]> <emph>Journal of the Public and Secret Proceedings of the Convention of the People of Georgia, </emph><emph>Held in Milledgeville and Savannah in 1861:</emph> Electronic Edition. Georgia. Convention of the People Funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services supported the electronic publication of this title. Text scanned (OCR) by Melissa Edwards and Joshua McKim Images scanned by Melissa Edwards and Joshua McKim Text encoded by Patricia Walker and Natalia Smith First edition, 1999 ca. 900K Academic Affairs Library, UNC-CH University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1999.

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 Call number 1518 Conf. 1861 (Rare Book Collection, UNC-CH) Journal of the Public and Secret Proceedings of the Convention of the People of Georgia, Held in Milledgeville and Savannah in 1861. Georgia. Convention of the People Milledgeville, GA.Boughton, Nisbet & Barnes, State Printers1861

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 Library of Congress Subject Headings, 21st edition, 1998 Secession -- Georgia. Legislation -- Georgia. Georgia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865. Constitutions -- Georgia. Constitutions -- Confederate States of America. 1999-08-30, Celine Noel and Wanda Gunther revised TEIHeader and created catalog record for the electronic edition. 1999-05-28, Natalia Smith, project manager, finished TEI-conformant encoding and final proofing. 1999-05-27, Patricia Walker finished TEI/SGML encoding 1999-04-29, Melissa Edwards and Joshua McKim finished scanning (OCR) and proofing.

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 JOURNAL OF THE PUBLIC AND SECRET PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION OF THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA HELD IN MILLEDGEVILLE AND SAVANNAH IN 1861. TOGETHER WITH THE ORDINANCES ADOPTED. PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE CONVENTION. MILLEDGEVILLE, GA.: BOUGHTON NISBET& BARNES, STATE PRINTERS. 1861. JOURNAL OF THE CONVENTION, HELD AT MILLEDGEVILLE IN OPEN SESSION. MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1861.

In accordance with a proclamation issued by his Excellency, JOSEPH E. BROWN, Governor of Georgia, bearing date 21st November, 1860, delegates from the several counties of this State, duly elected by the people thereof, assembled this day in the Capitol, and at the hour of half past ten o'clock A.M., on the motion of Mr. Styles, of Ware, the Hon. Henry L. Benning, a delegate from the county of Muscogee, was called to the chair, and Arthur Hood, Esq., a delegate from the county of Randolph, was appointed Secretary, for the purpose of organization.

The Governor's proclamation convening this body was then read, and, on motion, the Secretary proceeded to call the counties, when the following delegates, from the counties prefixed to their names, upon the presentation of certificates of election, were duly enrolled as members of the Convention:

Appling—Seaborn Hall, J. H. Latimer. Banks—W. R. Bell, S. W. Pruett. Baker—A. H. Colquitt, C. D. Hammond. Baldwin—A. H. Kenan, L. H. Briscoe. Berrien—W. J. Mabry, J. C. Lamb. Bibb—Washington Poe, John B. Lamar, E. A. Nisbet. Brooks—C. S. Gaulden, Henry Briggs. Bryan—C. C. Slater, J. P. Hines. Bulloch—S. L. Moore, Samuel Harville. Burke—E. A. Allen, E. B. Gresham, W. B. Jones. Butts—D. J. Bailey, Henry Hendricks. Camden—N. J. Patterson, F. M. Adams. Campbell—J. M. Cantrell, T. C. Glover, Calhoun—W. G. Sheffield, E. Padgett. Carroll—B. W. Wright, B. W. Hargrave, Allen Rowe. Cass—W. T. Wofford, H. F. Price, T. H. Trippe. Catoosa—Presley Yates, J. T. McConnell. Charlton—F. M. Smith, H. M. Mershon. Chatham—F. S. Bartow, A. S. Jones, John W. Anderson. Chattooga—Wesley Shropshire, L. Williams. Cherokee—W. A. Teasley, E. E. Fields, John McConnell. Clark—T. R. R. Cobb, Asbury Hull, Jefferson Jennings. Clayton—R. E. Morrow, James F. Johnston. Clay—W. H. C. Davenport, B. F. Burnett. Clinch—Benjamin Sermons, F. G. Ramsey. Cobb—G. D. Rice, A. A. Winn, E. H. Lindley. Coffee—Rowan Pafford, J. H. Frier. Columbia—W. A. S. Collins, H. R. Casey, R. S. Neal. Colquitt—H. C. Tucker, John G. Coleman. Coweta—A. B. Calhoun, J. J. Pinson, W. B. Shell. Crawford—W. C. Cleveland, Isaac Dennis. Dade—S. C. Hale, R. M. Pariss. Dawson—Alfred Webb, R. H. Pierce. Decatur—Richard Simms, C. J. Munnerlyn, B. H. Gee. De Kalb—Charles Murphy, G. K. Smith. Dooly—John S. Thomas, Elijah Butts. Dougherty—Richard H. Clark, C. E. Mallary. Early—R. W. Sheffield, James Buchanan. Echols—Harris Tomlinson, J. B. Prescott. Effingham—E. W. Solomons, A. G. Porter. Elbert—J. C. Burch, L. H. O. Martin. Emanuel—A. L. Kirkland, John Overstreet. Fannin—W. C. Fain, E. W. Chastain. Fayette—M. M. Tidwell, J. L. Blalock. Floyd—James Ward, Simpson Fouche, F. C. Shropshire. Forsyth—Hardy Strickland, H. P. Bell. Franklin—John H. Patrick, Samuel Knox. Fulton—J. F. Alexander, L. J. Glenn, J. P. Logan. Glasscock—Joshua F. Usry, Calvin Logue. Gilmer—Joseph Pickett, W. P. Milton. Gordon—W. H. Dabney, James Freeman, R. M. Young. Greene—N. M. Crawford, R. J. Willis. T. N. Poullain. Gwinnett—R. D. Winn, J. P. Simmons, T. P. Hudson. Habersham—R. C. Ketchum, Singleton Sisk. Hall—E. M. Johnson, P. M. Byrd, Davis Whelchel. Hancock—Linton Stephens, B. T. Harris, T. M. Turner. Haralson—W. J. Head, A. R. Walton. Harris—D. P. Hill, W. J. Hudson, H. D. Williams. Hart—R. S. Hill, J. E. Skelton. Heard—R. P. Wood, C. W. Mabry. Henry—F. E. Manson, E. B. Arnold, J. H. Low Houston—J. M. Giles, D. F. Gunn, B.W. Brown. Irwin—M. Henderson, Jacob Young. Jackson—J. J. McCulloch, J. G. Pitman, D. R. Lyle. Jasper—Aris Newton, Reuben Jordan, Jr. Jefferson—H. V. Johnson, George Stapleton. Johnson—William Hust, J. R. Smith. Jones—James M. Gray, P. T. Pitts. Laurens—Nathan Tucker, J. W. Yopp. Lee—W. B. Richardson, Goode Bryan. Liberty—W. B. Fleming, S. M. Varnadoe. Lowndes—C. H. M. Howell, Isaiah Tilman. Lumpkin—Benjamin Hamilton, William Martin. Madison—J. S. Gholston, A. C. Daniel. Macon—W. H. Robinson, J. H. Carson. Marion—W. M. Brown, J. M. Harvey. McIntosh—J. M. Harris, G. W. M. Williams. Meriwether—H. R. Harris, W. D. Martin, Hiram Warner Miller—W. J. Cheshier, C. L. Whitehead. Milton—Jackson Graham, J. C. Street. Mitchell—William T. Cox, Jesse Reed. Monroe—R.L. Roddey, Hiriam Phinizy, jr., J. T. Stephens. Montgomery—T. M. McRae, S. H. Latimer. Morgan—Thomas P. Saffold, Augustus Reese. Murray—Anderson Farnsworth, Euclid Waterhouse. Muscogee—J. N. Ramsey, Henry L. Benning, A. S. Rutherford. Newton—W. S. Montgomery, Alexander Means, Purmedus Reynolds. Oglethorpe—D. D. Johnson, Samuel Glenn, Willis Willingham. Paulding—Henry Lester, J. Y. Algood. Pickens—James Simmons, W. T. Day. Pierce—E. D. Hendry, J. W. Stephens. Pike—R. B. Gardner, G. M. McDowell. Polk—W. E. West, T. W. Dupree. Pulaski—T.J. McGriff, C. M. Bozeman. Putnam—R. T. Davis, D. R. Adams. Quitman—E. C. Ellington, L. P. Dozier. Rabun—Samuel Beck, H. W. Cannon. Randolph—Marcellus Douglas, Arthur Hood. Richmond—George W. Crawford, J. Phinizy, Sr., J. P. Garvin. Schley—H. L. French, W. A. Black. Scriven—C. Humphries, J. L. Singleton. Spalding—W. G. Dewberry, Henry Moor. Stewart—James A. Fort, James Hilliard, G. Y. Banks. Sumter—W. A. Hawkins, T. M. Furlow, Henry Davenport. Talbot—W. R. Neal, W. B. Marshall, L. B. Smith. Taliaferro—Alexander H. Stephens, S. H. Perkins. Tatnall—Benjamin Brewton, Henry Strickland. Taylor—W. J. F. Mitchell, H. H. Long. Telfair—H. McLean, James Williamson. Terrell—William Harrington, D. A. Cochran. Thomas—A. H. Hansell. S. B. Spencer, W. G. Ponder. Towns—John Corn, Elijah Kimsey. Troup—B. H. Hill, W. P. Beasley, J. M. Beall. Twiggs—John Fitzpatrick, S. L. Richardson. Union—J. H. Huggins, J. P. Welborn. Upson—P. W. Alexander, T. S. Sherman. Walker—G. G. Gordon, R. B. Dickerson, T. A. Sharpe. Walton—George Spence, Willis Kilgore, H. D. McDaniel. Ware—W. A. McDonald, C. W. Styles. Warren—M. D. Cody, N. A. Wicker. Wayne—Henry R. Fort, H. A. Cannon. Washington—E. S. Langmade, Lewis Bullard, A. C. Harris. Webster—P.F. Brown, M. H. Bush. White—Isaac Bowen, E. F. Starr. Whitfield—J. M. Jackson, F. A. Thomas, Dickerson Taliaferro. Wilcox—D. A. McLeod, Smith Turner. Wilkes—Robert Toombs, J. J. Robertson. Wilkinson—N. A. Carswell, R. J. Cochran. Worth—R. G. Ford, Sr., T.T. Mounger.

