactly the position with and lies side BY sdo
by Mr. President, have resolution which intend


soon 70 ask 10 oner for an appropriate committee pro-


posc 10 refer 70 that committee % inquire whether ~


contemplation, the withdrawal of the state from the


Union either TO make permanent or Temporary arrange


reference to the officers of the poet Offices and the


Custom House and that they should report thereon This
TbcE nAeRsnrs sprsu


IF we were now condition OF profound peace, and


about iuaaguratng this secession south Carolina
from the siserhood OF States, IN a condition OF good
yil and good wishes, that resolution would be mme


aately proper and necessary but when about


ccnsumnae this great act without the good viii and with


out the good wishes q many Of the states q this col


federacy, IL j. most important that the State Of South


Carolina should know " their rights, claimed IN behalf of


thcse states were 10 be exercised would be wen 10


define ts rights 10 be exercised within the limits n her
own State The President of the United states alrms


his rights his constitutional duty and high obligation 70


protect what be calls the property of the United states


within the limits o South Carolina and enforce aferth


secession u south Carolina the laws OF the United States


within ne limits and II true, SIR that he says he hrs


no consttu nal power 70 the state Of south Caro-


lima shc shall sccede, while Al tho iimo he denies
her the exercise a. her legitimate right secession
which she claims and apprehcnd there viii be- Mr..


President an attempt 70 coercc the state u south Caro-


lna, IN the form of protecting the property of the
United states within the limits n south Carolina.


am disposed therefore az the very threshold q tho
accuracy of this logic. and weigh well the cucusion


which the President q the United states has arrived NJ in
his consideration ~ this matter There never has been


day, hour, when anybody could claim the


property within the limits ~ the State ~ South
whether the claim made by individual o. corpo
ration, or community. or nation u 10 not sacred


under the constitution the laws % South Carolina aud


a. when that right y claimed by ono of our own ctf


zensP And " there be, " asserted property of the
United states within the limits ~ South Csruiins-the
a thc State