p1.10+Dixiecrat+Bloc+Page

Group Members and Rolesmedia type="file" key="dixieceratgroup-period1-constcon-1011.flv" align="right" width="360" height="270"

 * **Connor:** Radio, tv add, video journalist
 * **Eric:** TV Ad, radio add, video director
 * **Brianna:** Speech
 * **Luke:** Debate
 * **Brooke:** Journalist
 * **Riki:** Web/photographer
 * **Dana:** journalist
 * **Henry:** Writer/Wiki

Group Slogan
//"Strong Economy comes from happy Negros, Happy Negros come from the The United States!"//

==What Your Group Wants -- Plan for New Constitution==
 * National government should not have any control over the slave trade.
 * To have each slaves count towards a state’s overall population allowing them to be a part of our vote in the Legislature. (We will settle for them being worth 3/5 of a person)
 * To have no clause or mention of slavery in the constitution
 * A clause that leaves the regulation of trade to local assemblies instead of the National Government
 * To pass any legislation on slavery a 2/3 majority is needed

Bullet Points of Your Plan

 * Our fledgling nation NEEDS a strong economy, which is provided in part by the exports from the south
 * The Crispus Attucks consider only weak morals and not fate of our country
 * To have slavery excluded from the constitution or the south will not join the new union!

Orator: Text of Your Speech
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Dixiecrat Bloc Speech

//Charles Cotesworth Pickney (speaker)//

Friends, fellow representatives of our united States, I come to you in the most humble of terms, respecting your opinion yet differing in my own. I see the signs of an auspicious nation arising. I see the fine gentlemen of the North more kindly disposed to us men of the South. I see endless potential for greatness in the face of unity. We must remain United through the Continental Congress to mold a strong nation. Therefore, I propose that we all remain open minded in our arguments so as to keep our United States united.

We all want our states to be united under one country. We all want success and a government which does not rule autocratically, but is rather ruled by the people. We the people, of the South know the importance of workmen in the labor force; without slaves, we have no labor; without labor, we have no economy; and without economy, our nation will unravel from the seams. Slavery is undeniably the largest labor force we own here in the South and without it we extinguish our livelihoods. Our economy will not survive the blow that the abolishment of slavery will give. They provide our livelihoods with the requital of our taking care of them as we would our own children. For those that would contradict my statement on the basis that slavery is unethical, I would sway you the other way. Is slavery any more unethical than denying someone of their livelihood? Do you really think these slaves would be better off anywhere else: freezing, starving, barely surviving in the hands of a tyrant? Life is built on the basis of nature’s laws and there will forever be someone at the zenith of the pyramid, while all others find their place below him. We plantation owners of the deep South are at the top of our pyramid and those in the workforce are below us as is the case with any employer and employee. You say we are immoral and all men deserve equality, however, everyone knows the world maintains balance only through a delicate imbalance. The bottom line is slaves are necessary to our economy and we will not stand idly by if you attempt to revoke our right to import slaves without taxation. We would like this unity to last as much as any of you but we all demand certain rights. In defense of our property, the people of the South require that Congress include an assurance that the importation of slaves be neither prohibited nor taxed. Although you may be disinclined to acquiesce to our request, you will find that the unity of our states will disintegrate if you deny our simple request. Sympathetic as we are to your perspective, we have our own selves to consider and most respectfully refuse to agree to anything that negates our rights to our property. However, we are so moved by your emotions that we are persuaded to consider our slaves in a 3/5 representation count. Each slave will represent 3/5 of a man and be well accounted for in Congress. On this sore subject of government we would also like to insert that local government is vital to maintain a stable society throughout the nation; to keep our local governments strong, a 2/3 majority should be necessary in both houses of Congress to pass tariffs, quotas, or embargoes. The federal government will only seek to make money off our trade if we allow it too much control.

Overall, the South would very much like to remain a part of the United States with the few necessary amendments to the Constitution. As slavery is essential to our economy and the success of our nation, it must remain a right to those of the South. A precaution for the entire nation’s rights would be to place more power in local governments’ hands rather than too much in a national government. Thank you very kindly, gentlemen. Remember a strong economy comes from happy negroes and happy negroes come from the United States.

Print Journalist: Write-Up of Convention Activity[[image:p1-debate-7-2010-2011.jpg width="504" height="336" align="right" caption="The Dixiecrat fights for the rights of southern property!"]]
The uneasiness within the room was tangible. The tension between the people involved was unmistakable. Everyone was unsteady with anticipation as to what would unfold on this important day that would ultimately dictate the future of our country; the day in which we, the states, united together, are to have a constitution.