The official returns of the election of delegates from the counties of Chattahoochee, Glynn, and Lincoln, not having been received at the Executive Department, certificates of election could not be procured by the delegates from those counties, whereupon,

On motion of Mr. Stephens, of Taliaferro, it was unanimously resolved that the delegates elected from those counties do enrol their names, and participate in the action of the Convention.

Those counties are therefore represented as follows:

From the county of Glynn, John L. Harris, and H. B. Troup.

From the county of Lincoln, La Fayette Lamar, and C. R. Strother.

From the county of Chattahoochee, A. H. Flewellen, and William Davis.

By direction of the Chairman, the roll was called, and it being ascertained that a quorum was present, the Chairman stated it had been suggested to him, that, before proceeding further, it would be appropriate, by prayer, to seek the blessings of God upon the deliberations of this Convention; in which suggestion he most heartily concurred.

Whereupon, by request, the Reverend Mr. Williamson, a delegate from the county of Telfair, in an impressive and fervent manner, performed that duty.

Mr. Kenan then moved that the Convention proceed to the election of a President—pending which,

On motion of Hull, George W. Crawford, a delegate from the county of Richmond, was chosen President by acclamation.

On motion, Messrs. Hull, Stephens, of Taliaferro, and Kenan, were appointed a committee to notify the President

of his election, to request his acceptance, and conduct him to the chair.

The President on taking the chair, addressed the Convention, and tendered his acknowledgements for the honor conferred upon him.

The Convention then proceeded to the election of a Secretary, which, on the third ballot, resulted in the election of Albert R. Lamar, of the county of Muscogee.

On motion of Mr. Wright, by acclamation, Jesse Oslin, of the county of Cobb, was appointed Messenger, and William Atkins, of Oglethorpe county, Door Keeper.

On motion of Mr. Fouche, the following committed was appointed by the President to report upon Rules to govern the deliberations of this Convention, to wit: Messrs. Fouche, Hill, of Troup, Clarke.

Mr. Fleming offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the President to wait upon the Commissioners of South Carolina and Alabama, now in this city, to ascertain when it will be convenient for them to address this Convention, and also, to invite them to take seats with this body.

The resolution was adopted, and the President appointed Messrs Fleming, Rice, and Trippe that committee.

On motion of Mr. Cobb, the following committee was appointed by the President to make arrangements with the Reverend Clergy of this city and vicinity, so that the services of some one of them may be secured to open with prayer the deliberations of the Convention on each day of its session, to wit: Messrs. Cobb, Varnadoe, Briscoe.

On motion of Mr. Bartow, it was unanimously resolved, that one of the standing rules of this Convention shall be the suppression of all applause or other noisy demonstration during, or following the remarks of any delegate.

The Convention then adjourned till ten o'clock to-morrow morning.

 THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY, 17, 1861.

The Convention met pursuant to adjournment; after prayer by the Rev. Mr. Evans, the roll was called, and a quorum being present, the journal of yesterday was read, when the President announced that communications from South Carolina and Alabama, were before him, which, on motion of Mr. Stephens, of Taliaferro, were read, and on motion of Mr. Toombs were ordered to be printed for the use of the Convention.

A communication was also received from the Mayor of Atlanta, by the President, in which, by a resolution of the Mayor and Council of that city, this Convention was requested to appoint Atlanta as the place of holding the Convention for the purpose of forming a Southern Confederacy.

On motion of Mr. Anderson, the communication was laid on the table for the present.

Mr. Fleming, from the committee to wait on the Commissioners from South Carolina and Alabama accredited to this Convention, reported that the committee had disharged that duty, and that the Hon. James L. Orr, the Commissioner from South Carolina, and the Hon. John G. Shorter, the Commissioner from Alabama, had accepted the invitation of, and would address the Convention at any hour it would suggest.

Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Stephens of Taliaferro, the committee was directed to inform said Commissioners, that the Convention would be ready to receive and hear them at the hour of 12 M. of this day.

Mr. Fouche, from the committee on rules for the government of the Convention in its deliberations, reported the following, to-wit:

RULES OF THE CONVENTION, FOR 1861.

1st. The President having taking the Chair, a quorum being present, (to ascertain which the President may order the roll to be called which shall otherwise be omitted,) the Journal of the preceding day shall be read; immediately, after which, it shall be in the power of any member to move for a reconsideration of any matter therein contained, (provided such member, at the time of reading such matter, shall notify the Convention of his intention to move such reconsideration,) except such matter as has been heretofore reconsidered.

2d. Every ordinance or resolution having been lost or passed, and again reconsidered, shall, immediately thereafter by the Secretary of the Convention, be placed on file in the standing order, and be taken up accordingly, and take precedence from the time of reconsideration only unless otherwise directed by the Convention.

3d. No member shall speak to another, or otherwise interrupt the business of the Convention, while the journal or public papers is reading, or when any member is speaking in debate.

4th. When any member is about to speak, or deliever any matter in the Convention, he shall rise from his seat and address himself to the Chair; he shall confine himself to the question under consideration, and at all times avoid personality.

5th. No member shall speak more than twice in any one debate, on the same day, without leave of the Convention.

6th. When two members rise to speak, the first that rises shall be first in order, which shall be determined by the President.

7th. No motion shall be put or debated until the same be seconded.

8th. When a motion is made and seconded. it shall be reduceed to writing, when required by the President or any member, delivered in at the table, and read, before the same shall be debated.

9th. When a question is before the Convention, no motion shall be received, but to adjourn; to lie on the table, to postpone indefinitely; to postpone to a day certain; to commit or amend; which several motions shall have precedence in the order they stand here arranged. The motion for adjournment shall always be in order, and decided without debate; but the motion for adjournment a second time shall be out of order, until the question before the Convention is first disposed of.

10th. The previous question being moved and seconded by a majority, the question from the Chair shall be: “Shall the main question now be put ?” and if the yeas prevail the question shall then be put.

11th. If a question in debate contains several points, any member may have the same divided.

12th. When the yeas and nays are called by two members, each member called upon shall (unless excused) declare openly and without debate, his yea or nay to the question, and upon the call of the House, the members shall be taken by their names in alphabetical order; and no member shall be allowed to change his vote after the same has been pronounced by the Chair, unless by consent of the Convention.

13th. When a member wishes to introduce a resolution or ordinance, he shall rise from his seat, address the Chair, read the caption, and on leave report the resolution or ordinance instanter; and these reports, in point of order, shall hold the place of reports from committees. But all resolutions expressing the opinion of the Convention, shall lie at least one day on the table, unless otherwise ordered by a majority of the Convention.

14th. No ordinance shall be committed until it shall have been twice read, after which it may be referred to a Committee.

15th. When a member is called to order, he shall take his seat until the President shall have determined whether he is in order or not; every question of order shall be decided by the President without debate; but if there is a doubt in his mind, he shall call for the sense of the Convention.

16th. If a member be called to order for words spoken, the exceptionable words shall be immediately taken down in writing, that the President may be better enabled to judge of the matter.

17th. When a blank is to be filled, and different sums and different days are proposed, the question shall be taken on the highest sum and most distant day first.

18th. All petitions shall be numbered as they are received, and taken up and decided on in the same order as they were received.

19th. No member shall absent himself from the service of the Convention, without leave first obtained; and in case a less number than a quorum of the Convention shall convene, they are hereby authorized to send any person or persons by them authorized, for any and all absent members, as a majority of such members present shall agree, at the expense of such absent members respectively, unless such excuse for non-attendance shall be made as the Convention when a quorum is convened, shall judge sufficient.

