Harper's New Monthly Magazine: No. XVI.—September, 1851—Vol. III.Various
History
Harper's New Monthly Magazine: No. XVI.—September, 1851—Vol. III.
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
Government. Messrs. BUTLER and BARNWELL, United States Senators from
South Carolina, spoke in opposition to separate State action; the latter
argued the inability of the State to sustain herself singly in a contest
with the Federal Government, and showed the folly of looking for
countenance and aid to Great Britain. A resolution was offered
pronouncing it to be treason for any citizen of South Carolina to oppose
the authorities of the State, should they decide upon secession. This
was laid upon the table by a decided majority. On the evening preceding
this meeting, the same hall was occupied by a meeting of Southern Rights
Associations, at which, after speeches from Hon. R.B. RHETT, and others,
resolutions were adopted affirming that South Carolina could "wait for
no new issue to be presented; and failing in a reasonable time to obtain
the co-operation of the other Southern States, should withdraw alone
from the Union." Judge RICE spoke in opposition to the meeting to be
held on the ensuing day, and denounced a writer in the _Charleston
Courier_ "who has had the audacity to tell us that the South has no
cause of complaint whatever." He likewise exhorted South Carolina to
"retain her ancient rights, once triumphantly asserted _on the banks of
the Runnymede_."
In _Virginia_, the Convention chosen for that purpose, after a session
of eight months, have framed a Constitution for the State, which is to
be voted upon by the people on the 23d of October. We make the following
abstract of its leading provisions: Every free white male citizen, of
the age of 21 years, who has resided two years in the State, and one
year in the district where he offers his vote, has the right of
suffrage. The General Assembly is to consist of a House of Delegates of
152 members, and a Senate of 50, apportioned between the sections of the
State, by a compromise, of which we have given an account in previous
Numbers of our Record. No person holding a lucrative office, no priest
of any religious denomination, no salaried officer of any banking
company, no attorney for the Commonwealth, is eligible for election to
the General Assembly. The Governor is chosen by popular vote, for four
years, and can not be elected for two successive terms. Judges are
elected by the people for terms of eight and twelve years. Secretary,
Treasurer, Auditor, and a Board of Public Works, are chosen by the
General Assembly. All elections are to be _vivâ voce_; dumb persons only
to be entitled to vote by ballot. Taxation to be _ad valorem_; slaves
under twelve years of age to be exempt; those over that age to be taxed
for an amount not exceeding that levied upon 300 acres of land, white
males over 21 years of age to pay a capitation tax equal to that upon
200 acres of land; incomes, salaries, and licenses may be taxed at the
discretion of the Legislature. One half of the capitation tax upon white
males is to be devoted to the purposes of primary education. The
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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