Saturday, may 8, 1858--10 A. M.
The Convention met in pursuance of a call of
John Brown and others, and was called to order by
Mr. Jackson, on whose motion
Mr. Wm. C. Monroe was chosen
President; when, on motion of
Mr. Brown,
Mr. J. H. Kagi was elected
Secretary.
On motion of
Mr. Delany,
Mr.Brown then proceeded to state the object of the
Convention at length, and then to explain the general features of the plan of action in execution of the project in view by the
Convention.
Mr. Delany and others spoke in favor of the project and plan, and both were agreed to by a general consent.
Mr. Brown then presented a plan of organization, entitled Provisional Constitution and Ordinances for the People of the
United States, and moved the reading of the same.
Mr. Kinnard objected to the reading until an oath of secrecy be taken by each member of the
Convention, whereupon
Mr. Delany moved that the following parole of honor be taken by all members of the
Convention:
I solemnly affirm that I will not, in any way, divulge any of the secrets of this Convention, except to the persons entitled to know the same, on the pain of forfeiting the respect and protection of this organization.
Which motion was carried.
The President then proceeded to administer the obligation, after which the question was taken on reading of the plan proposed by
Mr. Brown, and the same carried.
The plan was then read by the
Secretary, after which, on motion of
Mr. Whipple, it was ordered that it be now read by articles for consideration.
The articles from 1 to 45 were then read and adopted.
On reading of the 46th,
Mr. Reynolds moved to strike out the same.
Reynolds spoke in favor, and
Brown,
Monroe,
Owen Brown,
Delany,
Realf,
Kennard, and Page against striking out. The question was then taken and lost, there being but one vote in the affirmative.
The article was then adopted.
The 47th and 48th articles, with the schedule, were then adopted in the same manner.
It was then moved by
Mr. Delany that the title and preamble stand as read.
Carried.
On motion of
Mr. Kagi, the
Constitution, as a whole, was then unanimously adopted.
Mr. Whipple nominated
John Brown for
Commander-in-Chief, who was, on the seconding of
Delany, elected by acclamation.
Mr. Realf nominated J. II.
Kagi for
Secretary of War, who was elected in the same manner.
On motion of
Mr. Brown, the
Convention adjourned to nine P. M. of Monday, the 10th.