20th. No member shall leave his seat after adjournment, until the President shall have left the room.

21st. When any communication is received from the Governor, it shall be in order to take it up as soon as the matter then under consideration is disposed of.

22d. The unfinished business in which the Convention was engaged at the last preceding adjournment, shall have the preference in the order of the day, and no motion or any other business shall be received until the former is disposed of. And the Secretary shall preserve the unfinished business at the close of the present Session, subject to the order of the Convention at the next Session.

23d. No standing rule of the Convention shall be altered without one day's notice being given, expressing the intended alteration; nor shall any rule of the Convention be dispensed with, except by a vote of two-thirds of the members present.

24th. The Secretary, Assistant Secretary, and Engrossing and Enrolling Clerks shall be sworn, or affirmed, before the presiding officer of the Convention, to discharge their respective duties faithfully, and to the best of their skill and ability; of which oath or affirmation, an entry shall be made in the Journals before they enter upon the discharge of their duties.

25th. The President may at any time call a member of the Convention to the Chair, to preside over its deliberations for that day's session, and no longer.

26th. All ordinance read a second time and referred to the Committee of the Whole, shall, unless otherwise ordered by the Convention, be taken up as reports of the Committee.

The report was received and adopted, and 500 copies ordered to be printed, under the supervision of the committee.

The President then proceeded to admininister the oath required by the 24th rule, to the Secretary.

On motion of Mr. Strother, of Lincoln, the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That the President of this Convention be authorized to direct seats to be provided on this floor for reporters and other representatives of Southern presses, as far as may be practicable during open session.

On motion of Mr. Glenn, of Fulton, it was

Resolved, That the Secretary of this Convention, be authorized to appoint an assistant Secretary, and a Recording Clerk.

Whereupon, The Secretary appointed Jno. H. Steele of Fulton county, assistant Secretary, and J. M. Patton of Bibb county. Recording Clerk; to each of whom the oath required by the 24th rule, was administered by the President.

On motion of Mr. Bartow, it was

Resolved, That His Excellency, Governor Brown, and ex-Governor Howell Cobb, be invited to take seats upon the floor:

And, on motion of Mr. Kenan, the same privilege was extended to the Judges of the Supreme Court, and the Judges of the Superior Courts of this State.

Mr. Styles offered the to following resolution:

Resolved, That Messrs. Boughton, Nisbet& Barnes be appointed Printers to this Convention.

Mr. Reynolds moved to amend, so that the printing should be given to both the printing establishments of this city.

And Mr. Johnston moved further to amend the resolution by inserting the words, “provided the work shall be done at the same rates at which the public printing is now done.”

Mr. Styles accepted both amendments, and the resolution as amended, was unanimously adopted.

Mr. Fouche offered the following resolution, which was taken up, read, and adopted:

Resolved, That His Excellency, the Governor, be requested to communicate to this Convention, all information in his possession, which may, in his opinion, be calculated to facilitate its deliberations and action; and,also, to furnish to the Convention, if in his power to do so, a copy of the ordinance by which Georgia became a member of the Union.

The hour of 12 M. having arrived, Mr. Fleming, from the committee appointed for that purpose, introduced to the Convention, the Hon. James L. Orr, the Commissioner from South Carolina, and the Hon. John G. Shorter, the Commissioner from Alabama.

The President welcomed the Commissioners, and stated that the Convention was then ready to hear what they should be pleased to communicate:

Whereupon, The Hon. James L. Orr, and the Hon. John G. Shorter, both addressed the Convention, explaining the objects of their mission to this State.

After which, on motion of Mr. Stephens, of Taliaferro, the Convention adjourned till ten o'clock to-morrow morning.

 FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1861.

The Convention met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Flinn.

The roll was called, and a quorum being present the journal was read.

Mr. Hull then introduced the following resolution:

Resolved, That the sessions of this Convention shall be with closed doors—admitting no one but the members and officers of the Convention, and those gentlemen who have been invited to seats on the floor, except when otherwise specially ordered by the Convention.

Mr. Clarke moved to amend by inserting the words, “excepting the door of the gallery,” upon which a debate ensued, when Mr. Kenan called for the previous question, which being seconded, the amendment was cut off, and the resolution was adopted.

The doors were then closed, when Mr. Nisbet offered the following resolutions, which were taken up and read:

Resolved, That in the opinion of this Convention, it is the right and duty of Georgia to secede from the present Union, and to co-operate with such of the other States as have or shall do the same, for the purpose of forming a Southern Confederacy upon the basis of the Constitution of the United States.

Resolved, That a committee of—be appointed by the Chair to report an ordinance to assert the right, and fulfill the obligation of the State of Georgia to secede from the Union.

He then moved to take up the first resolution.

Whereupon Mr. Johnson, of Jefferson, offered the following preamble and Ordinance, as a substitute for Mr. Nisbet's, and moved the reference of both to a committee of twenty- one:

“The State of Georgia is attached to the Union, and desires to preserve it, if it can be done consistent with her rights and safety; but existing circumstances admonish her of danger: that danger arises from the assaults that are made upon the institution of domestic slavery, and is common to all the Southern States. From time to time, within the last forty years, Congress has attempted to pass laws in violation of our rights, and dangerous to our welfare and safety; but they have been restrained by the united opposition of the South and the true men of the North, and thus far the country has prospered, and the South has felt comparatively secure. Recently, however, events have assumed a more threatening aspect, several of the non-slaveholding States refuse to surrender fugitive slaves, and have passed laws the most oppressive to hinder, obstruct and prevent it, in palpable violation of their constitutional obligations. The Executive Department of the government is about to pass into the hands of a sectional, political party, pledged to principles and a policy which we regard as repugnant to the Constitution. These considerations, of themselves, beget a feeling of insecurity which could not fail to alarm a people jealous of their rights. By the regular course of events, the South is in a minority in the Federal Congress, and the future presents no hope of a restoration of the equilibrium between the sections, in either house thereof. Hence the Southern States are in iminent peril, being in the power of a majority, reckless of constitutional obligations, and pledged to principles leading to our destruction. This peril is greatly augmented by the recent secession of South Carolina, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi from the Union, by which the Southern States are deprived of the benefit of their co-operation, and left in a still more hopeless minority in the Federal Congress. Therefore, whilst the State of Georgia will not and cannot, compatibly with her safety, abide permanently in the Union, without new and ample security for future safety, still she is not disposed to sever her connection with it precipitately, nor without respectful consultation with her Southern Confederates. She invokes the aid of their counsel and co-operation, to secure our rights, in the Union, if possible, or to protect them out of the Union if necessary. Therefore,

First. Be it ordained by the State of Georgia in sovereign Convention assembled, That Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri, be, and they are hereby respectfully invited to meet with this State by delegates in a Congress, at Atlanta, Georgia, on the 16th of February, 1861, to take into consideration the whole subject of their relations to the Federal Government, and to devise such a course of action as their interest, equality and safety may require.

Section second. Be it further ordained, &c., That the independent Republics of South Carolina, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, be, and they are hereby cordially invited to send Commissioners to said Congress.

Section third. Be it further ordained, That inasmuch as Georgia is resolved not to abide permanently in this Union without satisfactory guarantees of future security, the following propositions are respectfully suggested for the consideration of her Southern Confederates as the substance of what she regards indispensable amendments to the Constitution of the United States, to-wit:

1. That Congress shall have no power to abolish or prohibit slavery in the territories or any place under their exclusive jurisdiction.

2. Each State shall be bound to surrender fugitive slaves, and if any fugitive slave shall be forcibly taken or enticed from the possession of any officer legally charged therewith for the purpose of rendition, the United States shall pay the owner the value of such slave, and the county in which such rescue or enticement may occur, shall be liable to the United States for the amount so paid to be recovered by suit in the Federal Courts.

3. It shall be a penal offence definable by Congress and punishable in the Federal Courts for any person to rescue or entice, or to encourage, aid or assist others to rescue or entice any fugitive slave from any officer legally charged with the custody thereof, for the purpose of rendition.

4. Whatever is recognized as property by the Constitution of the United States shall be held to be property in the Territories of the United States, and in all places over which Congress has exclusive jurisdiction, and all kinds of property shall be entitled to like and equal protection therein by the several departments of the general government.

5. New States formed out of territory now belonging to the United States, or which may be hereafter acquired, shall be admitted into the Union with or without slavery as the people thereof may determine at the time of admission.

6. Congress shall have no power to prohibit or interfere with the slave trade between the States, nor to prohibit citizens of the United States passing through, or temporarily sojourning in the District of Columbia from having with them their slaves, and carrying them away, but it shall be the duty of Congress to provide by law for the punishment of all persons who may interfere with this right in the same way as is provided for in the foregoing third proposition.

7. No State shall pass any law to prohibit the citizens of any other State travelling, or temporarily sojourning therein, from carrying their slaves and returning with them; and it shall be a penal offence, definable by Congress, and punishable by the Federal Courts, for any person to entice away, or harbor, or attempt to entice away or harbor, the slave or slaves of such citizen so travelling, or temporarily sojourning.

