Edgefield advertiser. (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, January 15, 1852, Image 1

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-561 --6 - u -.. -- -. / - - v k - -*- - - - -. 4 ttie Pilomnad if it Must fall we will Perish amnid the RIin -. .~ ~*~ tj - T - i. - . -6 ---- L JANUARY 15',1852. -F 4. -*. -'- 4 VIt the lom~jtallo '0 cloiflney *ffsngbt-bAi at indicated by The ple tbetr~vMn lectioui of deputies.t-a 91utd Everv co-operatidnist on this "49" 1 Cb Llsured that thesece'ssionists -t t t i't rrg odd faith, anid'aso fir as th i ne hi~te wishies fthe poo I -. ;iem.) lent and comn sel1r6imt as a-conv ion is, by a figure, the people themselves net in consultation, no delegate has a right P represent views which are not reflected ron theconstituents whom he personates. t is perfectly clear that no member to a con entioln has authority to depart from his in truelions; and it is equally certain that a onvention itself cannot proceed beyond the xpressed objects for which it wias called ogether. Aluch has been said in regard to the con ention's taking cognisance of other matters hanl those in connection with our relations o the Federal Government. If any dele ate shonld dareto transgress so far the line f his duty, he would not only be forgetful f his trust, but 'he would deserve the exe ration of every faithful citizen of the State. 'hreats have been thrown out here, that our asis of representation would be disturbed, lid that a general ehange of State policy ould be propos d. The man that should e reckless enough to make so unpatriotic a ruposition would be a traitor to the best terests of his State, and should be visited ith the sumimary vengeance of an outraged ople. He would deserve the highest mea re of Junishment, and the country would ot be slow in awarding him his just deserts. My honorable friend may, therefore, dis iss his apprehensions. The convention -ill do nothing from a captious spirit. The "essionists are determined to observe the -ill of their constituents. Whatever the tate decrees, they are willing to abide. We is harmony among those wno-yet have -the irit to resist. In our present condition, -e are powerless alone; but if our friends r the other party should propose any plan F resistance, though it fa1l far short of sep -te State secession, which we deem the Oy adequate remedy, we will still fight for ie colors of our State, and heartily sustain y measure which looks directly to acoura ,us vindication of our rights. We will eld nothing in principle, but give a cordial ipport to any mcans of redress which are neticable and honorable. The chafl, though, iould 'first be - sepmrated from the wheat. jon a winnowing of the truengratil. %VI e abolitionists, and unionists, and subis issionists, we have no symupathy, and de re to have no correspondeiice; blnt to all solute men, who love principle, and are nerely attached to the liberties ot their tate, we extend the hanad of friendship and arty co-operation; and though their mode defence nay dillr essentially from the one -oposed by ourselves, yet if it be straight rward, we will sustain it with heart, and )iee, and hand ; and we shall evince, by the misistency of our conduct, that we have een influenced, in our past action, by noth ig but an ardent desire to maintai our wn honor, and to advance the interests and lory of our State. It is difficult for me to comprehend how te distinguished member from St. Phillips i;d St. Mlichaels, (Mr. Menminger,) who has st addressed the House, can nlow OPPOse ae call of the convention, and still preserve is coasistency, when a year has not elapsed ine hi.s voice was houd on this floor, main aining the expediency of passing the coma rmiise bill, (t which tle convention formed part, and advocating the most strigent iasures oif taxation for tie purpose of :cing the State in an attitude of military ece. The boldness of his paper schemes . resistanice, in making unusual aippropria tians o~ money, and in building steam ves ds of war, disturbed, according to his own bowig, even the steadiniess otf may nerves; 11bo. the most of the House are ready to dmit, am quite prepared to meet an issue chich may end either in a great disaster, or a signal deliverance of the South. His onget was on tire, when lhe exhorted this iteniing Assembly to prove to the world by ets-hv acts of einrmous and oppressiwe :xatioi-thtat South Carolina .was deter iined to control her own fate, in the event le other Southern States sho(uld decline to n-operate with her, and that, within her oiies, " a tale of submnision should never 'e told." I suspect, as the honorable mem aer was dealinig in steam, he had got it up a ittlhe too high, and was only opening a safe v-valve, to avoid a great catastrophe. Where ms that might y spirit vanished, which, wh'len Sfew travel-'worn soldiers of the United tates army rested on their way at Charles .on, burst the limiits of its confinement, trans >arted the representatives beyond their lpre iriet v, their dignity', and their sense of shame, Lnd set the whole Legislature in a blaze of :nns uing wvrathi ? Was that meteoric flash af indigination needful the more fully to dis ~le our deplorable impotence and the hol lowness and treachery of our purpose to resent indignity ? Why, the ebullitions of he temper of my honorable friends wvent oft like the explosions of the vapor of good :hiaimpagne ; and, I am sorry to ndd, they