Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

570 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
ming, Clayton, Cuthbert, Gamble, Reese, Spalding, Tate, Rockwell, Beall
of Bibb, Taylor of Burke, Bailey, Warner, Dawson, Haynes, Gordon of
Putnam, Clark of Henry, Janes and Harris.
"On the third day Mr. Forsyth called up his resolution of the day
before, and Mr. Berrien moved to amend. Thus began the battle royal
between the giants. Perhaps on no other occasion in Georgia was there
such an imposing display of' eloquence. Mr. Forsyth stood forth in the
majesty of his intellect and the graces of his unrivaled elocution. For
three days the Convention and the crowded galleries listened to the
debate with rapt attention. All conceded the victory to Mr. Forsyth in
the preliminary discussion. He seemed like a giant, bearing down all
obstacles in his way. Mr. Berrien took the floor amid plaudits from the
galleries. He waved his hand and shook his head gravely, his beaming
face upward, to repress the demonstration in his favor. What delight
he afforded all present by his polished style and sweet delivery may be
imagined by those who have had the good fortune to hear this American
Cicero. Other speakers participated in the discussion; but the author
does not remember all of them, though a spectator. Col. William Gum
ming, in point of dignity and force, called to mind a proud Roman
Senator. Messrs. Clayton, Torrance, Rockwell, Cuthbert, Spalding,
Beall, G. W. Gordon, Haynes and Alford were among the principal
debaters. Gov. Gilmer made an argument with his usual zeal and abil
ity on the main question, at another stage of the Convention.
"On Friday, General Blackshear, Chairman of the Committee of
Twenty-One, made a report, which was read to the Convention by Mr.
Berrien. It emphasized State Rights, set forth the limited powers of
the Federal Government, and declared the several tariff acts of Con
gress, designed for the protection of domestic manufactures, to be un
constitutional and void. It also recommended unanimity of action on
the part of the aggrieved States of the South, and authorized the presi
dent of the Convention to communicate the action of the body to these
sister Commonwealths.
"Mr. Forsyth offered a substitute for this report, denying the neces
sity for any radical action of this kind in regard to the tariff, and sug
gesting that the Legislature be asked to appoint delegates to a South
ern Convention to discuss measures of relief, whenever the other States
of the South were agreed in regard to the wisdom of this method of
redress.
'' The substitute was lost, but before a vote was taken in the Conven
tion on the Report of the Committee of Twenty-One, Mr. Forsyth laid
on the secretary's table a protest signed by himself and some fifty dele
gates, all of whom then retired together from the Convention. The
scene was very exciting, but it passed off quietly; and, after slight
amendments, the report was adopted by a vote of 64 yeas and six nays.
Two important committees were appointed—one to address the people
of Georgia, consisting of Messrs. Berrien, Clayton, Gordon of Putnam,
Beall of Bibb, and Torrance; and the other styled the Central Commit
tee, consisting of Messrs. Torrance, Rockwell, John H. Howard, Samuel
Boykin and James S. Calhoun, to take whatever steps were necessary
to give effect to the measures adopted.
"The author has dwelt freely on these topics for the principal reason