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seen drawing up past scenes by the magic of
his penal. Nothin" presents itself to.the as.
toniahed vision of the lingering traveller but
hraken columns, and shattered arches, yaw-
ningtambs, and ruined porticos, as faint rem
nants of what was. Where the freeborn an
cient walked in majesty, the bondsman mod
ern gropes in slavery. But if the spirits of
Lycurgus, and Solon are yet pemlitted to lin
ger about the grave of Grecian liberties, they
may read inscribed on the Mausoleum, vice;
while millions of those who once defended
raid preserved hrr, look down from the battle
ments of cter.iitv and exclaim, dissension !
\ic.c ! Her degenerate so:ts ypt hope for bet-
i-*r days; but ales! the last hope which cheer
ed the prospect of the Greek, died on the plains
ta Missolonghi.
The. proud Homan too, has felt the rod of
affliction, and when the degenerate race of
what o ice wasamighty people,looks back upon
the exploits, and glory of their ancestors, they
sigh to themselves and 9ay—ah! those jvere
days of glory, which have passed, mid arc to
come no more; the gods have so decreed,
and shall man attempt to change his fate ?
They solace themselves with the shame.
Tul consolation that the memory of the past, is
glory enough for them. And what has thus
degraded the descendants of Scipio,. and the
offspring of Caesar ? what has so chilled the
souls of Cicero’s race, and caused a stagna
tion in the lineal blood of him who said, «a
day, an hour of virtuous liberty, is worth a
whole eternity of bondage.” Was it the chil
ling blast that damped their courage, or the
howling temp'st that rocked the foundations
of their government? Yes, the storm came,
hut not when the country was'in youthful vig.
or, or strengthened manhood, not while the
rivalry of Carthage excited the jealousy, and
roused the ambition of her sons. But when
the decay • aid infirmities of a luxurious, and
vicious old age had enfeebled her—when the
overflow of wealth, which was scatter ed along
the banks of the Tiber during her latter days,
had gained its influence, then came the storm
which levelled her greatness, and dissipated
her glory. And Rome-’, whose eagles had
spread their .wings in triumph over the world
for more .than a thousand years—yes, Rome
was 'doomed to fall.
But what shall we say of the mom ra na.
tious of Europe 1 what of the spirit of liberty
which has alternately kindled and expired 1
In the early days of Switzerland, virtue reign
cd supreme; no prostitution of morals was
found among her citizens. The inhabitants
of iicr villages were never roused from their
peaceful slumbers by the noise of the bach-
analian returning from his midnight revels.
But a hardy, lreo-borh race, they were devo
ted to liberty, and they spurned oppression
At the approach of an invader, the beacon of
war blazed on every mountain top ; the far
mer left his fields, the shepherd dropped his
crook, the lover took a farewell look at the
object of his regards, smiled a benediction,
and fled to the standard of his country. Swift
us the avalanche, the patriot rushes from his
native cliffs, nimble as the deer that feeds up.
on the crasr, brave as the lion that wanders
over the desert. Contemning the dangers of
war when his liberties were threatened, he
planted himself a bulwark of ftvedom, a bar-
rier between his country and oppression,
spirit of liberty pure as the snow-flake which
covers the mountain top, burned in the breasts
of those people. While the agents of despo.
tissn were sent out to desolate the surrounding
countries, the few small, but brave Cantons
of Switzerland stood sublimely groat amidst
the general ruin that encompassed them.:—
They lenew no chains, they submitted to no
oppressions, but they breathed an atmosphere
uncontaminated by despositim, unpolluted by
private, or public vices, physically great, mor
ally sublime. No foemtp found a conquest
(hoiv, but thq rathjcs$ .invaderinut a stubborn
foe.
