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Mr. Guy M. Bryan, of
Texas, next announced the withdrawal of the entire delegation from that State.
In their protest against the platform adopted by the
Convention, they declared
That it is the right of every citizen to take his property, of any kind, including slaves, into the common territory belonging equally to all the States of the Confederacy, and to have it protected there under the Federal Constitution.
Neither Congress nor a Territorial Legislature, nor any human power, has any authority, either directly or indirectly, to impair these sacred rights; and, they having been affirmed by the decision of the Supreme Court in the Dred Scott case, we declare that it is the duty of the Federal Government, the common agent of all the States, to establish such government, and enact such laws for the Territories, and so change the same, from time to time, as may be necessary to insure the protection and preservation of these rights, and prevent every infringement of the same.
The affirmation of this principle of the duty of Congress to simply protect the rights of property, is nowise in conflict with the heretofore established and well-recognized principle of the Democratic party, that Congress does not possess the power to legislate Slavery into the Territories, or to exclude it therefrom.
It is sufficient to say that, if the principles of the Northern Democracy are properly represented by the opinion and action of the majority of the delegates from that section on this floor, we do not hesitate to declare that their principles are not only not ours, but, if adhered to and enforced by them, will destroy this Union.
Mr. B. Burrow, of
Arkansas, announced the withdrawal of three delegates from that State, for these reasons:
1st.
Because the numerical majority have usurped the prerogatives of the States in setting aside the Platform made by the States, and have thus unsettled the basis of this Convention, and thereby permanently disorganized its constitution.
Its decrees, therefore, become null and void.
2d.
Because we were positively instructed by the Democracy of Arkansas to insist on the recognition of the equal rights of the South in the common Territories, and protection to those rights by the Federal Government, prior to any nomination of a candidate; and, as this Convention has refused to recognize the principles required by the State of Arkansas, in her popular Convention first, and twice subsequently reasserted by Arkansas, together with all her Southern sisters, in the report of a Platform in this Convention; and, as we cannot serve two masters, we are determined first to serve the Lord our God.
We cannot ballot for any candidate whatsoever.
Mr. J. P. Johnson, on behalf of that portion of the
Arkansas delegation who had concluded
not to leave the
Convention until after time had been afforded for consultation, said he hesitated, “because he conceived that the stability of the
Union itself was involved in the action taken here by the
Southern representatives.”
The Georgia delegation here asked leave to retire for consultation, which was granted.
Messrs. Bayard and
Whiteley--
Senator and Representative in Congress from
Delaware--now retired from the
Convention and joined the seceders
Mr. Saulsbury the other
Senator, gave his reasons for
not retiring at this time, and the
Convention adjourned for the night.
Next morning, May 1st,
Mr. Henry L. Benning presented a notification from twenty-six of the thirty-four delegates from
Georgia, that they had decided to withdraw from the
Convention--four of them in obedience to a vote of the majority, which they had opposed.
Mr. Johnson, of
Arkansas, now announced the withdrawal, after due consideration and consultation, of the remainder of the delegation from his State; but
Mr. F. B. Flournoy gave notice that he did not concur in this action
The formal protest and withdrawal of ten delegates from
Louisiana was now presented.
It states that these delegates act in obedience to a resolution