were just as momentary, just as inocent, 'dt ju.st as evanaescenit. At the be'ginning of the last session, the e-loq uent mnember~from Charleston, in con ideratioan of the momentous events abotut to be heralded into the world, and in imitation f the illustrioaus exampjle of our fathers, can the eve of their memorable struggle for in dependencemoved. by a resolution of this House, that a day of s'olemn humuiliation and prayer be appointed. in order that our minds might be better fortitied to meet the terrible drama to be brought on the stage, and to act the important tragic scenes, with that gravi. t v and effect, which should hold the attention, and command the respect of admiring na. tions. There was an awe thrown around the whole of our first proceediings, that raked mc to the highest pitch of courage of which I ime apable, and led me to expect a confliet, in which a man might signalize his devotioi to nliberty The soul of the hoorable gen FIRM; Y.TBIUR8AY ~~~ ~OLAitTftt1 r 4it if - -tif -on -redasmade 1gr an~ m .1will be continued until all or at the option of the Pub th Sabseiptions from other States must be p ith the cash or reference to some eknow to us. IDyZe'TSEKNta S will he conspicuously inser "rents. per Square (12 ines or hIss.) for the'fistinertion; and 37 1-2 for each subsequent insertin" Whi only published Monthly or Quar terly, One Dollar per square will be charged. All .44 m ts not having the desired nuiher of nse ii marked oi the margin, will be contin d stilto'rhid and charged accordingly. -'..hosedeoiring to advertise by the year can do so oiliberaiterm'u-.-it being distinctly uneterstood that contmracts for yearly advertir-ing are confined to the immediate. legitimate business of the firm I or individual coiitractinug. Transient Advertise menti must be paid for in advance. . -For innouncing a Candidate, Three Dollars, in advance. For Advertising Estravs Tolled. Two Dollars. to be paid by the Magistrate alvertisinv. t SPEECH OF JOSEPII ABNEY, OF EDGEFIELD, 'Delirerd in the House #f Representatices of ,,South Carolina, Monday, Dec. 8, 1851, "'On the Report of the ontinillee f the( - W'1hoeouse, rec-mmending the rejection 'of a Bill to repeal so much <o an act to procideJr the appointnill of Deputies to a Southern Congress, and to cal a Con ventioi f the 11coplc <f this State, passed on the 21th day if Deceniber, A. D., 1850, tj as authorizes and relates to.the call o{ said v Conrcention." ~s .AMR. SrEAKER :-The opposition of mew- v bers to the report of the committee, at this % stage of our proceedings, is made for the v purpose of taking the -wenlse of the liouse s on tie convention bill, preparatory to further % opposition on its final paissaige. The whole o terits of the bill, therclore, are thus brought o up for discussion, and ii is yecfctly adinis. 'a sab e that I should present my -iews of its o etitire policy. . ' - ti It is proper, tliougliu beforeentering, fully al upun the uain quenioni, -to premise that, in g my judgment, the bill of the hionorable mem- yi bur from Viendhcton, (Mr. - Wilkes,) )or 'the si repeal of the convetion- act, is altogether pl contrary to the constitutiuon of this State,'us -1 well. 1. I I uid u.- furnished us-by these t o . .. . , 1 aale . o ituziapovd 'L'thavil cue C~siu piuvidig .61 firlhe call of-a convention is in tlese t words: " No convenutionl of the people shall Ill be called, uiless by- the conucurreice of two- si thirds of both braielis of te whole repre- r( settion." It is plihe , h ,that pwer is granted to the tLegislattire to call a conveli tioll olllv by tw% o-third of both Houses. and hi that there is n1o proviion, whatever. or the o repeal of such an act, after it has oice beei p passed. Who caln tell whether, if it be col- ft Isitutional to repeal it at a!l, it sahould be done v, by a sitiple tnajotity of both braiicles, or by c twso-tlarts of both!d Tlis very questioln b suggests the ditliculty that would emtbarrass ii uS, it undioing, at t!is se.biv", Whiat Was o done at the last, and in attemptinig, in no in- g formal a Manner, to annul the mist solemn decree that can be made by the Geieral As aeibly of tle State. .1 blany geitllegien, eninent for their ac quiremelts. and fur their political abilty, haVe even, uintiained that the conlventiIont, already created, could aasetube withiouat be ing catled togelietr by :y other aet of this Legislature. To obsiate the ijbarrassment, then that migtil arise frun slCh a conviC tioti, and to prevent, all cuflitt of Oliniolls ot the subject Lereafter, it is unues.ionably he duty of this body to appoiit the tIme I for the assemnbling ol the tielegates elect to the convenition- t Such .t course is necessatry, mi order to de termzine 'lhe existencee of, that. body ; for by the act calling it into being, it is posinively stated that its innaelionis uay not eensH unutl twelve months after its tirst mtecting. . houg. I would not urge tuis latter viw respect, we have for the delegate, themnselves, and for our owni dignity, and, the digiiity ot: the State, that uhe conivenuion should be 1 forthwssith assmbled. At the last session of this Legislature, the 1 ..