Many nations of Europe were content to
live ia vassallagc, and bend the knee in hum-
hie submission to feudal lords ; at the call of
the baron a multitude of slaves surrounded
liim to defend his person, or execute his or-
ders. Those were the days of chivalry; a
warring spirit had gone out among the chief,
tains, but no benefit accrued from their mili
tary operations to the great mass of the peo
ple. Tiicvravaged countries, besieged towns,
stormed castles, and‘plundered vilages, but re
turned home again to become slaves. Feu.
dalb .1 had stamped its seal upon the fate ofthe
people, and they acknowledged its power. A
lifol ss stupidity seemed to hang over their
ir.mds ; with the power to become free, they
Lad not the knowledge to use it. Not so with
the mountifecer,free as the wind that whistled
across flic bleak cliffs of hi9 native Alps, he
defied the powers of tyranny; and mocked at
fhe victims of oppression. He fled not at the
tocsin of war, but the first martial sound that
echoed along the voles, found him at his post,
uml the first focman that drew a hostile blade,
Was met by a staunch antagonist.
But the glory of Switzerland, too, is gone,
her liberty but a name. The spirit that dwelt
upon the mountains, has been seen cowering
before the modern tyrant. Yet they were not
all who felt the shock of the fell destroyer.
No! the greatest mcraarchs of Europe, who
but codded and legions of subjects rushed to
thejr arms, have quailed beneath the frowns
of this unparalleled conqueror. France, too,
the birth place and supporter of his power, yet
feels the effects of iris elevation. France
wished for liberty but she pursued it through
crimes, she sought it ia the death of a peace-
fal monarch, who wished the happiness of his
people. Her people called for liberty, the
goddess came, not robed in the white habil
iments of happiness, and bearing in her hand
the olive branch of peace as they had vainly
anticipated, but girt about with the mail of war,
and holding in her hand a gory dogger. Yet
fan rejoicing citizens burst forth from every
gaiter to hail her coming. The ensigns of
royalty wer0 thrown aside for the badges of
freedom, land the very image of a crown was
'banished from the imaginations of the cnlhu.
jfe&ie populace, jljft* hdw ooim the notes
were changed, the very Ups that shouted ho-
sannahs to the mottoliberty and equality, were
soon heard hailing filename of Buonaparte-—
emperor of France, and tyrant of Europe.
But where now is the greatness of France ?
That power which once set out to gain the uni
versal freedom of man, has found it3elf incom
petent to secure its own. That power whose
leader was once seen battling with the unof
fending Mameluke beneath the eternal pyra
mids-of Egypt, and at another time taking up
his habitation in the Kremlin, while the terri-
tory of Russia was illuminated by the flames
of Moscow, has dwindled down to the limits
of the ancient monarchy. Vice found its way
into the chambers of government, corruption
dwelt in the directory, the people were misled
by the ambitious, faction contended with fac-
tion, and demagogue with demagogue, till in
the confusion of the timcs„the love of country
was absorbed by the love of self, and France
soon found herself a mere wreck, floatingup.
on the ocean of existence, liable to be buffeted
by every storm—a melancholy example of the
intimate connection between moral degrada
tion, and national decay.
But leaving the eastern hemisphere to its
follies and its crimc3, what shall we say of the
western ? shall liberty here, too, find a grave ?
shall insatiate tyranny, after driving the heav
enly goddess front every covert in the old
world, now hunt her with unabated fury from
every comer of the new ? No! the countries-
of Europe, situated as they were in the midst
of so many crowned heads, and potentates,
were not likely to be free. Accustomed from
experience, and observation, to feel and see
slavery in every form, a desponding populace
were unable to possess liberty. Should some
bold adventurers, roused to the noble under
taking by a pure love of freedom, rise up and
shake off slavery, tumble the thrones of their
monarciis to the ground,and assert their liber
ty,that liberty was only tenable so long as the in
vading plunderer was kept at bay by the point of
the bayonet. Tyrants, ever jealous ofevery thing
like liber.:! principles, are not likely to be slum
bering on their thrones while a single spark
of liberty is kindling in the nations around
them; but suspicious, and watchful, ’si the
first movement for freedom they put their
powers in readiness, and the first avowal ofin-
dependence is the signal for destruction. But
thank heaven, it is not so here; isolated from
the nations of Europe, we look with an eye of
indifference at the daily revolutions which are
there taking place. It matters not with us,
though the whole European continent should
be consolidated into one powerful monarchy.
