[9] your people fear to remain under their government. With poignant regret no doubt they leave it, but they have no ground or hope of safety in it. What are we to do in fulfillment of our duty in this crisis? I will not presume to indicate your course—your superior and collected wisdom must decide. I cannot doubt, though, that our people are safe in your hands, and that you will, in a manner becoming the dignity of the high position you hold, and worthy of the trust confided to you, promptly place them in a position of safety above the power and beyond the reach of their enemies. As one of you, representing a noble and confiding constituency, I pledge to you and to them the entire devotion of the powers of my mind in the discharge of this duty; and with my full heart, I ask you, each of you, to forget all former differences of opinion, all past party prejudices, and make now and here, on the altar of your State, your country, for the sake of your people, a sacrifice, an offering of all feeling, prepossession or prejudice that may stand in the way of perfect harmony and concord; and may the God of nations watch over us and bless our labors and guide us into the haven of safety.A communication was received from Gov. M. S. Perry announcing that Hon. E. C. Bullock, commissioner from Alabama, and Hon. Leonidas W. Spratt, commissioner from Florida, were in waiting, and a committee composed of Messrs. Ward, Baird and Lamar, was appointed to bring the commissioners before the convention. The convention was addressed by these representatives of sister States, also by Edmund Ruffin, of Virginia. On January 7th a resolution was adopted, affirming the right of a State to withdraw from the Union, and a committee to prepare an ordinance of secession for the consideration of the convention was appointed. This committee was composed of J. P. Sanderson of Duval, A. K. Allison of Gadsden, McQueen McIntosh of Franklin, James Gettis of Hillsboro, James B. Owens of Marion James B. Dawkins of Alachua, Wright of Escambia, Jackson Morton of
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Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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