~exieies of the counitry were deemed sulhi cicntty urgent to authori/.e the passalge ot aii 4 act under which dtipatieso a re electedl to a 1 Sotuthern ( ogress, and delegates cliosenl toi I a conveintioni ol the State. tr ow, if we, :al- 1 -ter all this deliberationa anid preparation for i action, should entirely surrentuer our position I it would east ridicule, not, only on ourselves,: but on the delegates elect, anid on the people| of the State of South Carolina. I aml un-1 willinig to inisult the good men, who have been selected to reptresent, us ii conivention. lam unwilling to hold up nmy native State as an object for the derision ot the abolitionists, atnd for the jeerings of our sister States; and powerless and humble as we are, I anm un willing to blur the honor of this Assembly, - and degrade its spirit, by a public admission of ouir inconsisteney, and of the factt that our people have determined to abandon the bold attitude they had assumted towards the monopolists and abolitionists of tihe North, who heave plundered them without merey, and disfranchised them of their most saicred rights. I agree ftully with my honorable friend from Abbeville, (Mr. SleGowen) thatt the State has not yet instructed us to recede from any advanced position we have taikein. If we have been ordered to patuse, reform our line of battle, and proceed with greater circumnspection,'and a more moderate pace', we have not yet heard the hateful order to retreat sound ed ini our ears. If we hatve been suddenily checked in onr career of bat tIe, and humiliated in the hast degree 1by the . command to reservo our fire thank God, iere is yet no apparent necessity for ouar retirinig altogether front the field. I rejoice to con cur with nay accomplishedl friend, in the opinlion that the convention to assemble ma~y do somnethinlg to retrieve the honor atnd main ta the character of South Carolitna. 4 'V ~i~e difeper tonies oev4 estg sic put o~ dA rderinot todic;.but. toilive. - fd~w f1 memb frmiPbdleton (Mr. Se dto eRi s&own.impressive -language,."edme a., , fr6n the mountains; or; more appro PrHldfIhe sulg :Rol4le said,"1 aa the voide sft cryimgn ,t~iplderness, make straight the wayof.e::"d, iasaid the prophet lE sias." I'l the Simplicity of myundersanding, I verily believed that all this had meaningand I truly expected a stormy act, after such thundering in the prologue. This convie tion was strengthened int mly mind, when these-same honorable gentlemen, not only gave in their adherence to the convention bill, but when some of them supported it, in much more eloquent terms than I could em ploy; and to give greater force to its provi mions, proposed, -as I stated an increase of taxes, and the most -stupendous preparations for war. Would these high - minded gentlemen,~and the whole co-operation party, not justly sub ject themselves to the charge of inconsis tency, if they should now decide to vote for the repeal of an net, of which they were, last year, such earnest and nble advocates 1 What sufi-icent apology could they make for so sudden a change of sentiment,and for.sq.g weak and childish a display of indecision ? would it not look like a want of wisdom, or like trepidation? Are the causes for re.sis tance not as gteat-nay. more pressing and aggravated now, than thev were then !OJs the right of a State to secede not denied us -and have we not been threatened recently with the guns ind soldiers of the United States army? Have the Congress and the non-slaveholding States made any conces sions i n the subject of slavery ? Have they modified the tariff! Have they altered the unequal principle of taxation; by which the South has been reduced to dependence and penury ? Have they atoned for their uncon stitutional admission of California? Have they given us any adequate compensation for all the territory f:-om which we have been tun righteously excluded, by an unfeoling, domineering majority-and for all the rights and priviletres of which we have been dis franchised by a parental government, which, under the plea of affording us protection, is taking.the bre.ad, from the mouths of our children,.and riveting fetters ofirou upon our own limnbo t NO;! no! our oppressions aeal u iA-1mfdin no - di grievous wou'ds art ye Llermg I the death ; and our honor. pride, and shameg and ill our noble recotlections, demand us to stand firm in thi-i awful crisis of our ruin. But the honorable gentleman from Spar tanburg, (.1r. Tucker) assures the House. that tie people have decided to do nothinig, and have repudiated secession without co peration ; and lie contends also. that it is now appareit, that the Southern States will not co-operate with us; and that as the so-le ob j-eet for the call of the convention was to sc selparately, the people have lronotne ed their verdiet against that likewise. The member arrives at his conclusion, after the fashion of the old story of " this is the house that Jack built." The truth is, the issue was never fairly presented of sttuiis bion or ultimate separate state action. No respectable man of the co-operation party had the hardihood, during the canvass of this vear, to take ground in favor of base and iinal submission. Ie would have beenl frowned down by an indignant community. It is only the succe.