No hopes of gain, however great, would tempt
the invasion of a country, wiiich in its infancy
repelled the embattled hosts of England with
her boasted navy, and immense resources.
And should an enemy now threaten us, party
feuds, and sectional jealousies would be swal-
lowed up ia patriotism, and the invading foe
greeted on the beach by the sound ofthe trump,
and the roar ofthe caunon.
But it is not from Europe the destroyer is to
be expected ; the fatal canker is supposed to
exist in our own bosom, and come whose ex-
"uberant imaginations have already seen our
fields strewed with the dead and the dying,
proclaim the beginning of the end to be com-
menccd. Not such the humble opinion of
your orator. Though the great luminary
which shone with such brilliant splendour du
ring the revolution, has sunk behind the wes
tern horizon, and with him all the satellites
which played around him, yet others have aris
en to fill their stations, and those, too, whose
knowledge of government, and skill in politic,
al affairs, will be able to guide the vessel of
state clear ofthe quicksands of the tariff, and
the breakers of Nullification. There are some
who are alike unawed by the proclamation of
the President, and unintimidated by the threats
of the military. Some in whose breasts the
spirit of ’70 yet blazes, and in whose ears the
era of that day yet reverberates. It is true
jarring interests and contentions for right, have
created a mighty gulf betweon the hearts of
Southern and Northern men, but I yet hope
there are some few among us,-who like Cur-
tius of old, would plunge into the yawning
chasm to save their country, and that the mur
muring sounds which now shake every portion
of our fair land, like the thunder of a passing
cloud, will soon die away in the distance.
Religion, climate, and government, arc
three grand modifiers ofthe actions, and char
acters of nations. Here vve have religion in
its purity; no connection between church and
state; no superhuman power, or pretended
God sits upon a Papal throne, to awe the pco-
pie into subjection through superstitious fear.
No great power is delegated to any-particular
sect, or denomination, as an inducement for
ambitious men to become pretended saints,
But on the contrary, a spirit of liberty breathes
through the proceedings of our most religious
institutions.
As for climate, our country embraces almost
every variety, from the ice bound regions of
Maine, to the wide spread, and luxuriant plains
of Florida. 4 Containing within its limits soil ‘of
every description, from the towering heights &
projecting clifi's oftne Allegany, to the gentle
slopes and evergreen valiies ofthe Mississippi
Our government, though threatened at present
with destruction, will yet be preserved, and
long prove a protection for the innocent. Un
<ter a government, then, like ours, in such a
country, with such institutions, what nation
could fail to be great, could fail to be happy!
A revolution in morals, too, is fast going on,
Who that has observed during file last few
years, but has beheld a moral sun shining from
on high, and the dirk clouds of vice dissipating
before its rays. Under such auspices, what
soul does not rejoice ? what heart does not beat
high. ' '
America shall yet be great. As the sun
whose face lias been shrouded for a time by
clustering clouds, appears the brighter when
the sweeping winds have cleared the heavens,
so will America appear when the lowering
storms and bursting thunders which now threa
ten her shall have passed. Assuming a station
more eminently great than ever, she will speed
on to the grand ultimatum of national perfee
tion. And in ages yet to come, when'Ameri
ca shall stand on the highest point of greatness,
the contentions which now agitate her will be
looked back upon as the puerile follies of her
infant days. The great political convulsions
which cow disturb her peace, shall be-swal.
lowed up in the vortex of time-,and only remem
bered as evils that existed. Rising higher,
and still higher in the - scale of bung, till she
has attained the grand acme of human great,
ness, she will there hold her stand,
“ Till wrapt in fire the realmna of ether glow,
And heavens last thunder shakes the world below.”