8. The obligation to surrender fugitives from justice as provided for under the Constitution of the United States extends, and shall be held to extend as well to fugitives charged with offences connected with or committed against slavery or slave property as to any other class of offences, and for the purposes of this proposition, whatever is defined to be a criminal offence in one State shall be deemed and held a criminal offence in every other State.

9. The Supreme Court having decided that negroes are not citizens of the United States, no person of African descent shall be permitted to vote for Federal Officers, nor to hold any office or appointment under the government of the United States.

Section fourth. Be it further ordained, &c., That refraining from any formal demand upon those slaveholding States which have passed them, of the repeal of the personal liberty and other acts, in any wise militating against the rendition of fugitive slaves, or fugitives from justice, yet the State of Georgia hereby announces her unalterable determination not to remain permanently in confederation with those States, unless they shall purge their statute books of all such acts.

Section fifth. Be it further ordained, &c., That if, between now and the time of final action upon the question of her continuance in the Union, the general government should attempt to coerce any one of the States that have recently withdrawn, or shall hereafter withdraw therefrom, the State of Georgia will make common cause with such States, and hereby pledges all her resources for their protection and defence.

Section sixth. Be it further ordained, &c., That the State of Georgia will continue to hold, until her final decision in the premises, the possession of Fort Pulaski, and all other Federal property within her borders, which have been seized under the direction and authority of His Excellency the Governor of this State.

Section seventh. Be it further ordained, &c., That a Commissioner be appointed by this Convention to each of the slaveholding States, now members of the Federal Union, to inform them of the action of Georgia, and to urge their conformity to the policy herein indicated, and that in response to the request of Alabama, this Convention will also appoint a Commissioner to the Convention, which she has invited at Montgomery on the 4th of February next, who is hereby instructed to urge upon that Convention so to shape their action as to conform to, and co-operate with, that of the proposed Congress at Atlanta, on the 16th day of the same month.

Section eighth. Be it further ordained, &c., That if all effort fail to secure the rights of the State of Georgia in the Union, and she is reluctantly compelled to resume her separate independence, she will promptly and cordially unite with the other Southern States similarly situated, in the formation of a Southern Confederacy upon the basis of the present Constitution of the United States.

Section ninth. Be it further ordained, That this Convention will adjourn, to meet again on the twenty-fifth day of February next, to take such action in the premises as may be required by the proceedings of the Congress at Atlanta, and the development of intervening events, keeping steadfastly in view the rights, equality and safety of Georgia, and her unalterable determination to maintain them at all hazards, and to the last extremity.

After an elaborate discussion, in which Messrs. Nisbet, Johnson, of Jefferson, Cobb, Stephens of Taliaferro, Toombs, Means, Reese, Hill, of Troup, and Bartow, participated, a call was made for the “previous question” which being sustained under the ruling of the Chair, cut off the motion to commit, and a vote on the substitute, and brought the Convention to a direct vote on the first of the original resolutions of Mr. Nisbet. Whereupon the yeas and nays were demanded, which being called resulted as follows: (the President voting in the affirmative) yeas 166, nays 130.

Those who voted in the affirmative are Messrs.

Adams of Camden, Alexander of Fulton, Algood, Allen, Anderson, Bailey, Banks, Bartow, Beall of Troup, Benning, Blalock, Bozeman, Briggs Brown of Houston, Bryan, Buchanan, Burch, Burnett, Butts, Calhoun, Cannon of Wayne, Cantrell, Carson, Chastain, Cheshier, Clarke, Cleveland, Cobb, Coleman, Colquitt, Cox, Dabney, Daniel, Davis of Chattahoochee, Davenport of Clay, Davenport of Sumter, Dennis, Douglass, Dozier, Dewberry, Ellington, Fleming, Flewellen, Fields, Fitzpatrick, Ford, Fort of Stewart, Fort of Wayne, Fouche, Furlow, Gaulden, Gardner, Garvin, Gee, Gohlston, Glenn of Fulton, Glenn of Oglethorpe, Glover, Giles, Gray, Gresham, Gunn, Hall, Hammond, Hansell, Hargroves, Harvill, Harris of Glynn, Harris of McIntosh, Harris of Merriwether, Harvey, Hawkins, Head, Hendry, Hendricks, Hill of Hart, Hilliard, Hines, Hood, Howell, Hull, Humphries, Jennings, Johnson of Oglethorpe, Jones of Burke, Jones of Chatham, Lamar of Bibb, Lamb, Lattimer of Appling, Lester, Lindley, Logan, Logue, Lyle, Mabry of Berrien, Mallary, Martin of Elbert, McConnell of Catoosa, McConnell of Cherokee, McCulloch, McDonald, McDowell, McGriff, McLeod, Moore of Bulloch, Moore of Spalding, Mounger, Munnerlyn, Nisbet, Padget, Patterson, Phinizy of Richmond, Pinson, Pittman, Pitts, Poe, Ponder, Porter, Poullain, Prescott, Pruitt, Ramsey of Clinch, Ramsey of Muscogee, Reed, Reese, Rice, Richardson of Lee, Richardson of Twiggs, Robinson, Robertson, Roddey, Rowe, Rutherford, Sheffield of Calhoun, Sheffield of Early, Shell, Shropshire of Floyd, Slater, Skelton, Simms, Singleton, Sirmons, Solomons, Spencer, Stephens of Pierce, Strickland of Forsyth, Styles, Thomas of Dooly, Tidwell, Tillman, Tomlinson, Toombs, Troup, Tucker of Colquitt, Turner of Wilcox, Usry, Varnadoe, Walton, Whitehead, Williams of McIntosh Willis, Winn of Cobb, Word, Wright, Young of Gordon.

Those who voted in the negative are Messrs.

Adams of Putnam, Alexander of Upson, Arnold, Beasley, Beck, Bell of Banks, Bell of Forsyth, Black, Bowen, Brewton, Briscoe, Brown of Marion, Brown of Webster, Bullard, Bush, Byrd, Cannon of Rabun, Carswell, Casey, Cochran of Terrell, Cochran of Wilkinson, Cody, Collins, Corn, Crawford of Greene, Davis of Putnam, Day, Dickerson, Deupree, Fain, Farnsworth, Freeman, Frier, French, Gordon, Graham, Hale, Haines, Hamilton, Harris of Hancock, Henderson, Herrington, Hill of Harris, Hill of Troup, Hudson of Gwinnett, Hudson of Harris, Huggins, Hust, Jackson, Johnson of Clayton, Johnson of Hall, Johnson of Jefferson, Jordon, Kenan, Ketchum, Killgore, Kimsey, Kirkland, Knox, Lamar of Lincoln, Langmade, Lattimer of Montgomery, Low, Long, Mabry of Heard, Manson, Martin of Lumpkin, McDaniel, McRae, Means, Mershon, Milton, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morrow, Neal of Columbia, Neal of Talbot, Newton, Overstreet, Paris, Patrick, Perkins, Phinizy of Monroe, Pickett, Pierce, Pofford, Price, Reynolds, Saffold, Sherman, Sharpe, Shropshire of Chattooga, Simmons of Gwinnett, Simmons of Pickens, Sisk, Smith of Charlton, Smith of DeKalb, Smith of Johnson, Smith of Talbot, Spence, Stapleton, Starr, Stephens of Hancock, Stephens of Monroe, Stephens of Taliaferro, Street, Strickland of Tatnall, Taliaferro Teasley, Thomas of Whitfield, Trippe, Tucker of Laurens, Tucker of Hancock, Warner, Waterhouse, Webb, Wellborn, West, Whelchel, Wicker, Willingham, Williams of Chattooga, Williams of Harris, Williamson, Winn of Gwinnett, Wofford, Wood, Yates, Yopp, Young of Irwin.

So, the resolution was adopted.

Mr. Nisbet then moved to fill the blank in the second resolution with the word “seventeen,” which agreed to, and on his motion that resolution was adopted.

The President then announced the following as the “Committee of seventeen” under said resolution, to-wit:

Messrs. Nisbet, Toombs, Johnson of Jefferson, Bartow, Stephens of Taliaferro, Benning, Williamson, Brown of Marion, Hill of Harris, Rice, Hill of Troup, Trippe, Chastain, Cobb, Colquitt, Kenan, Reese.

The following message having been received from His Excellency the Governor, through Mr. Waters, his Secretary, was taken up and read:

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, MILLEDGEVILLE, January 18, 1861. To the Convention:

In response to the resolution delivered to me by your Secretary on yesterday, I have the honor to state that I have no official information in my possession, of a character not generally made public, which could, in my opinion, facilitate the deliberations and actions of the Convention.

The original ordinance by which this State ratified the Constitution of the United States, has not, it seems, been preserved. I find a printed copy of it, however, in a supplement to the Journal of the Federal Constitution, from which the copy is taken which is herewith transmitted.