-s of the October elei tions which has emboldened politicians to in struct South Carolina to nequiesce in the compromise, and has encouraged them to persunide the people that men of hoimor are excusable, on aecount of their weakness, for living in inlfamiiy :nd vassal:ige. I aidmit that the State has given decisive indientions of disfavor towards immnediate solitary secession, butt I deny that she has expressed any aversion from separate State action in the last rcort. or front the call of the conivention of her people, Co-opera tionists have all along proclaimed to the citizens, that they were thme true resistance men-perhmaps the only eil'ective resistance men iin the State. They earnecstly professed dutring thme sunmmer to be in possession of a ntoble plan of action, which they were pire IpnredI to evolve amt the proper junitutre-t the meeting of the very convention to which gentlemen are now uring~ such strenuous opposition. They disaigreed wvith the se eessionists, at the Mlay convention, express ly because th at party was charged with pro posing to inist ruct, the legally consituted coniventioni in aidvance of the tinme for its meeting. Their avowed object was to leave the delegates uintraummelled ; and thait was the whole drift of Col. Orr's resolution, to which our friends might possibly have givemn Itheir assent. The donminant party, until re cently, have never once objected to the maccling of thme convention, and no such an issue has either beenm decided, or presented to the pecople ;atnd any asser-tions contrary to what I have stat ed, aire unnnithoriae~d by the facts, aind are perveraionus of the truth. Our distingiuised Senator,(.Judge Butler) has of ten admaitted that the Legislature was com pelled to nass the convention act of the last session; n'nmd his able condjiutors and co-ope rationi frienids in this House, (Mr. Preston and Cot. Chiesnut) have indicated during the Iwhole of this contest, by their votes and by their conversation, that they feel in honor bound to oppose this bill, unider discussion, aiid to render their judgment for the assem bling of the convention. WVhen these men, acknowledged to be, as they are, the true and capable, and zealous exponents of the Iparty in thme ascendant, nire thus casting their votes, no man has the right to say that the people have decided agniinst the call of thme conivention, by the late elections, or by any demonstration whatever of their will. Mr. Speaker, I will proceed to state brief. ly the other reasons which have convinced me of the necessity for the meeting of the convention. We have been informed repeattedly by the co-operatiou party, with that extreme modes ty, whih his. ,.ontinually characterized their 'eands ~~lit orators, that they d 'irltf of the gravity, an Wn wisdani an f the State; and th -rnt vries e. pla have given mut. assuran . ypretensions. I ihort, t6e iad a' plan of actio 1i 1 e' known, which w full~ n d which has been, j proved of. It is rig tha , te that a party whic en ' isuccessful, and whic habeen sustaed the wisdom of Chevei .bihe~ pie narnwell, by the elc qa;nedf Bitley iidby the boldness of th Mountai-Patriot, aiid by the abundant legn lore of nearly the -hole of our judiciary should possess, at legt, in the hidden store houses of their.infellects, some heai-enli pannca by whielttbey are to cure our grie vots disorders-s'dhie mode of successfu resistance, by whielgwhey are to rescue thi State from her thr.kdom, raise -her up frotr her low degradationiaud restore her agir to the light and the'iuin of lier glory. A opposing party, to* be triumphant, shouk always have a scheme of conduct more ae ceptable than:.' the' party opposed.. An< though the sovcreig remedy of the co-ope rationists has nq yet been veiled from oui sight, still otir bumii: rinture ivill make u! hope that tle prpmlikd blessing must com< at last. I am unwilljng to believe, and I cnnot believe,thate seventeen thousand a devoted- menas evershouted the cry of Jib. 'yitfhave ben-roied and totally defeattd by a party hich, ut'der the gaudy, enticin robe of patrioti'simas no feaitures but thos presente'd by a hoid matss of deformity composed of timid ;istance men, unionists mnnlecontents, and an~itionists, with no fixed principles -but thoseof.:submission, and nr ngle, purpose bu 'tht of disorganization And mschief. Frorn the bottom ofi my heart, sir, I do expect something fromthe united wisdom and the tempetle -Iliberations of the con. vention. That bof' wil contain much in telligence, much sajiety', much coitrage, and much patriotism" .alm 'inquiry :and cour teos, dignified' debate, strike ont light and truth from the collision of great minds. If their proccedings lave no other tendency, they will awaken public Attention, enlighten the judgment of tie people, and give a pow. erful and authoritative expression of the public opinion ofSouth Curolina, on the absorbing subjects;which have been agita ting the conntry. But [have confienee that so wise and so patriotic an assemnly could not fail to devisc some measure ofjetic.al resistance-and Vaili, e'.iplicit aeclaration of 'righie;by South Carolina, upon the infraction of which, by the government. they would pledge the State to absolute secession. Such a declaration, rom its firmness, reasonableness and good temper, would command the respect and the onmurreinee of the whole Smith. lerhaps, some other modes of obtaining redress, re semnbling those whieh have been recently published in the publie journals, ly the co peratiun party, might receive the sanction of that a ble and potent body of Legislators. Surely, if they could dc nothing more, they could give sutlicient life and activity to that principle of co-operation, which the State so warmly cherishes, As to enable us to gain the attention of our Southern sisters, and extri cte ourselves from the awful