Fellow Members of the Demosthsnian Society:
Time ia its ceaseless routine of months,
weeks, and days, has again brought us to this,
the birth day of our Institution. A9 the an
cient devotee bowed down to his idol, burned
sacrifices in honors of his deity; or as the
citizens of our own country corne up annually,
on the birth day of their independence, to of
fer oblations at the shrine of liberty, so do
we come up here to day, to pour out oar
libations on the altar of literature and elo
quence. Of all the boons providentially given
to man, there is none like that of intellect,
and the power of improving that intellect.—
Without it, what were man, and without the
power of improving it, what were he still ? in
every sense of the word, a brute. Without
it, what can he do ? with it, what can he not
do? With the powers of the mind rightfully
cultivated, we have seen single men melding
the whole energies of a nation, and directing
them with irresistible force against its adver
sary. With this mighty lever we have seen
whole kingdoms and empires overturned;
with it, too, we have seen whole nations sav.
ed. It gives a man that influence which is
otherwise unattainable. Who has not seen
the orator leading the people as if by
magic ? Who has not seen the ‘finished spea-
ker now inciting the multitude to turbulence,
anon calming it to death-like silence. By
the gracefulness of his gesture, the dignity,
of his look, and the expression of his counte
nance, he becomes the centre of power, and
like the mainspring pf a machine, puts _ the
world work in motion. But this power is not
the gratuitous gift of nature, nor is it altogoth
er attainable by art. Nature Minist lay the
foundation, but art must erect the edifice.—
There are, indeed, some few meteor-like gen
iuses, which occasionally flash .across the
whole, hut they aie few and far.between. It'
their influence is tlesirable, und the art of el
oquence is indispensable to acquire it,'
“ Who for tho palm, in contest high will join,
Or who in equal ranks shall stand ?”
Are there any among us who will suffer
their mi.ids to pine in indolence, and finally
wither ia obscurity. Are there any in whose
bosoms a single spark of ambition has never
yet glowed ? The burning ardour pf a youth
ful soul says, no ! Then let us cultivate that
virtuous ambition, that heaven-born emulation,
which elevates the soul, and exalts ,the charac
ter of man. Let virtue and a faithful dis-
charge of the duties of our , Society * be our
guide, and though the sorins’of adversity
may howl around us, with these ut our helm
we are safe. Emulation is the soil of gen
ius, und a moral deportment is the support of
character; with these combined amau must
rise. ■ ■ j..
If we look around through our State, we
may find many fast rising to. distinction, ma
ny around whose brows a halo of glory is
forming; and if we trace back tie hisior.
of their past lives, we sh ill find tfiit the fouu.
tain head of their distinction sprum up with
in the walls of our Hall. With tuch exam-
pies before us, what one is there but says
to himself, « I will go and do likewise.”—
Our predecessors are now uLrtul ia the
world, they have gone fort!-- to reap the beh-
efit, and improve on the foundation they laid
while here. Once they lillcd-foe places we
now occupy; they then supported the digni
ty, ansi honor of the body; the weekly re
turns of their regular meetings \yere hailed
as a kind of sabbath-day to their feelings;
the sound of the bell on those days raised a
throb in every heart, and with hasty steps
they flocked to the Hall to partake in the de
lightful duties of the day. But they are gone
—we may now find them in venous occin
putio.is of life; some iu our Congress Hull,
pleading for our rights and lib rties; some
on the bench, dispensing justice to the untor-
tunate criminal; and some, urged by a feel
ing of humgnitv, may be found (tiding with
medical - skill the helpless invalid. On us
now devolve those important duties which i
was theirs once to perform; it is with us ei
ther to support, and dignify the name of De
mosthenian, or disgrace,-and degrade it. And
is there any one among us who will shrink
from file important, yet pleasing task? Are
there any who are willing that our name
should be handed down to those who may
ranarfe. lor honor* IA virtue, Ategrily, («***%'**
a^ an, hoajAate competition, bo the rule of t-ctam.unset, lor its «*. The
; your conduct. Let nothing but true merit
lift you above others, and sbould you be thus
elevated to Itigh places in the State, with
pleasing reminiscences on the past, you may
look back to that Hall, and say there is
the first stepping stone to the eminence
which I nbw possess. If you persevere in
the pursuit of that knowledge, and that elo
quence which gives one the power over many,
the name of Chatham, Burke, or Fox, may
yet give place to that of a Demosthenian.—
And while, by a stern adherence to virtue
and morality, you are benefiting mankiud,
the whispering applause of a greatful people
will cheer you on the road to fame.
fiat*
come after us, tarnished and degenerate? If
there are any such, they deserve not the
name of Demosthenian. But I flunk I read
ia the countenance of every one before me,
a determination to preserve" in its- pristine
purity, that name which was given to
us by our predecessors, and transmit it un-
stained to our successors. While the mem.
bers of our rival are. awake to the interest of
their own body, we should not be found wan
ting to ours, but we should exert that activi-
ty, vigilance, and perseverance,: which can
alone ensure success in -any undertaking.