Though not strictly in response to the call made upon me, I take the liberty to lay before the Convention an original letter from the Governor of the State of New York, accompanied by certain joint resolutions passed by the Legislature of that State, on the eleventh day of this month, which were received at this Department by the mail of yesterday.

JOSEPH E. BROWN.

The following is a copy of the communication referred to by His Excellency, Gov. Brown, and also of the resolutions:

STATE OF NEW YORK. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, ALBANY, January 11, 1861. Sir:

In obedience to the request of the Legislature of this State, I transmit herewith a copy of the concurrent resolutions of that body, adopted this day, tendering the aid of the State to the President of the United States, to enable him to enforce the Laws, and to uphold the authority of the Federal Government.

I have the honor to be, Your Excellency's Obd't Servt, EDWIN D. MORGAN. His Excellency, JOSEPH E. BROWN, Governor of the State of Georgia, Milledgeville. Concurrent Resolutions tendering aid to the President of the United States in support of the Constitution and the Union. STATE OF NEW YORK. IN ASSEMBLY, January 11, 1861.

WHEREAS, Treason as defined by the Constitution of the United States, exists in one or more of the States of this Confederacy, and

WHEREAS, The insurgent State of South Carolina, after seizing the Post-Office, Custom House, Moneys and Fortifications of the Federal Government, has, by firing into a vessel ordered by the Government to convey troops and provisions to Fort Sumter, virtually declared war; and whereas, the forts and property of the United States Government in Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana, have been unlawfully seized with hostile intentions; and whereas, further, Senators in Congress avow and maintain their treasonable acts; therefore

Resolved, (If the Senate concur,) That the Legislature of New York, profoundly impressed with the value of the Union, and determined to preserve it unimpaired, hail with joy the recent firm, dignified and patriotic Special Message of the President of the United States, and that we tender to him, through the Chief Magistrate of our own State, whatever aid in men and money he may require to enable him to enforce the laws, and uphold the authority of the Federal Government. And that in defense of“the more perfect Union,” which has conferred prosperity and happiness upon the American people, renewing the pledge given and redeemed by our Fathers, we are ready to devote “our fortunes, our lives, and our sacred honor” in upholding the Union and the Constitution.

Resolved, (If the Senate concur,) That the Union-loving Representatives and citizens of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee, who labor with devoted courage and patriotism to withhold their States from the vortex of Secession, are entitled to the gratitude and admiration of the whole people.

Resolved, (If the Senate concur,) That the Governor be respectfully requested to forward, forthwith, copies of the foregoing resolutions to the President of the Nation, and the Governors of all the States of the Union.

The preceding Preamble and Resolutions were duly passed.

By order. H. A. RISLEY, Clerk.

In Senate, January 11, 1861. The preceding Preamble and Resolutions were duly passed.

By order. JAMES TERWILLIGER, Clerk.

Mr. Toombs offered the following resolution, which was taken up, read and adopted:

Resolved, Unanimously, in response to the resolutions of New York, referred to in the Governor's Message, that this Convention highly approves the energetic and patriotic conduct of Governor Brown in taking possession of Fort Pulaski by Georgia troops, and requests him to hold possession until the relations of Georgia with the Federal Government be determined by this Convention: and that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor of New York.

Mr. Bartow offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the President do appoint the following “Standing Committees” for the Convention, each to consist of thirteen members:

1st. A Committee on relations with the slaveholding States of North-America.

2d. A Committee on Foreign Relations.

3d. A Committee on Commercial Relations, and Postal Arrangements.

4th. A Committee on Military Affairs.

5th. A Committee on the Constitution of this State, and the Constitution and Laws of the United States.

Mr. Martin introduced the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Governor be requested to furnish this Convention with a statement of the result of the election of delegates for this Convention, specifying the whole number of votes polled in each county, and the number received by each candidate.

On motion the Convention then adjourned till 10 o'clock to-morrow morning.

 SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1861.

The Convention met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Willes.

A quorum being present, the journal of yesterday was read.

On motion, Mr. Harris, of Meriwether, and Mr. Strother, of Lincoln, got leave to record their votes upon the resolutions of Mr. Nisbet adopted on yesterday, they having been absent when the vote was taken, on account of sickness.

Mr. Clarke moved to reconsider the resolution adopted on yesterday to close the doors of the hall during the sessions of this Convention, in order to amend the same by inserting the words “excepting the door of the gallery.”

The motion to reconsider was lost.

Mr. Varnadoe offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the reporters allowed seats on this floor by resolution on the second day of its session be permitted to hold seats in the gallery during the sessions with closed doors.

The resolution was taken up and lost.

Mr. Martin moved to take up the resolution offered by him on yesterday, calling upon the Governor for information concerning the number of votes given by the people at the election for delegates to this Convention.

The resolution was taken up.

Mr. Hood moved the indefinite postponement of the same.

Whereupon the yeas and nays were demanded.

There are yeas 168; nays 127, to wit:

Those who voted in the affirmative are Messrs.:

Adams of Camden, Alexander of Fulton, Algood, Anderson, Bailey, Banks, Bartow, Beall of Troup, Benning, Blalock, Bozeman, Briggs, Brown of Houston, Bryan, Buchanan, Burch, Burnett, Butts, Calhoun, Cannon of Wayne, Cantrell, Carson, Chastain, Cheshier, Clark, Cleveland, Cobb, Coleman, Colquitt, Cox, Dabney, Daniel, Davis of Chattahoochee, Davis of Putnam, Davenport of Clay, Davenport of Sumter, Dennis, Douglass, Dozier, Dewberry, Ellington, Fleming, Flewellen, Fields, Fitzpatrick, Ford, Fort of Stewart, Fort of Wayne, Fouche, Furlow, Gaulden, Gardner, Garvin, Gee, Gholston, Glenn of Fulton, Glenn of Oglethorpe, Glover, Giles, Gray, Gresham, Gunn, Hall, Hammond, Hansell, Hargroves, Harville, Harris of Glynn, Harris of McIntosh, Harris of Meriwether, Harvey, Hawkins, Head, Hendry, Hendricks, Hill of Hart, Hilliard, Hines, Hood, Howell, Hull, Humphries, Jennings, Johnson of Oglethorpe, Jones of Burke, Jones of Chatham, Lamar of Bibb, Lamb, Lattimer of Appling, Lester, Lindley, Logan, Logue, Lyle, Mabry of Berrien, Mallary, Martin of Elbert, McConnell of Catoosa, McConnell of Cherokee, McCullough, McDonald, McDowell, McGriff, McLeod, Moore of Bulloch, Moor of Spalding, Mounger, Munnerlyn, Nisbet, Padget, Pariss, Patterson, Phinizy of Monroe, Phinizy of Richmond, Pinson, Pittman, Pitts, Poe, Ponder, Porter, Poullain, Prescott, Pruett, Ramsey of Clinch, Ramsey of Muscogee, Reed, Reese, Rice, Richardson of Lee, Richardson of Twiggs, Robinson, Robertson, Roddey, Rowe, Rutherford, Sheffield of Calhoun, Sheffield of Early, Shell, Shropshire of Floyd. Skelton, Simms, Singleton, Solomons, Spencer, Stephens of Monroe, Stephens of Pierce, Strickland of Forsyth, Styles, Teasley, Thomas of Dooly, Tidwell, Tillman, Tomlinson, Toombs, Troup, Tucker of Colquitt, Turner of Wilcox, Usry, Varnadoe, Walton, Waterhouse, Whitehead, Williams of McIntosh, Willis, Winn of Cobb, Word, Wright, Young of Gordon.

Those who voted in the negative are Messrs.:

Adams of Putnam, Alexander of Upson, Allen, Arnold, Beasley, Beck, Beall of Forsyth, Bell of Banks, Black, Bowen, Brewton, Briscoe, Brown of Marion, Brown of Webster, Bullard, Bush, Byrd, Cannon of Rabun, Carswell, Casey, Cochran of Terrell, Cochran of Wilkinson, Cody, Collins, Corn, Crawford of Greene, Day, Dickerson, Deupree, Fain, Farnsworth, Freeman, Frier, French, Gordon, Graham, Hale, Haines, Hamilton, Harris of Hancock, Henderson, Herrington, Hill of Harris, Hill of Troup, Hudson of Gwinnett, Hudson of Harris, Huggins, Hurst, Jackson, Johnson of Clayton, Johnson of Hall, Johnson of Jefferson, Jordan, Ketchum, Killgore, Kirnsey, Kirkland, Knox, Lamar of Lincoln, Langmade, Lattimer of Montgomery, Law, Long, Mabry of Heard, Manson, Martin of Lumpkin, McDaniel, McLain, McRae, Means, Mershon, Milton, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morrow, Neal of Columbia, Neal of Talbot, Newton, Overstreet, Patrick, Perkins, Pickett, Pierce, Pofford, Price, Reynolds, Saffold, Sharman, Sharpe, Shropshire of Chattooga. Slater, Simmons of Gwinnett, Simmons of Pickens, Sirmons, Sisk, Smith of Charlton, Smith of DeKalb, Smith of Johnson, Smith of Talbot, Spence, Stapleton, Starr, Stephens of Hancock, Stephens of Taliaferro. Street, Strickland of Tatnall, Taliaferro, Thomas of Whitfield, Trippe, Turner of Hancock, Warner, Webb, Wellborn, West, Whelchel, Wicker, Willingham, Williams of Chattooga. Williams of Harris, Williamson, Winn of Gwinnett, Wofford, Wood, Yates, Yopp, Young of Irwin.

