ing the concentration of large naval and military forces in this harbor, and the adoption of other measures on the part of the General Government, which may be considered as of a character threatening the peace and endangering the tranquillity and safety of the State, we shall continue to exercise the utmost possible forbearance, acting strictly on the defensive, firmly resolved to commit no act of violence, but prepared, as far as our means may extend, to resist aggression. Nothing, you may be assured, would give me, personally, and the people of South Carolina, more satisfaction than that the existing controversy should be happily adjusted, on just and liberal terms; and I beg you to be assured, that nothing can be further from our desire, than to disturb the tranquillity of the country, or endanger the existence of the Union. Accept, Sir, for yourself, The assurance of the high consideration Of yours, respectfully and truly, To the Hon. B. W. LEIGH. ROBERT Y. HAYNE. LETTER No. 3. CHARLESTON, February 6, 1833. SIR, I do myself the honor of acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 5th, enclosing a copy of a communication you have received from Benjamin Watkins Leigh, Esq., Commissioner from the State of Virginia, covering certain Resolutions passed by the Legislature of that State, which that gentlemen has been deputed to convey to the Executive of this State. In reply to the reference which you have made to me, as President of the Convention of the People of South Carolina, conse quent on the application on the part of that gentleman, for the meeting of that body, I beg leave to communicate to him, through your Excellency, that, appreciating very highly, the kind disposition, and the patriotic solicitude, which have induced the highly respectable Commonwealth which he represents, to interpose her friendly and mediatorial offices in the unhappy controversy subsisting between the Federal Government and the State of South Carolina, I should do great injustice to those dispositions on her part, and, I am quite sure, to the feelings of the people of South Carolina, if I did not promptly comply with his wishes in reference to the proposed call. You are, therefore, authorized to say to Mr. Leigh, that the Convention will be assembled with as much despatch as may be compatible with the public convenience, and with a due regard to those circumstances which best promise a full consideration and final decision, on the proposition of which he is the bearer. I have the honor to remain, With distinguished consideration and esteem, Your Excellency's obedient servant, JAMES HAMILTON, JR., President of the Convention of the People of South Carolina. To His Excellency ROBERT Y. HAYNE. Messrs. Geo. Sistrunk, from St. George's, R. Barnwell Smith, from St. Bartholomew's, Robert W. Gill, from Lancaster, Benjamin Gause, from Kingston, and James C. Coggeshall, from Prince George, Winyaw, now appeared for the first time, exhibited their credentials, enrolled their names, and took their seats as members of the Convention. The Convention then proceeded to the election of a President. Messrs. Butler, Burt, and Quash, were appointed a Committtee to count the votes, and make known the result. The Committee reported His Excellency Robert Y. Hayne, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the State, duly elected President of the Convention. Chancellor Johnston and Col. Thomas Pinckney, were appointed a Committee to wait on the President elect, inform him of his election, and conduct him to the chair; which, having been done, Governor Hayne, after a short address, entered upon the duties of his station. On motion of General Hamilton, the following Resolutions were adopted unanimously, to wit: Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed to wait on Benjamin Watkins Leigh, Esq., Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and invite him to a seat within the bar of this Convention." "Resolved, That this Convention will receive Mr. Leigh, standing and uncovered." The Committee consisted of Gen. Earle, Col. I'On, and Mr. Heyward. On motion of the Hon. C. J. Colcock, it was "Resolved, That a Committee of twenty-one be appointed to take into consideration the communication of the Hon. Benjamin W. Leigh, Commissioner from the State of Virginia, and all other matters connected with the subject, and the course which should be pursued by the Convention, at the present important crisis of our political affairs." The following gentlemen were named by the President, to constitute the Committee, viz: Hon. C. J. Colcock, Gen. J. B. Earle, R. J. Turnbull, Esq., Col. P. M. Butler, Jas. A. Black, Esq., Col. John Bauskett, On motion of Judge Harper, it was ordered, that the correspondence between Mr. Leigh and Governor Hayne, should be printed for the use of the Convention; likewise the Acts of the late Congress, connected with the controversy between this State and the Federal Government. On motion of Col. I'On, the members of Congress, and of the State Legislature, who might be present, were invited to a seat within the bar of the Convention. On motion of Gen. Hamilton, the Convention now adjourned until to-morrow at one o'clock, P. M. ISAAC W. HAYNE, Clerk of the Convention. TUESDAY, March 12, 1833. The Convention met according to adjournment, at one o'clock, P. M., and the proceedings were opened by a prayer from the Rev. Mr. Ray. The roll having been called, the President suggested that as this formality was an unnecessary consumption of the time of the Convention, and as there was no rule requiring its observance, it would, if no objections were made, be dispensed with for the future. Messrs. John Lipscomb, of Abbeville, and J. T. Whitefield, of Pendleton, appeared and took their seats. The President then announced the names of Gen. James Hamilton, Jun., and Samuel B. Wilkins, Esq. as completing the Select Committee of twenty-one; these names being substituted for those of his Excellency R. Y. Hayne, now President of the Convention, and of the Hon. Henry Middleton, absent, who, with the gentlemen named yesterday, constituted the select Committee of the Convention, at its late session. Judge Colcock, on the part of the Committee, stated that they were unable to report to-day, and obtained leave to sit again. On motion of Gen. Hamilton, the following Resolution was adopted, to wit: "Resolved, That a Committee of Accounts, to consist of three members, be raised, for the purpose of examining and reporting on the Accounts of this Convention, and what balance may stand to its credit in the Treasury, and what further sum may be necessary for defraying the expenses of its present session." Messrs. Simons, Bauskett, and Chesnut, were appointed the Committee. Mr. Turnbull moved that, until otherwise ordered, the Convention should adjourn from day to day to meet at twelve o'clock, meridian, which being agreed to, he moved that the Convention do now adjourn; which being likewise concurred in, the Convention adjourned accordingly. ISAAC W. HAYNE, Clerk of the Convention. WEDNESDAY, March 13, 1833. The Convention met pursuant to adjournment, at meridian today. The proceedings were opened by a prayer from the Rev. Mr. Wafford, and the Journal of yesterday read. Messrs. A. Bowie and A. Burt, of Abbeville, M. Jacobs, of St. Helena, and Peter Vaught, of All Saints, appeared and took their seats. The Hon. C. J. Colcock, from the Select Committee of twenty-one, reported to the Convention an Ordinance and an accompanying Report, on the subject of the Act of the late Congress of the United States, entitled "An Act to modify the Act of the 14th July, 1832, and all other Acts imposing duties on imports." On motion of Mr. Wilson, these were ordered to be printed; and, on motion of Judge Colcock, made the order of the day for to-morrow. Mr. Wilson, after a few explanatory remarks, introduced the following Resolution, to wit: 66 Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to wait on our |