To support our name, and dignity a
body, is indeed an important duty; but there
ore other duties no less important, which we
owe to ourselves , as individuals. Tie who
wishes to hold ariforiunent. stand in after life,
must hero lay the foundation. It is here the
mind receives that bent, which is to r 'charac
terize it through . the whole course of after
existence. *Tis hero the character receives
that torn which is to elevate the pbssessor to
honor, or sink him to infamy. Cultivate*
then, those noble qualities of the soul, which
can alone adorn and embelish the human
character—“mactr virtute, sic itur'iid astrif.”
And when you leave these walls, and go forth
on the wide arena of the world, mingle in
the busv scenes of life, .and contend with
From the Cor. of the Charleston Courier.
SOUTH CAROLINA CONVENTION.
Columbia, March 11.
The Convention met pursuant to the Proc
lamation of the President—was called to or
der at 12 o’clock, and opened with prayer,
by the Rev. Mr. Ware, a member.
The President (James Hamilton, Jr.) then
addressed thef members as follows:
Gentlemen,—-In exercising the power
of calling you together, which you were pleas
ed lo place in my hands at your adjournment
I have both regretted and been sensible of the
inconvenience to which I must have subjec
ted many of you in being compelled to leave
your homes at a season so essential to the
success of the agricultural labors of the whole
year. It must, however, have been mani
fest to you from the nature of the proceedings
of this body at its former meeting, that its
re-assembling after the adjournment of Con
gress, was an event, of highly probable oc
currence. Before, however, this necessity
was demonstrated, I was officially Apprised
by the Governor of South Carolina, on the 5th
February, of the arrival of a commissioner on
the part of the State of Virginia, bearing cer
tain resolutions adopted by the General Assem
bly of that State, respectfully soliciting of this
State, a suspe.ision or rescindingoi the Ordiu
race of her Convention until the adjournment of
the next session of Congress. These resolutions
were accompanied by ail application ou the
part of the gentleman in this commission, that
this Convention should be convened at an early
moment. The high source from which this
mediation emanated, the friendly dispositions
by wnieh it was obviously dictated, borne, too,
and advocated by a gentleman so long and
so advantageously known as among the most
able and devoted champions of the rights of
the States, left me by what 1 was quite sure
would be your own decision, no other alter
native (if my own inclinations had been
wanting) than a compliance with the wishes
of ttiat distinguished Commonwealth as com
municated by ner worthy Representative.—
As 1 was, however, perfectly satisned that uo
decision on flic propositions of which he was
bearer, could be made prior to the aujourn
ment 01 Congress, toe period of your assem
bling has been arranged to meet both contin
gencies.
\ ou have thus assembled, Gentlemen, and
the proposed mediation of Virginia is met
concurrently by tn- passage of ail act by the
Congress of tne bolted S-tutes mutinying the
’lurih oi the 14th of July last, ana by an act
entitled “an act more ellectualiy to provide
lor the execution oltae Revenue Laws.”
In cringing noth these taws to your view,
and invoking your mature consideration ot
their provisions and objects, it would not be-
come me to make any suggestion as to the
course it behoves you to pursue in reference
to these measures. If the hrst is not in all
respects satisfactory, as coming up to that
measure 01 justice to which the South hau
fair claim, and is liable to some impor
tant objections, it, nevertheless, provides tor
the commencement of un e..rly, though grau.
ual amelioration of that system, against winch
we nave so long complained, and lor un ulte
rior recognition of the consiitutfbual princi
ples upon winch our rights ure assumed to
rest. In forming your estimate, however, of
whatever may be its intrinsic value, you will
not be insensible to the tact, that it is a com-
promise of extreme vexatious and conflicting,
interests made in the spirit of peace, as un
ottering to the concord und tranquillity of our
common country'. In such a spirit our Rep
resentatives in Congress voted lor it, ami
in such u spirit must we consider it, what
ever may be our final decision on the meas.