So the motion prevailed.

On motion of Mr. Stephens, of Taliaferro, the Door Keeper was directed to employ an assistant.

Mr. Nisbet, from the committee appointed to report an Ordinance to assert the right and fulfil the obligation of the State of Georgia to secede from the Union, reported the following:

AN ORDINANCE

To dissolve the Union between the State of Georgia and other States united with her under a compact of Government entitled “the Constitution of the United States of America.”

We, the people of the State of Georgia, in Convention assembled, do declare and ordain, and it is hereby declared and ordained:

That the ordinance adopted by the people of the State of Georgia in Convention on the second day of January in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and eighty-eight, whereby the Constitution of the United States of America was assented to, ratified and adopted; and also all acts and parts of acts of the General Assembly of this State ratifying and adopting amendments of the said Constitution, are hereby repealed, rescinded and abrogated.

We do further declare and ordain, That the Union now subsisting between the State of Georgia and other States, under the name of the, “United States of America,” is hereby dissolved, and that the State of Georgia is in the full possession and exercise of all those rights of sovereignty which belong and appertain to a free and independent State.

The report was taken up, and, on motion of Mr. Toombs, the ordinance was twice read.

Mr. Hill, of Troup, moved that the preamble and resolutions offered by Mr. Johnson, of Jefferson, on yesterday, as a substitute for the resolutions adopted by the Convention raising the committee to report an ordinance to assert the right and fulfil the obligation of the State of Georgia to secede from the Union, be received as a substitute for the same.

On which motion the yeas and nays were demanded.

There are yeas 133; nays 164, to wit:

Those who voted in the affirmative are Messrs.:

Adams of Putnam, Alexander of Upson, Arnold, Beasley, Beck, Bell of Banks, Bell of Forsyth, Black, Bowen, Brewton, Briscoe, Brown of Marion, Brown of Webster, Bullard. Bush, Byrd, Cannon of Rabun, Carswell, Casey, Cochran of Terrell, Cochran of Wilkinson, Cody, Collins, Corn, Crawford of Greene, Davis of Putnam, Day, Dickerson, Deupree, Fain, Farnsworth, Fields, Freeman, Frier, French, Gordon, Graham, Hale, Haines, Hamilton, Harris of Hancock, Harris of Meriwether, Henderson, Herrington, Hill of Harris, Hill of Troup, Hudson of Gwinnett, Hudson of Harris, Huggins, Hust, Jackson, Johnson of Clayton, Johnson of Hall, Johnson of Jefferson, Jordan, Kenan, Ketchum, Killgore, Kimsey, Kirkland, Knox, Lamar of Lincoln, Langmade, Lattimer of Montgomery, Low, Long, Mabry of Heard, Manson, Martin of Lumpkin, McDaniel, McLain, McRae, Means, Mershon, Milton, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morrow, Neal of Columbia, Neal of Talbot, Newton, Overstreet, Paris, Patrick, Perkins, Phinizy of Monroe, Pickett, Pierce, Pofford, Price, Reynolds, Saffold, Sharman, Sharpe, Shropshire of Chattooga, Simmons of Gwinnett, Simmons of Pickens, Sisk. Smith of Charlton, Smith of DeKalb, Smith of Johnson, Smith of Talbot, Spence, Stapleton, Starr, Stephens of Hancock, Stephens of Monroe, Stephens of Taliaferro. Street, Strickland of Tatnall, Taliaferro, Teasley, Thomas of Whitfield, Trippe, Tucker of Laurens, Turner of Hancock, Warner, Waterhouse, Webb, Wellborn, West, Whelchel, Wicker, Willingham, Williams of Chattooga, Williams of Harris, Williamson, Winn of Gwinnett, Wofford, Wood, Yates, Yopp, Young, of Irwin,

Those who voted in the negative are Messrs.:

Adams of Camden, Alexander of Fulton, Algood, Allen, Anderson, Bailey, Banks, Bartow, Beall of Troup, Benning, Blalock, Bozeman, Briggs, Brown of Houston, Bryan, Buchanan, Burch, Burnett, Butts, Calhoun, Cannon of Wayne, Cantrell, Carson, Ghastain, Cheshier, Clarke, Cleveland, Cobb, Coleman, Colquitt, Cox, Dabney, Daniel, Davis of Chattahoochee, Davenport of Clay, Davenport of Sumter, Dennis, Douglass, Dozier, Dewberry, Ellington, Fleming, Flewellen, Fitzpatrick, Ford, Fort of Stewart, Fort of Wayne, Fouche, Furlow, Gaulden, Gardner, Garvin, Gee, Gholston, Glenn of Fulton, Glenn of Oglethorpe, Glover, Giles, Gray, Gresham, Gunn, Hall, Hammond. Hansell, Hargroves, Harville, Harris of Glynn, Harris of McIntosh, Harvey, Hawkins, Head, Hendry, Hendricks, Hill of Hart, Hilliard, Hines, Hood, Howell, Hull, Humphries, Jennings, Johnson of Oglethorpe, Jones of Burke, Jones of Chatham, Lamar of Bibb, Lamb, Lattimer of Appling, Lester, Lindley, Logan, Logue, Lyle, Mabry of Berrien, Mallary, Martin of Elbert, McConnell of Catoosa. McConnell of Cherokee, McCulloch, McDonald, McDowell, McGriff, McLeod, Moore of Bulloch, Moor of Spalding, Mounger, Munnerlyn, Nisbet, Padget, Patterson, Phinizy of Richmond, Pinson, Pittman, Pitts, Poe, Ponder, Porter, Poullain, Prescott, Pruett, Ramsey of Clinch, Ramsey of Muscogee, Reed, Reese, Rice, Richardson of Lee, Richardson of Twiggs, Robinson, Robertson, Roddey, Rowe, Rutherford, Sheffield of Calhoun, Sheffield of Early, Shell, Shropshire of Floyd, Slater, Skelton, Simms, Singleton, Sirmons, Solomons, Spencer, Stephens of Pierce, Strickland of Forsyth, Strother, Styles, Thomas of Dooly, Tidwell, Tillman, Tomlinson, Toombs, Troup, Tucker of Colquitt, Turner of Wilcox, Usry, Varnadoe, Walton, Whitehead, Williams of McIntosh, Willis, Winn of Cobb, Word, Wright, Young of Gordon,

So the motion was lost.

Mr. Nisbet moved that the Ordinance be put upon its passage.

Whereupon Mr. Simmons. of Gwinnett, offered the following amendment:

“Provided that this ordinance shall go into effect on the third day of March next.”

Mr. Hood moved the previous question, which being seconded, the question came up on the passage of the ordinance, when the yeas and nays were demanded.

There are yeas 208; nays 89—the President voting in the affirmative—to wit:

Those who voted in the affirmative are Messrs.

Adams of Camden, Alexander of Fulton, Algood, Allen, Anderson, Bailey, Banks, Bartow, Beasley, Beall of Troup, Benning, Black, Blalock, Bowen, Bozeman, Briggs, Briscoe. Brown of Houston, Brown of Marion, Brown of Webster, Bryan, Buchanan, Bullard, Burch, Burnett, Bush, Butts, Calhoun, Cannon of Wayne, Cantrell, Carson, Chastain, Cheshier, Clarke, Cleveland, Cobb, Cody, Coleman, Collins, Colquitt, Cox, Crawford of Greene, Crawford of Richmond, Dabney, Daniel, Davis of Chattahoochee, Davenport of Clay, Davenport of Sumter, Dennis, Douglass, Dozier, Dewberry, Ellington, Fleming, Flewellen, Fields, Fitzpatrick, Ford, Fort of Stewart, Fort of Wayne, Fouche, French, Furlow, Gaulden, Gardner, Garvin, Gee, Gholston, Glenn of Fulton, Glenn of Oglethorpe, Glover, Giles, Gray, Gresham, Gunn, Hall, Haines, Hammond, Hansell, Hargroves, Harville, Harris of Glynn, Harris of Hancock, Harris of McIntosh, Harris of Meriwether, Harvey, Hawkins, Head, Henderson, Hendry, Hendricks, Hill of Harris, Hill of Hart, Hill of Troup, Hilliard, Hines, Hood, Howell, Hudson of Harris, Hull, Humphries, Jennings, Johnson of Clayton, Johnson of Oglethorpe, Jones of Burke, Jones of Chatham, Ketchum, Lamar of Lincoln, Lamar of Bibb, Lamb, Langmade, Lattimer of Appling, Low, Lester, Lindley, Logan, Logue, Long, Lyle, Mabry of Berrien, Mallary, Martin of Elbert, McConnell of Catoosa, McConnell of Cherokee, McCulloch, McDaniel, McDonald, McDowell, McGriff, McLeod, Means, Mershon, Moore of Bulloch, Moore of Spalding, Montgomery, Mounger, Munnerlyn, Neal of Columbia, Nisbet, Padget, Patterson, Phinizy of Richmond, Pinson, Pittman, Pitts, Poe, Ponder, Porter, Poullain, Prescott, Pruett, Ramsey of Clinch, Ramsey of Muscogee, Reed, Reese, Rice, Richardson of Lee, Richardson of Twiggs, Robinson, Robertson, Roddey, Rowe, Rutherford, Saffold, Sheffield of Calhoun, Sheffield of Early, Shell, Shropshire of Floyd. Slater, Skelton, Simms, Singleton, Sirmons, Sisk, Smith of Talbot, Solomons, Spence, Spencer, Stephens of Monroe, Stephens of Pierce, Strickland of Forsyth, Strother, Styles, Teasley, Thomas of Dooly, Thomas of Whitfield, Tidwell, Tillman, Tomlinson, Toombs, Troup, Tucker of Colquitt, Turner of Hancock, Turner of Wilcox, Usry, Varnadoe, Walton, Whitehead, Wicker, Williams of Harris, Williams of McIntosh, Willis, Winn of Cobb, Word, Wright, Yopp, Young of Gordon.