James Madison, who represented the Virginia Plan, commenced the meeting. He emphasized the need for unity between the states and chastised the “incompetent state governments”; he believed that we should “unite under a central government”. The controversial argument, it seemed, was their desire of more representatives for the bigger states, which, the New Jersey Plan representatives readily disagreed with and promptly voiced their opinion. In addition, Mr. Madison suggested the preposterous idea of abolishing slavery; the DixieCrat Bloc southerners forcefully asserted their opinion by rightfully booing the ludicrous idea.

The next speaker was William Patterson, an advocate of the New Jersey Plan. He wasted no time in making his biased point; he was clearly in favor of “equal representation”, no matter the size of the state. Mr. Patterson warned that “power would go straight to the majority states” if each state was not given equal recognition. As the New Jersey representatives had previously done to them, the Virginia Plan verbalized their distaste of the idea of “minority rights to smaller states”. An interesting idea was also stated in Patterson's speech; the theory of “legislative, judiciary, and executive branches” within a government that would then be regulated by “checks and balances”. This modern idea had no effect amongst the crowd. Quite shockingly, there was no opposition.

Following Patterson was well renowned Benjamin Franklin, who asked for a bit of compromise. He promised that the Great Compromise would “free the bonds of tyranny” that had been shackled upon us by Great Britain. Threatening “another revolution” if the states failed to unite, this plan vowed to leave “both sides equally satisfied”, pertaining to the differences between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. There were two houses presented in this plan, the “House of Representatives and the Senate”; these houses would appeal to the needs and desires of both plans, as it promised equal representation for the Senate. It also vowed that the House of Representatives would entreat the Virginia Plan’s want of recognition for its vast size.

The Crispus Attucks plan was represented by George Mason, a southern slave owner, who ironically protested the possessing of slaves. The hypocrisy was rather perplexing. He confidently claimed that “the first patriot was a black man”, and that slaves were in want of representation. However, and rather quickly, he proceeded to state that if he were to “lose his slaves at his plantation, it would turn into utter chaos and dismay”. His plan had backfired, for he was not honest. He, like Mr. Charles Pickney of our Dixiecrat Bloc, was in complete agreement with the proposition of keeping African Americans as slaves.

The speaker for the Dixiecrat Bloc was our very own Charles Cotesworth Pickney. He logically defended the use of slavery, addressing the issue that “without labor, there is no economy” and our economy “will not survive the blow” due to its susceptibility towards unsteadiness. He then proclaimed his willingness to compromise and allow slaves to have “three-fifths representation”. However, he also threatened to leave the United States, stating that “unity will disintegrate without us [the South]”. It quickly became apparent that in order to maintain a sense of peace, the needs of the South must be met.

Once the speeches had ceased and everyone was given a fair opportunity to defend their beliefs, the debate was implemented. Within this array of talking over one another and restating previously made points, little was accomplished. We do believe however, that our Dixicrat Bloc presented the best ideas. “The south is like a young doe, if you take away its legs, it will never be able to walk.” This ingenious simile referred to our firm belief that without our legs (the slaves), the doe (our economy) will never function and progress (be able to walk). It withheld so much truth that our foes were only able to retaliate with comments such as “they are people too,” or “they helped us fight in the war, therefore they should be given freedoms.” With benevolence we offered yet again to make a slave worth three fifths of a person. In addition we brought to their attention that we take good care of our slaves, providing a place for them to live and giving them food; basic necessities that they otherwise would not be able to attain for themselves.

Simultaneously the Virginians and New Jersey folk continued to argue about equal representation while Ben Franklin kept insisting on his “Great Compromise.” Virginia stated that “our Virginia is bigger than yours,” which was mildly inappropriate but all the more entertaining. In addition they said, “We can’t have a minority (meaning New Jersey) deciding what the majority wants.” This infuriated the representatives of New Jersey, for they were “scared that the larger states would take over while the smaller states continued to be under-represented.” While they bickered like small children Ben Franklin would occasionally interrupt and say, “be wise, compromise,” or “without a stable government and inability to reach an agreement we will fall apart.”

In essence all sides brought forth valid points. However, we, the Dixiecrat Bloc, will forever continue to believe that without slaves the economy will disintegrate. And thus, without a stable economy and influx of money there will be no progression towards establishing a fair government. Until then, remember that “A strong economy comes from happy Negros, happy Negros come from the south!”

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