ure. This adjustment, however, coines to us
at least with this compensation for the justice
which it yet withholds—that all that has been
beuchcially accomplished by it ior the coun--
try, is to be attributed to the action of this'
Convention, and the energy, decision, and love
of liberty, of that people, by whom our pro
ceedings have been sustained. We may surely
say this without an unworthy vaunting, when
the most able of our op|>onents, has borne
testimony to the (rath pf this fact. •
it is greatly to be regretted,, with a single
view to the harmony and repose of the coun
try, that this adjustment should be accompa
nied by the other measure to which I have in
vited your attention.
If we could regard the act, which provides
by its title, “ for a more effectual execution of
the revenue laws,” but which in fact, provides
lor the coercion of a sovereign State in this
Union, os an empty defiance, got up as a
mere salvo for, the wounded pride, or to grat-
ify a worse passion ofthe Executive, we might
permit if silently to pass by, with that repro
bation with which not posterity alone, but
at an early moment, a contemporary age,
will visit it standing impotently, as it will stand,
a dead letter ou our 'Statute Book; hut as a
precedent engrafted on our laws, it is of the
most serious and portentous import, furnish
ing, "as it does, the most unequivocal evidence,
that as far us the authority of law extends
(independently, thanks be to' God ofthe
spirit of a free people) by. a single act of le
gislation, the character of our Government is
changed, and a military despotism placed at
the disposal of the Executive, when he sfiall
igencyvhas arisen for its exercise,
broad usurpation in this law of the right on
the part of Congress to coerce a Sovereign
State in this Union, when this power was sol-
emnly withheld by the Convention that formed
the constitution, the utter annihilation of our
judiciary in cases clearly within their exclu
sive jurisdiction, and the still more revolting
circumstance that in obeying the laws ol their
own State, and executing the mandates of
their own Courts, the lives of our citizens are
placed at the mercy of the standing forces
ofthe Union, all coiicut to present an epoch
in the public liberty of the country, which
ought not to he allowed to pass without your
animadversion. And you will permit me fur
ther to remark, whether the adjustment of
the Tariff be deemed satisfactory or not,
that much remains for you to do in making
of constitutional record in an enduring form
those great conservative principles which have
borne i,s yet through this contest, to say 110-
tliing ofthe necessity of providing those secu
rities which may in all future time command
the fealty and obedience of those who receive
the protection of our laws.
You will now, I trust, allow me to refer to
a matter which is personal to myself. The
system, flie labor and capital ofthe plantation
S-ates mist be forever tributary to the manu-
‘^ Unn S ^es, and that weshould in effect be
a ® condition of colonial vaksr-ilage,
South Carolina felt herself constrained, by a
just regardJor her own rights and interests, by
her love ol hoerty, and her devotion to the Con.
1 u on, to interpose in her sovereign capacity
for the purpose of arresting the progress of the
evil, and maintaining, witliin her own limits,
the anthontics, rights and liberties appertain-
aS0Verei!rn Sta te. . Ardently at.
South r> ,1< r. Un ' on °f the States, the people of
emUrehna were still more devoted to
“3 S
i n h„„ regulation of the whole
labor and capital of this
vast confederacy by a
distinguished station I now occupy, I owe
great cenl ra! Government ',37 7
tionl ffiev^ , e n rUC ^ a0t '° ur free institu-
feTrWk ^ ?, kesitatetothrowthemselves
fearlessly into the breach, to ,: r rest the lor-
rent of usurpation which wassweepin- [ u -ibr<v
it ifll that was truly valuable in ‘ our political
system. pouucal
The effect of this interposition, if it l m n 0 t
equalled our wishes, has been bey and what
existing circumstances would have authorized
us to expect. The spectacle of a single State
to the accidental circumstance of my having
been the Chief Magistrate of this State, when
the Convention first assembled.