state of isola tion, desperation, and gloom, into which we have been plunged, either by the precipitan cy of the secessionists, or the excessive dis eretion of the co-operationists, or the abject devotion of the unionists to a splendid and tyrannical government. In the name of God, something mtist be done: I cainot realize the faet that, inl the fitee of all our oppresssions, and acknow. ledged as they are by politiciatns of every creed, we are taicly preparing the minds oi our people for the hutuble lot of slavery an infaumv. If. a State or a nation admits its injuries-is conusciotus of its approaching rtuin, and yet delays to resist on intiont oi its inabiilitv t o str'ike effectually, it is already degraded,'and no piower on earth can redeen1 it from servitude. The negroes wvho follow the plough, at thme bidding of their masters are in mind no abjecter slaves thnm that igno ble people who admit the iyrong, and yet quauil from the application of the'proper cor. rective. It matters not how small they ar< -howv destittute of resources; they are re. ereant to their duty, and false to the highest principles oif honor, if they bear insult witi meekness-if they suffer an indignity wvith. out repelling it at the risk of their life.I would infinitely prefer that my State shui be conquered into stubmission, than bulliet and frightened into it. A noble effort wont' excite the admiral ion of all gallant men, and if we fell, our death struggle would retnd the cords of this Union, and enkindle the spirn of every patriot in the South. We wocnlu devote our household gods on the altar o cur liberties, and, if we perished, the temph itself shotuld first fall, amid the ruins of it: proutd superstruictutre should furnrish on imonumetnt. If we wuere subdued by on victorious masters, chains are all that the, cuild inflict.; and, great God, our limbs ari now cankered, and our very pride is bowe< down by thte weight of the matnacles tha oppress us. If the meanest man in society receive an insult, however ineflectual may be hi resentment, lie is abased if he does not rnmis his hand in strife. Hocnor is preserved b valor, however unequally matched may b the combatants, and however disastrous t the weaker party may be the results of th~ conflict ; and I know that wvithout honor lif is a burden and a pain. Honor was onc the catuse that induced nations to encounte the perils of wvar. It led knights and he roes to assail impregnable fortresses, ti traverse barren regions of sno0w and burn ing deserts of snd. It enriched the plain of Syria with the blood of the flower an prime of Eurepe. It caused Regulust devote himself to denth-Brutus to dye hi hands in the blood of his friend, and antothe Brutus to prnne the doom of his ow child. It held fast thme Spartans in the pas of Therimopyine, and thie Palmet tes in th field of Churubuseo: and it was honor alon that prompted our fathers .to rebel ngains the Brutish yoke, and bunoe up the.ir brai o hearts amid all the calamities of the war of d inidependence. e But the politicians of this age have lately h discovered that there is just nbout as much n virtue. in honor and courage as Sir John n Falstaff supposed, and they have adopted a the same priociple that always actuated that n redoubted captain of Shrewsbury field. Men t that we have habitually respected for their h reputed wisdom have used arguments to de- i i tertheir fellow-eitizens fromastierting rights 1, which the speakers themselves confessed &d I - been violated and annulled. They have at- g e tempted to betray an heroic people into pa- f . tient 6ndurance of wrong, if not into abject I , submission, .by their unmanly and timid < - counsels- If such statesmen were fully I avnre of 4he scope and tendency of their i . own reasoning, and if they- had an aim to t I lull the State into a4atal -tecurity, and to I gradually reduce her pride, I am prepared to c look down upon them with - abhorrence, I i cre not to what eminence they may have I been raised in the estimation of the credu I lous and unthinking multitude. 8 - When McDuffile, and Turnbull, and Har- I I per ivere living, and when the bright genius t . of Calhoun was blazing in its glorious efful- V r gence, the loathsome doctrines that have re- I . cently been inculented, to delude our State p into an humble attitude, and to stifle the a spirit of patriotism in the hearts of her citi- I zens, found within our borders no tongue i that ventured to utter them, and no bosom k that gave them a response. In the days of those illustrious patriots, liberty was esteem- 0 ed by us dearer than life-our escutcheon c was without blemish, and the lofty tone of e South Carolina excited the envy of surround- c I ing States. But, Mr. Speaker, .J am trespassing upon i your patience, and upon that kind courtesy, , which so eminently distingnishes your. own t bearing, and that of this flouse. it I now undertake a more grateful task, 0 which is to insist that the~ meeting of the I convention is essential to harmonize the con- p flicting parties in the State, and to unite all I true mn, both among the co-operationists e and the mecessionists, into a solid phalanx, h devoted to the preservation of the indepen- is dence and ancient renown of South Caro. fI lina. n When-all the various intellects of which w that convention is composed shall be bronght 0 together, and combined in their efforts to ti serve the State, it is impossible