ism. Governor McDuffie's message to the legislatures of 1835 and 1836 so clearly state the condition of public affairs at that time, and the subjects that were brought to the consideration of the legislators are so distinctly set forth that I reproduce them in the Appendix to this work, and ask the reader's reference thereto. These State papers will not only grace this Memoir, but are deemed by the writer the best. means of presenting a just conception of the momentous questions that for years after engaged the attention and invoked the thoughtful consideration of the best and wisest men of the entire country, and are yet forming, to a certain extent, subjects for discussion that excite in the minds of the patriot the gravest apprehensions.

The session of the House of Representatives in which Mr. Memminger first took his seat as a legislator was remarkable in that it brought to this Council Chamber of the State a number of young men who have since become distinguished in the history of this State, and whose names are familiar to thousands throughout the country.

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, NOVEMBER, 1836.

St. Michael's and St. Philip's Parishes.-Kerr Boyce, Otis Mills, C. G. Memminger, Richard Yeadon, Jr., Joshua W. Toomer, John Phillips, Samuel P. Ripley, Charles Edmondson, Edward H. Edwards, R. W. Seymour, John C. Ker, George Gibbons, James L. Petigru, Wm. Cross, Edward Frost, John Huger.

Williamsburg.-Joseph Scott, W. J. Buford.

Lancaster.-Wm. Reed, J. P. Crockett.

Horry.-John W. Durant.

Prince William.-J. B. Ellis, James S. McPherson.

St. James, Santee.-John A. Wigfall.

St. John's, Berkley.-Peter P. Palmer, F. A. Porcher.

All Saints.-Joseph Alston.

Laurens.-John H. Irby, Henry C. Young, Thomas F. Jones, John F.

Kern.

Marlborough.-C. W. Dudley.

Prince George, Winyaw.-John W. Coachman, T. P. Carr, A. H. Belin. St. Mathews.-Thomas J. Goodwin.

Fairfield.-David McDowell, David II. Means, John Buchanan, John

J. Myers.

lin.

Union.-Wm. M. Glenn, M. A. Moore, A. N. Thompson.

Marion.-Wm. W. Harllee, Samuel F. Gibson.

Richland.-B. F. Elmore, J. II. Adams, D. J. McCord, B. L. McLaugh

Pendleton.-F. W. Symmes, O. R. Broyles, John Maxwell, John Martin, Joseph T. Whitfield, Joel H. Berry, Bailey Barton.

Clarendon.-Wm. R. Burgess, James P. Richardson.
Claremont.-Isaac Lenoir, James W. English, R. R. Spann.

Lexington.-Henry Arther, Samuel Boozer.

Newberry.-John P. Neel, James Moffett, P. C. Caldwell.

York.-J. D. Witherspoon, Samuel Rainey, James Moore, A. Hardin. St. Luke's.-James A. Strobart, William F. Colcock.

St. Bartholomew's.-John D. Edwards, J. Murdough, Hugo Sheridan.
St. Andrew's.-W. T. Bull.

Barnwell.—John M. Allen, John B. Bowers, W. M. Duncan.
Kershaw.-John Murry, Lewis J. Patterson, M. M. Levy.

Abbeville.-David L. Wardlaw, James Fair, A. B. Arnold, James Gillam, Donald Douglass.

Chester.-John Douglass, William Woods, F. W. Davie.

Spartanburg-John Crawford, H. H. Thompson, A. Barry, John H. Hoey, S. N. Evins.

Edgefield.-John S. Jeter, James Tompkins, John Hunt, Tilman Watson, Abner Whatley, M. Laborde.

St. James, Goose Creek.-John Wilson.

St. Helena.-Thomas I. Fripp, A. M. Smith, Charles W. Capers.
St. Paul's.-Benjamin Perry.

Greenville.-Benjamin F. Perry, Spartan Goodlet, T. B. Brockman.
Orange.-W. D. V. S. Jamison, Elisha Tyler.

St. George's, Dorchester.-David Gavin.

St. Peter's.-W. G. Roberds, William W. Gavin.
Darlington.-George Huggins.

From among these representatives David L. Wardlaw, of Abbeville, subsequently eminent in the history of the State as a jurist, was chosen "Speaker." There is no more important duty imposed upon the presiding officer of a legislative body than that of forming the committees, to whom are referred for special investigation and report such matters as may come before the body for consideration. In making these appointments he is supposed to be selecting from

among the members those whose experiences and abilities best qualify them for the discharge of the special duties assigned to them. I find upon an examination of the Journal for this session that the following members composed the Committee of "Ways and Means" (or Finance): F. W. Davie, C. G. Memminger, Benj. T. Elmore, F. W. Symmes, Charles Edmondson, Ker Boyce, Otis Mills, F. A. Porcher, A. B. Arnold, Thomas E. Powe, John Wilson, and Lewis J. Patterson.

On "Federal Relations" the following were appointed: Richard Yeadon, Jr., M. Laborde, James L. Petigru, C. G. Memminger, Benj. F. Perry, F. W. Davie, J. H. Irby, John S. Jeter, A. H. Belin, D. J. McCord, J. T. Whitfield, John D. Edwards, H. H. Thompson.

On "Education": C. G. Memminger, W. F. Colcock, V. D. V. Jamison, James A. Strobart, M. Laborde.

It will be seen that upon three of the most important committees of the House, Mr. Memminger, at this, his first session, was appointed to serve, and was made chairman of one that on Education. This unusual distinction is seldom, if ever, conferred upon a new member unless he has manifested his ability, and is recognized in a body composed of such representative men as being fully adequate to the discharge of the duties imposed. He does not appear to have engaged, to any great extent, in the debates of this session. Beyond the work of the committees to which he was assigned he was doubtless engaged in studying the rules of the House and mastering the precedents and formulas of parliamentary practice, in which he became a great proficient in after years, and through the knowledge of which he was enabled in many subsequent sessions to become, in fact, the leader of the House, and a most useful member of this body. He was preparing himself for that long term of public service which, beginning with this year, was only inter