Another individual now on this floor, fills
that post* I feel that I am not alone paying a
proper deference to an established and valua
ble precedent, but a just homage to superior per
sonal eittims and more eminent qualifications,
when I signify in the presence of this Con
vention, that it is my purpose, after the rea-
ding ofthe correspondence I now communi
cate, between the Commissioner from Virgin
ia and the public authorities, of this State, to
resign this Scat.
In making this declaration, permit me to
super-add to it my unfeigned acknowledgments
lor your past kindness and confidence, and
my fervent prayer that the God of all mercy
and truth may so order and govern our 'pro-
ceedings, that they may redound to the liber,
ty, peace, and happiness of our country.
The Roll was then called, and 131 mem*
bers answered to their names. After. which
the correspondence was read, the Preamble
and Resolutions of the Legislature of Virginia
and a Communication, from Mr. Leigh, to the
Convention, touciiing the matters at isste be
tween the State of South Carolina, and the
General Government, which were ordered to
be printed.
The President resigned his seat, when a ballot
was had for a successor; and on counting the
votes, Robt. Y. Hayiie Esq. having received
128 votes, was duly elected. Messrs. Job
Johnson and Thos. Pinckney, were appointed
a committee to wait on the President elect,
and conduct him to tne Chair; which having
been performed, Gov. Hayne addressed the
Convention.
Mr. James Hamilton, Jun. submitted a res
olution permitting the iloiu B, VV. Leigh, to
take a seat on the floor of the Convention;
which having been agreed to unanimously, he
w -s iiitroducedby Messrs. Earle, Haywood
and I’On.
A Resolution was submitted by Mr. C. J.
Colcock, appointing a committee oi' Twenty-
one, to take into consideration the acts ofCon-
gress, spoken of in the address of the late
President, and o: such other business as
should be hereafter presented, whereupon,the
president re.appoiuted the same gentlemen
who composed the Committee of Twenty-One
in November last.
Mr. Harper moved the printing of Ihe Acts
of Congress ; Mr. I’On, that the members of
Congress, not members ofthe Convention, be
permitted to take seats iu the Hall of the Con
vention ; and Mr. R. B. Smith, that the same
courtesy be extended to the members of the
Legislature; which having been agreed to, the
Convention adjourned to 1 o’clock to-morrow.
[On the 12th, the committee of twenty.one not hav
ing made their report, no business of importoiicc was
transacted.]
March 13.
The Convention met, pursuant to adjourn
ment, and was opened with -prayer by the
Rev. Mr. Wafford.
“Mr. C. J. Colcock, from the Committee
of twenty-one, submitted thefollowing
REPORT:
The Committee to whom was referred the
communication of the H011. B. W. Leigh,
Commissioner from the State of Virgiuia, and
all other matters connected with the subject,
ind the course which should be pursifcd by
the Convention, at the present important cri
sis ofiour political affairs, beg leave to Report
(in part,)
That they have had under consideration the
ict passed at the late session of Congress, to
modify the “act of the 14th of July, 1832, and
all other acts imposing duties on imports;” and
have duly deliberated on foe course which it
becomes the people of South Carolina to pur
sue at this interesting crisis of our political
affairs. It is now upwards often years since
the people and constituted authorities of this
State, took ground against the protecting sys
tem, as “unconstitutional, oppressive, and un-
just,” and solemnly declared in language
which was then cordially responded to by foe
other Southern States, that it never could be
submitted to “as the settled policy of the
country.” After remonstrating for years
against fins system in vain, and making every
possible effort to produces redress of this griev-
a.tce by iuvoking file protection of the cougti.
: ration, and by appealing toaihe justice of our
brethren, we saw during the session ofCoitgress
which ended in July last, a modification effec
ted avowedly as the final adjustment ofthe Ta
riff, to take effect after the complete extin-
uishment of the public debt, by which the pro
jecting system could only be considered as riv-
'etted upon the country forever. Believing
that under these circumstances, there was no
hope of any further reduction ofthe duties from
the ordinary action of the Federal Government;
and convinced that underthe operation of this
unaided and alone, standing up for her ri
influenced by no other motive than a am.
cere desire to maintain the public liberW and
bring about a salutary reform m the adminis.
tration ofthe Government, has roused the at",
tention of the whole country, and has caused
man) to pause mid reflect, who have hereto,
tore seemed madly bent upon the consutnm- ■ ion
o'" a scheme of policy absolutely fata! to foe
liberty ol the people, and the prosperity 0 a
large portion of the Union. Though reviled
and slandered by those whose pecuniary or po.
litical interests stood in the way of a sutisl'act.
ory adjustment of the controversy,deserted by
many to whom she had the right to look for
succor und support, and thre.itened with vio.
lence from abroad, and convulsions within S.