that any a paltry considerations of rivalry and tempo- le rary self-aiggrandizemnent, can prevent their s union on sonic connon ground of resistance. p There is no vital principle that separates 1) them, and I am sure that those gnerous b any1 mvre umerenulce UK 11Mney,--- -- vides and distracts the counsels of th blate. h. If the convention shall sueceed in accom- If plishing this noble end, and in producinig Ii unity of purpose among our leaders, and in I restoring a unanimous sentiment of resis- s I tance throughout the State, it will have de- t[ served well of the country and merited a d place in the history of the times. I am cer tain, that a union among ourselves is " a con- I summation devoutly to be wihed," and Ican ti 10e no possible obstacle to its being tfTeeted. If my most sanuine hopes are verilied, the n deliberations of the convention wiil have a been more valuable to us than gold-they a will have doubly paid their expense, if it n amounted to a million of money. I V Fur one. I desire that every in'ember in this a House shall bear witness. Iht I pledge my self to support, with all the ardor of my na ture, any measure of direct action prescribed by the convention, thongh it tall far below g what the exigency of the State demands. I The co-operation party will have the sole o control of that assemlbly, beeanlse thle seces- 94 sionists intend to be instructed by the will ii of their constituents, and they are resolved s not to thwart the aclion of their brethren, p by any factions opposition, or ly any oppo. Ir sition whatever. Let our friends give us a s single rallying point, a solitary motive to s etf'ort ;-let them raise a single flag with, the e inscription of liberty-and Liberty and In- s dependence being our watchword, we will do I battle under it, as proudly r~s if it hamd been r run up by our own standard-bearer. t I would have cheerfully assented, the oth er day, to the amendment of my honorable friend from A bbeville, (Mir. 3MeGowetn,) which . provided for the acceptance, by the Governor, I of the resignation of Delegates, to the conven tion and for the issuing of writs of election to fill vae:mneies, in order to have giventhe co-np erationists a fair oppr rtunity to have secured a majority at the. first assembling of thamt I bodyv, had it not beena transcending the an- 1 thority given us in the Constitution. He did meII the honor, not only to consult me as to its I propriety, but to reqgnest that it should be of- I fered bymnyself. I sincerely approved or the main object s of his amendment, but, after se- C rinoes reflcectiona, becnme satisfied that wve had no powver to mtake it, and therefrore returned it to himi, that he might exerciae his own dis- ~ eretioin in the matter. s The act of the last session, to provide for r the appointmecnt of deputies to a Southern r Congress, &c., has this provison in relation r to filling vacaneies: " And, in case of any a vacaney occurring by death, resignation, or iremoval from the State, or refusal to serve' Sof any person elected a delegate to the said convention, the presiding officer of the said Sconvention shall issue his writ, authorizing Sadrgrigthe managers of elections, ini the election distrit.t in which such vacancy Smay have occurred, after giving due notice Lthereof, to open a poll and hold an election I to fill such vacaney, as in cases for the elee Stion of members of thle l.cgislature." 1 SFrom this, it is very clear, that the modifi e cation investing the Governor with power to r accept resignations, and to issue writs to fill I -vacancies, would have been a substantial al D teration of thme law, and would therefore. -have requIred two-thirds of both branches of' s the lerislature to have enneted it. It would d have >een an~ easy matter, then, for those a opposed to thle call of the convention, to have s defeated it entirely. Besides, in the simple r provision of the constitution for the call of n a convention of thle State, I see no authority s for patching up, and amending from sessioti e to session, anl act of such grave import. e If the amendment had been agreed to, even t by two-thirds of the Legislature, without any a olier muaterial change in the convention act a >f last December, there would, nevertheles iave been a serious conflict between the pow -rs of the Governor and those of the-Presi lent of the convention ; for by the act refer -ed to, the President alone is authorized ti equire the filling of vacancies, &c4aad ne :ording to the terms of this amendment, th< .overnor was, exclusively, or, at Woaston -urrently, to be clothed with the- ame au hority. - It strikes me, too, that in the change pro >osed by my friend, there-was not only m< ,reat an incongruity with-the bill to be modi ied, as to contravene the rules of this House out.. there was a palpable violationt of th< onAtitution of the State. If the Governoi ad beei empowered to change the complex, on of the convention, by receiving resigna ions, and cusingliew delegates to be eected e would unquestionably have become a parl f the convention of the people-a transfor. nation which the constitution never contem, lated. The Comnander-in-Chief of the State i o intimately connected with the Legislature eing its servant and first esecutive officer, hat he may alnost be said to form a part o lie regular Legislative body of South Card2 inn. le may even nid in ,comnpleting o ertecting an et of this General Assembly S he was appointed to do, at the last session ut we have no power to constitute him an nportant member of the highest Assembly nown to the people of the State. Whilst I am truly desirous, that tile eo peration party shall havea control in the onvent ion. according -to the expressed wish. s of the people, it is painful for me to dis over, fron the conduct of some honorable entlemen, that the resignation of the seces ionists, anterior to the meeting. of the eon ention, is, with them, a condition precedent > the restoration of harmony and good feel ig. Many-of them coincide with mre, in the pinion that the convention should meet, for ley believe.t"k.-t it may accomplish good,and remote the !welfatre of the State; but, at le same tinie, they contend .that in order to Itet this itmprtant result, thaeipaty shodild ave the majority at trie first meeting.. This doubting the purity of our faith, and in ieting upon us a treatment we have not erited at their hands.. Utell them again, that e desire ti't they-siall becftabled to carry utrtheir own tpasures, and I know lispeak nesentiients ot the great majority of the !eessionists in the State. We have not yet arned that mysterious branch of political :ienee which teaches us to enlighten'the -ople by concealing our own designf. Oui rinciples and our purposes have been em lazoned on our foreheads, during the whole we no strategy to put in operation, nO game > play, and if we lose the victory in an open d, we wiil scorn to fight fromt a hidden rsition. If the people will not march raight up to this issue with us, we will irow ot no snares to entrap them. It a readftt emergency stiall expedients fiil,and e purposed to tmake secession a matter of ottent that slhou!d have been felt all over e world. Soie members who supported the amend ent, opposed the ctll of the convention terwards, on the ground that to eMfet the ms of both parties without such amend ent,fitwould require two sittings of the con -ntion, and a greater expenditme of money.; Ad this brings Ilt the ast, and in my estima on, one of the most forcible reasons, I have > urge in fCtor of the convention. Though at the first tmeeting of the dele Ites there tnay be nothing new to engage imir attention, yet so swift is the recurrence r the oplipresive aets of our Congress, and > rapid have been the strides of despotism this country for twenty-five years, that we mill be happy, indeed, if twelve months are ermitted to elapse without some other enor Ions aggravatiott ot out grievances. Free ilist, bolit ionistmnd tvraniy have grown n bold in the United States. that I would al non expect to see thme tmillenniutm as a cest ition of their mnotnstrous otutralges antd op. ressionis. No, Mir. Speatker, we have sub titted so quietly to past aggressions, that the irst for plunder in ouir oppressors has 'rown rampatnt, and we maiy unticipate no iore penete tutil our heatrts becomte dead to te sense of shame, atnd to every hotornbli npulite of humn.n tnatture. Ottr conventtiotn houtld re-nmin organtized until the very last ny of its legal existence. It shtotuld htold self in readiness, like a faithful senttinel, to ike counsuel for our safety, and to take ad antatge of the occasion, on the perpetration *y the Guvernmencit of thme verny first ttew utrage. The spirit of a gallant people can int sleep alws-the soul of tlhe poor Sotuth u.not yet hiarrassed to death, atnd if we will nly be prepared to net promptly, ntoly, and ourageously, a provoenttion will soon be fl'orded us upon whlicht we may strike the rood optpressor to thte earth. Th'ey little un erstand thte trume cottdition of onr affairs rhto deem the etnergency too trifling for thme ucetitng of so anmgtust a body as thte cotnven ion of the people. We lhave had sutliciett Luse to induce its to remain in one contitnued leepless conventiotn, unitil we shall have .rotughtt ottt some expedienit for the deliver' nee of the Soutth. Every tnan in South ~arolinta whlo yet loves liberty and honor h-ouild now devote htitmself, body attd soul, to heir preservation. Sir, we have heard much of the expense of he conveuntioni. 1 learn tromt the honorable hairmnatt of the comitittee of "ways and aitns" thtat its assemnblin'g will cost about en or fificent thtousanid dollars-the atmount snaly appropriated to build a jail in York, r Marioni, or Ilorry. I have labored to cont ince thtis lionse'of the correctness of a rinciple, atnd if I have suceceded, I am ready o vote atty reasotnable atmount for its estab ishttettt. 'A great prnipile cannot be valued at mtoney, nor ennt liberty herself be meca ured itn pountds,shillintgs, and pence. I htatc lie tian thtat estitmtntes the price of hIs free. otmt; atpd t hat tnation is too tmean for the njovmuent ot' independetnce, that can count Ite cost of its assertion. THE Bank of Georgetown, S. C., has ade and declared a dividetnd of one dollar nd fifty cets per share ftrom the profits ot Ito last six mionths-thte samte beitng at the ate of 12 ter centumt per anutoi. THE TURN OF:LIFE.-Fro to il - a man who has properly reg hiha may be conidered as inthe p aggi - His matured strength of constiWuliere m - him almost impervious to thaa iS s ease, and experience hitsgive--his-judgma the soundness of almost- infallibility4M 7 mind is resolute, firm and equal;-aldhsvfggm - tions are in the highest order; lie xbiktii the mastery. over business,- buidi:uia eonf petenceon the foundation he hpsforied iA early ianhood, and passes thro'aihr-peet of life attended by :many gratifn'iouik . Having gone a..year or two. atsiity, heXl rives at a critical period in the road:of ikerU - tence ; the.river of death Aows before nid, and he remains at a stand-atill. But athwdA this river is a viaduct, called -"The.: TuriW Life," which, if crossed.in -safety; )vadi .L the valley of "old age," around . wiielit river winds, and then flows.beyondI;;witbh*-. a boat or causewa.to. effect titaq The bridge, is, lowetep constructed gile.materials; and-it'd on ho trodden.whether it bendaot breale. t , apoplexy and other.bad 'eharacters -i'e alts in the vicinity to; waylay the travellir-and thrust him from -the pass; blt let him -gitd up his loins and provide himself. wil a (t' - stair, and he.:may trudge -4n-in .t With perfect composure..-- Toiquft 4nhor, . "Turn of Life" is a turn tseither iir .' longed walk or into the grave.- The..4fyeIK and powers having reached their utiost ext pansions, now begin .i to. clse-likidw. ers at sunset or break down at one; O injudicious -stimlant--a'aingle.ftal exesfI ient, may force it beyonii itsstrengtff. whilst a careful supply.of propifitad the wviti. draiwal of all that tends to-force a plaint,-ilI sustain it in beauty and in vigor-until night has eniiirely set.-The.Scne f Lifd by a Physician. THE RAILWAYS OF THE: WORLD..-Withif - the brief spnee. of twenfy years,-the popula - tAon of Enrpe.- and he~ United AStatox amountipg, i agg eqnumber;to abdut 240,000,000 ofsou&re.ave eo6trieteM mird brought into. operal'l4 a length oft'ttflay whichif continuousl iid, w.ulid; e ifj *surround this planiet; and had bXhIiIn lt the -acconfplishment of. his woelianfient of capital of nearly' 2;240;000.0'it-aps. pears, also,4hat :t*ere. is still in progress it length amounigngto..about sixty percent Of that Ithich-'las aetuallyT been-exeeutid ; it that, when the-whole-shall Iinve been coni plofed,thiere will be an intire ite'ft of about 40,000 miles of( railw upon wbineba an"I .yf $3,500,000,000 wi haie been #xpendeJd T e United-States has:428 milesoIt Il'' viin, 123; France, 51; Russia, 3.7; Itlfj 3.6. Mnxwco.-A Washington letter in the New York Journal of Commerce says: "'The situation of Mexico. and our rela tions to that country and government, now atTord a subject of much concern and .inter est. Recent letters have been received from Mexico by this Government, exhibiting a melancholy picture of the condition of things in that country. The Government is aban doned to faction and corruption, and must fall into utter ruin. President. Arista de. elares unreservedly that the country must fill into a condition of hopeless anarchy un less the United States should interpose to prop it up-that is, send people into it who will redeem and reorganize itstitutiotns." I.ttrOnTAxT FEoM EXico.-We learn that private letters hav's. been received by the brir Globe, fro(m Vera Cruz, stating thatM violent popular out break had taken place in the city of Mexico on the 16th ult., occa sioned by the passage of the law reducing the tariff. Teh anger of the people, it is s1id, was directed entirely against foreigners, the stores of many of whom were. attacked and destroyed. It is reported that several lives were lost during the aray.-N. 0. Pienyune, 30th ult. BueAC NoSas.--A resoluttion has been in trodneed into thc Kentucky Legislature wvhicht provides " that the keeper of the pen itenttinry shall procure a suitable chemical dlye, such as will stain the cuticle, or outer surface of the skins, perfectly black, so that it cannot be washed off or in any way be re moved until time shall wear it awvay, and nn tire furish a new cuticle or surface ; and that with this dye lie shall black the nose of each male convi'et painted thoroughly black, and* renew thme application ais may be necessary to keep it so, until within one ftonth of the ex piration of his sentence, when it shall do dis continued, for thme purpose of permitting na ture to restore thte feature t o its originial hune, preparatory to the second advent of its owner into the world." THlE Spirit of the Times replies to a cor resp~ondetnt un thet stubject of racing time. it says that no horse ever went a mile within a minute, although It has been alleged of Flying Childer~s. Stich a feat is imtpossible, fo'r it would require a horse to have a stride of ninety f'eet, and perform it onc in every second. The best time in a four-mile raee was nmde by Fashion. The time was.'.38. The best trotting mile, under the sad dle, was made by Lady Suffolk in 2.25. The best trotting, in harntess, was made by Pel. ham in 2.28. The best paci.sg was ,2.11, by Tecunmseh. OUr of THE vast population of Great Bri tain, ontly a million and three-quarters are ret urned by the late census, to be above the condition of laborers. The number of per sons int England who by custom areentitled to style themselves "gentlemen," is teiwn hundred and sixty thousand. This estimate, includes professional men, government offi cials, and those who possess an independent property. The proportion of voters to thte ~ whole population is one to twenty-three.9 WE learn from tho Madison, La., yournal, thtat the Hon. G. W. Copley, District Judge of Onnehita District, died atehis residence in Monroe a short time since. WHlEN you :are in Romo you D'.ust do as Rome does ; and wheon y'ou are in Turkey you must do as the turkies do.