Those who voted in the negative, are Messrs.

Alexander of Upson, Arnold, Beck, Bell of Banks, Bell of Forsyth, Brewton, Byrd, Cannon of Rabun, Carswell, Cochran of Terrell, Cochran of Wilkinson, Corn, Davis of Putnam, Day, Dickerson, Deupree, Fain, Farnsworth, Freeman, Frier, Gordon, Graham, Hale, Hamilton, Herrington, Hudson of Gwinnett, Huggins, Hust, Jackson, Johnson of Hall, Johnson of Jefferson, Jordan, Kenan, Killgore, Kimsey, Kirkland, Knox, Lattimer of Montgomery, Mabry of Heard, Manson, Martin of Lumpkin, McLain, McRae, Milton, Mitchell, Morrow, Neal of Talbot, Newton, Overstreet, Paris, Patrick, Perkins, Phinizy of Monroe, Pickett, Pierce, Pofford, Price, Reynolds, Sharman, Sharpe, Shropshire of Chattooga, Simmons of Gwinnett, Simmons of Pickens, Smith of Charlton, Smith of DeKalb, Smith of Johnson, Stapleton, Starr, Stephens of Hancock, Stephens of Taliaferro, Street, Strickland of Tatnall, Taliaferro, Trippe, Tucker of Laurens, Warner, Waterhouse, Webb, Wellborn, West, Whelchel, Willingham, Williams of Chattooga. Williamson, Winn of Gwinnett, Wofford, Wood, Yates, Young of Irwin.

So the ordinance was adopted.

Whereupon the President said that it was his privilege and pleasure to declare that the State of Georgia was free, sovereign, and independent.

Mr. Beall, of Troup offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Convention prepare parchment upon which to enrol the ordinance of secession for the signature of the members of the Convention, and that the same be deposited among the archives of the State of Georgia.

Mr. Nisbet offered the following as a substitute for the foregoing:

Resolved, That the ordinance of secession be engrossed, under the direction of a committee of three to be appointed by the chair, upon parchment, and reported to the Convention for signature at 12 o'clock on Monday next, and when signed that it be deposited in the archives of the State.

Resolved, That the committee appointed by the above resolution be, and they are hereby instructed to invite his Excellency the Governor, the Commissioners from South Carolina and Alabama, and the Judges of the Supreme Court, who may be in attendance, to be present at the signing of the ordinance.

The substitute was received and adopted.

The chair announced the following as the committee under the foregoing resolution, to wit: Messrs. Beall of Troup, Varnadoe of Liberty, Hawkins of Sumter.

On motion of Mr. Bartow, the resolution offered by him on yesterday for the appointment of standing committees, was taken up and agreed to.

Mr. Bartow offered the following resolution, which was taken up and read:

Resolved, That until otherwise ordered by this Convention, the Collectors of Customs and Postmasters within this State, shall continue to discharge the duties of their offices, in accordance with the regulations heretofore governing them.

Mr. Nisbet moved to amend the same by inserting after the word “Postmasters” the words “and all civil Federal officers.”

The amendment was adopted, and the resolution as amended was passed.

Mr. Alexander of Upson, offered the following resolutions, which were read:

Resolved, as the sense of this Convention, That the people of Georgia would be willing that the Federal Union, now broken and dissolved, should be reconstructed whenever the same can be done upon a basis that would secure, permanently and unequivocally, the full measure of the rights and equality of the people of the slaveholding States.

Resolved, That we recommend to any Convention that may be held by the slaveholding States, the consideration of the policy indicated by the foregoing resolution, and that said Convention, in the event that it concurs in the same, should consider and declare the terms and conditions upon which such reconstruction may be had.

Resolved, That the President of this Convention cause a copy of these resolutions to be forwarded to any Convention that may be held by the slaveholding States.

Leave of absence was granted to Messrs. Strother of Lincoln, and Banks of Stewart, on account of sickness.

On motion of Mr. Hood, the Convention adjourned till ten o'clock Monday morning.

 MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1861.

The Convention met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Crawford.

A quorum being present, the journal was read.

Mr. Simms, of Decatur, moved to reconsider so much of the journal of yesterday, as relates to the passage of the resolution, offered by Mr. Bartow, in order to strike out the amendment thereto, concerning “Civil Federal Officers.”

The motion did not prevail.

On motion of Mr. Harris of Meriwether, Mr. Martin a delegate from the same county, was permitted to record his vote on each of the propositions offered by Messrs. Nisbet and Johnson, of Jefferson, to the Convention—that delegate having been prevented from voting on the same by indisposition.

Mr. Martin, therefore, voted in the affirmative for the substitute offered by Mr. Johnson of Jefferson, and in the negative on the resolutions offered by Mr. Nisbet, and in the affirmative on the adoption of the ordinance of secession.

Mr. Fleming laid on the table the following ordinance, which was read.

AN ORDINANCE

To prescribe the mode in which the acts, records and judicial proceedings in each of the States lately composing the Union, known as the United States of America, and the records and exemplifications of office books, which are or may be kept in any public office of any such State, not pertaining to a Court, shall be authenticated so as to take effect in the State of Georgia.

The people of Georgia in Convention assembled, do ordain and declare, and it is hereby ordained and declared as follows, to-wit:

1st. That until further legislation by the General Assembly, the records and judicial proceedings of the Courts of any of the States lately composing the Union, known as the United States of America, shall be proved or admitted in any of the Courts within the State of Georgia, by the attestation of the Clerk, and the seal of the Court annexed, if there be a seal, together with the certificate of the Judge, Chief Justice, or presiding Magistrate, as the case may be, that the attestation is in due form. And the said records and judicial proceedings authenticated as aforesaid, shall have such faith and credit given to them in any Court of the State of Georgia, as they have law or usage in the Courts of the State, from which the said records are or shall be taken.

SEC. 2. That until further legislation, all records and exemplifications of office books, which are, or may be kept in any State of such Union, not appertaining to a Court, shall be proved or admitted in any other Court or office in this State, by the attestation of the keeper of said records or books, with the seal of his office thereto annexed, if there be a seal, together with the certificate of the presiding Justice of the Court of the county or district, as the case may be, in which such office is or may be kept, or of the Governor, Secretary of State, Chancellor or keeper of the great seal of the State, that the said attestation is in due form and by the proper officer. And the said certificate if given by the presiding Justice of a Court, shall be further authenticated by the Clerk or protonotary of the said Court, who shall certify under his hand and the seal of his office, that the said presiding Justice is duly commissioned and qualified, or if the said certificate be given by the Governor, the Secretary of State, or keeper of the great seal, it shall be under the great seal of the State in which such certificate is made. And the said records and exemplifications authenticated as aforesaid, shall have such faith and credit given to them within this State, as they have law or usage in the Courts or office of the State whence the same are or shall be taken.

SEC. 3. That until such further legislation, the provisions of this ordinance shall apply to the public acts, records, office books, judicial proceedings, Courts and offices of the respective territories, lately of said Union, and countries lately subject to the jurisdiction thereof.

Mr. Cochran of Wilkinson, laid on the table the following preamble and resolutions which were read.

“The aggressions of the people of the Northern States, of the Republic of the United States of America, upon the constitutional rights of the State of Georgia, having been deemed by the people of Georgia sufficient cause to impel her in the maintainance of her rights and honor, to withdraw her connection with the Federal Union, and to resume her sovereignty and independence, justice to herself requires that she should demand her proportional part of the public property, and intending to preserve untarnished, her honor, in the discharge of every moral obligation, and in good faith to the creditors of the General Government, contracted with while Georgia was a member thereof, urge her to a guarantee of the payment of her pro rata part of the public debt of the United States, existing at the time of the act of secession of this State from the Union.

Be it therefore resolved, That Georgia will demand, and enforce her rights, to her proportion of the public property, held by the General Government at the time of the dissolution of the partnership.

Resolved further, That Georgia will assume and guarantee the payment of her pro rata part of the public debt of the United States, existing at the time of her secession from the Union.

Resolved further, That the foregoing resolutions be communicated to the Governor, with the request that he lay them before the Legislature upon its re-assembling, with the recommendation of this Convention that the Legislature take such action as may be necessary to carry the same into effect.

Resolved further, That this Convention of the people of Georgia, respectfully call the attention of our sister seceding States to this subject, and ask their co-operation in the policy, and that the Governor of Georgia be requested to communicate the same to the respective Governor's thereof.”

Mr. Varnadoe offered the following ordinance which was read:

“Whereas, many of the citizens of Georgia hold office in the Army or Navy of the United States, who impelled by patriotic impulses, will resign and return to their native State:

Therefore, The people of Georgia, in Convention, do hereby ordain, that such shall be allowed the same rank and grade in the Army and Navy of the Commonwealth of Georgia, with the same pay and emoluments, which they receive in the Army or Navy of the United States.”

Mr. Johnson, of Clayton, offered the following resolutions which were taken up, and read:

“Resolved, That the Hon. T. L. Guerry, President of the Senate, and the Hon. C. J. Williams, Speaker of the House of Representatives be, and they are hereby invited to seats on the floor of this Convention.

And be it further resolved, That the gallery be opened from day to day, unless otherwise ordered by the President, for the reception of the ladies, and that this Convention respectfully invite them to seats in the same.”

Mr. Cannon, of Wayne, moved to strike out the word “ladies,” in the last resolution, which was carried.

Mr. Styles moved to insert “reporters,” pending the consideration of which, Mr. Hill, of Troup, moved to strike out all after the word “President,” which was carried.

Mr. Briscoe moved to divide the resolutions, which motion prevailed.

Whereupon, the first resolution was adopted.

The second resolution as amended, was then put upon its passage, when

Mr. Styles moved to insert, “and that Reporters be invited to seats upon the floor.”

Mr. Cannon, of Wayne, moved to amend by limiting the number of reporters to “ten,” which motion prevailed.

The amendment of Mr. Styles, as amended did not prevail.

On the question being put, the second resolution in the following form was adopted, to-wit:

And be it further resolved, That the gallery be opened from day to day, unless otherwise ordered by the President.

Mr. Nisbet, offered the following preamble and resolution which were taken up and read:

“Whereas, the lack of unanimity in the action of this Convention, in passage of the Ordinance of Secession, indicates a difference of opinion amongst the members of the Convention, not so much as the rights which Georgia claims, or the wrongs of which she complains, as to the remedy and its application before a resort to other means of redress:

And whereas, it is desirable to give expression to that intention which really exists among all the members of this Convention, to sustain the State in the course of action which she has pronounced to be proper for the occasion, therefore:

Resolved, That all members of this Convention, including those who voted against the said ordinance, as well as those who voted for it, will sign the same as a pledge of unanimous determination of this Convention to sustain and defend the State, in this her chosen remedy, with all its responsibilities and consequences, without regard to individual approval or disapproval of its adoption.”

Mr. Nisbet then moved their adoption, which motion prevailed.

Mr. Shropshire, of Floyd, laid upon the table the following resolution, which was read:

“Whereas, it is now, more than ever before, the duty of Georgia, to husband all her resources, and whereas, an economical administration of the Government, will greatly tend to the accomplishment of this object.

Therefore be it resolved, That a committee of,— be appointed, whose duty it shall be to inquire into the power of this Convention, to reduce the number of Senators and Representatives in the General Assembly of Georgia, and if the power to do so, exists in this body, to report an ordinance or such other measure as will effect this purpose, and on such basis as they may think best.

Mr. Beall, of Troup, from the committee to prepare the Ordinance of Secession for the signatures of the delegates, reported that the committee had discharged that duty, and that the ordinance was engrossed upon parchment, and was subject to the disposition of the Convention.

Mr. Cobb offered the following resolutions, which were read:

Resolved, That the committee on foreign affairs (when appointed), be requested to nominate to this Convention for its ratification, the names of two proper persons to represent the State of Georgia, as Commissioners to the Conventions of the people of the States of Lousiana and Texas respectively.

Resolved further, That the same committee be requested to consider and report upon the propriety of requesting those slave-holding States, which shall not have seceded by the fourth day of February next, to appoint Commissioners to represent such States, at the Congress of the seceding States, to be held at Montgomery on that day.

Hethen moved to take up and adopt the first resolution.

Which motion prevailed.

Mr. Martin moved to take up his resolution, directing that the Ordinance of Secession be published by proclamation of the Governor, and submitted to the people of this State for ratification by the 20th of February next, &c. The motion to take up prevailed.

He then moved that the resolution be adopted.

The motion was lost.

Mr. Chastain laid on the table the following resolution, which was read:

Resolved, That this Convention in behalf of the Republic of Georgia, assume the payment of debts to become due carriers of mails from and after the passage of the Ordinance of Secession.

The President, at 12 o'clock M. announced to the Convention, that the hour had arrived for signing the Ordinance of Secession, and having first placed his signature thereto, the Secretary was directed to “call the counties,” when the delegates proceeded to affix their signatures to the same.

Mr. Nisbet then moved that the committee to prepare the Ordinance of Secession for the signatures of the delegates, now cause the great seal of the State to be attached thereto.

The motion prevailed.

Mr. Hilliard offered the following resolution, which was taken up, read, and adopted.

Resolved, That the President of this Convention, cause a certified copy of the ordinance just signed, to be sent to our Senators and Representatives in the Congress of the United States; and also a similar copy to the President of the United States; and a similar copy to the Governor of each of the States lately composing the United States of America.

The President announced the following “Standing Committees,” to-wit:

Committee on the Relations with the Slave-holding States of North America:

Messrs. Benning, Poullain, Alexander of Upson, Hawkins, Wofford, Lamar of Bibb, Langmade, Styles, Stephens of Monroe, Spencer, McDaniel, Means, Cannon of Wayne.

Committee on Foreign Relations:

Messrs. Toombs, Stephens of Taliaferro, Colquitt, Hull, Johnson of Jefferson, Poe, Briscoe, Fleming, Warner, Hansell, Douglass, Chastain, Davis of Putnam.

Committee on Commercial and Postal Arrangements.

Messrs. Anderson, Harris of Glynn, Bell of Forsyth, Bailey, Hudson of Harris, Alexander of Fulton, French, Hood, Calhoun, Shropshire of Floyd, Dabney, Sims, Casey.

Committee on Military Affairs:

Messrs. Bartow, Tidwell, Brown of Marion, Bryan, Robertson, Montgomery, Giles, Messrs. Saffold, Burch, Smith of Talbot, Strickland, Rutherford, Martin of Elbert.

Committee on the Constitution of the State, and Constitution and Laws of the United States:

Messrs. Cobb, Clarke. Stephens of Hancock, Ramsey of Muscogee, Crawford of Green, Hill of Troup, Glenn of Fulton, Reese, Trippe, Fouche, Kenan, Rice, Lamar of Lincoln,

Leave of absence was granted to Mr. Styles of Ware, on account of important business, and to Mr. Usry on account of sickness in his family.

On motion of Mr. Chastain, the Convention then adjourned till 10 o'clock to-morrow morning.

 TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1861.

The Convention met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Adams.

A quorum being present, the journal of yesterday was read.

Mr. Varnadoe's resolution, relative to officers in the Army and Navy of the United States, (citizens of Georgia who will resign and return to their native State) was taken up and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Alexander's (of Upson) resolutions relative to a reconstruction of the late “Federal Union” was taken up, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

The Ordinance laid upon the table on yesterday, introduced by Mr. Fleming, “to prescribe the mode in which the acts, records, and judicial proceedings in each of the States lately composing the Union known as the ‘United States of America,’”and for other purposes, was taken up and referred to the Committee on the Constitution of the State, and the Constitution and Laws of the United States.

The resolution of Mr. Shropshire of Floyd, to appoint a Committee whose duty it shall be to inquire into the power of this Convention to reduce the number of Senators and Representatives in the General Assembly, and if so, to report an Ordinance thereon, was taken up.

On motion, the blank in the resolution was filled with the word “sixteen.”

The resolution was then adopted.

The second of a series of resolutions introduced by Mr. Cobb on yesterday, requesting the Committee on Foreign Relations, to consider and report upon the propriety of requesting those slaveholding States which shall not have seceded by the 4th day of February next, to appoint Commissioners to represent said States at the Congress of the seceding States to be held at Montgomery on that day, was taken up and referred to that Committee.

Mr. Varnadoe's resolution relative to the employment of small armed steamers to ply along the sea-coast, to prevent depre