Carolina, zonscmis of the rectitude of her inten.
tions and the justice of her cause, has stood un.
moved, firmly resolved, to maintain heir liber,
ties, or peiish in the conflict. The result has
been a beneficial modification ol' the Tariff of
1832, even before the time appointed for that
act to go into effect; and within a few mouths
alter its enactment, accompanied by a prov:s.
ion for a gradual reduction of the duties to the
revenue standard. Though the reduction pro-
vided for by the Bill which lias just passed, is
neither in its amount or the time when it is to
go into effect, such as the South had a right to
require, yet such an approach has been made
to the true principles 011 which the duties on
imports ought to he adjusted under our system,
that the people of South Carolina are willing,
so lar to yield to the measure, as to agree that
their Ordinance shall ueuceforth be consider.
ed as having no force or effect Unequal and
oppressive as the s\ stem of raising revenue by
duties upon imports, must be upon the AgricuV
tural States, which furnish more than two-
thirds of the domestic exports of the United
St;ites ; yet South Carolina always has been,
and is still willing to make large sacrifices to
the peace and harmony of the Union.—
Though she believes that the protecting system
is founded on the assumption of powers not
granted by the Constitution to the Federal
Government, yet she has never insisted on
such an immediste reduction ofthe duties, as
should involve the manufacturers in ruin. That
a reduction to the lowest amount necessary to
supply the wants ofthe Government, might be
safely effected in four or live years, cannot, in
our estimation,-admit ot*a reasonable doubt;
still, in a great struggle for principles, South
Carolina would disdain to cavil about a small
amount of duties, and a few years more or less
in effecting the adjustment, provided she can
only' secure substantial justice, and secure a
distinct recognition of the princi, le for which
she basso long co .tended.
Among the provisions ofthe new Bill, which
recommend it to our accept nee, is the estab
lishment of a system of ad valorem duties;—
and the entire abEaidonment of the specific
duties, and the mnitmuns; tyrannical pro
visions, by whi -ih duties rated nominally at 25
per cent, were in many cases raised to up
wards of 100 per cent, andby which the coarse
and cheap articles used by the poor were
taxed much higher than the expensive arti
cles used by the rich ; an unjust and odious
regulation, against which we have constantly
protest ed in the most earnest terms. The re.
duction before the expiration of the present
year of one tenth part ofthe duties ou all arti
cles “ exceeding twenty per cent, on the value
thereof” (embracing the entire mass of the
protected articles) and a gradual reduction
thereafter, on such articles down to 20 per
cent, (the duties upon which, under the tar.
iff of 1832, range from 30 to upwards of 100
per cent, and average upwards of50 per cent.)
are great and manifest ameliorations of the
system, to the benefits ot which we cannot
be insensible But - great as must be the ad
vantages of these reductions, they are small
in comparison with foe distinct recognition,
in the new Bill, of two great principles which
we de em of inestimable value—that the duties
shall eventually be brought down to the reven
ue standard, even if it shall be found necessa-
ry. to reduce the duties on the protected arti
cles below 20 per cent, and that no more mo-
ney shall be raised than shall
an economical udauiustralioad *' 0
ment. . .
These provisions embody foe gr~(tt prmci-
ples in reference to I* « ub J eCt for ®*
Carolina has so long and so earn X ,
tended, and if the pledge therein continued
shall he fulfilled in good fiuth—they
their operation, aixest the abusea which ha
erowni out of fob unauthorized appropriate
S£2» -*• w. ahead
““mite economical adminimr-iioa
ofthe Government,” as one of the happiest
wS could possibly toko place tn
. ■
1 *
m: