Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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DEVOTED TO SOUTHERN RIGHT DE RCNW, LITERATURESIN ADTEN WV. Jr. IFRANCIS, Proprietor. -1 TEEMS.--Tw Our Sl b s~. VOL. V. SUMTERVILLE, S. o JULY, .JTwo Dollars in advance, Two Dollars 8nd Fifty-cents at the exiration of six Inonths, or Three Dollars at the end of the -year. - No paper discontinued until all arreara. tes are paid, unless at the option of the Proprietor. 6T3Advertisements inserted at 75 cts. er square, (12 lines or less,) for the first and half that smn for each subsequent insertion. OrThe number of insertions to be mark. on afl Advertisenents or they will be published until ordered to be discontinued, id charged accordingly. 03TOne Dollar per square for a single insertion. Quarterly and Monthly Adver tisements 'vill be charged the sane as a single nsertion, and semi-monthly the sane as new ones. , All -Obituary Notices exceeding six lines, and Communications recommnending Vandidates for public oflices or truim-or -puffing Exhibitions, will bie charged as Advertisements. - 7TRev. Fiuti:ERnTc Rusr, is a travellinig Agent for this paper, and is authorized to raceive subscriptions and receipt for time same. Remarks of Mr-. Battler. Before the Coiivention of Southern Rights Association. MAit. PLESIDENT AND G1'NTLEMIfEN: This is an occasion that has azoeia ted with it in its probable conse quences.grave responsibilities- suelh as have intensely engaged and heavily oppressed my mind. The highest exertion of human wisdom is to make a good government. sight an 'd:lm Perat de.m. W . impulai ec -thusiasin may be w T re -garded ;v i'- mortive I . , titn a wise Ci. ,lnt in such a <nusre it ought l-' to assume !; tuane 1f proseripr i V juigtuent and experience. 'LeI feel ings which I see here manifested, d,> honor to the hearts of those who en tertain and express them. 'tLy spring from the hearts of intelligent frcemcn, who, knowing their ights, are willing to make any sacrifice to maintain them. In taking counsel from the highest imptlses of their nature, they are inpatient at any suggestion that might interfere with their free indulgence. The vencra ble Cheves-who has been regarmdd as an adviser of both wisdom antd courage-has presented to you a communication well calculated to ar rest your attention. It is one that will command, I am sure, throughout the Southern States, a profo*6unld re spect. Yet I have scen that paper meet with the impatience of the great and almost uncompromising excite ment which prevails here; and even with some who have, no donbt, takienl their heat from the fires that were kindled by his bold and commanding eloquence. Under such intimation,, I might well pause in giving you my counsels. We are gentlemen, in a crisis that calls upon every one, especially every man who has accepted a seat in this Convention, to do his duty; and to givo you the conviction of' his delib .crate judgment. No man should ,avoid responsibility, by taking ref'uge in watchful silence and prudent nieu trality. Many have thought that my orli'ial positon wvould have allowed me to re main away and take advantage of' the ,current. I have been summnoned by -;ny fellow-citizenas to mingle in the current, and thlp to gulide it, or' be overwhelmed by its v'iolencc. I em bark with those who have a cominmn Alestiny with me. The fate otf the people of South Carolina shall be my fate -let what may conme, I shall stand or fall with South Carolina, the fond mother of my birth andi my af fections. In the advice and conunsels that I may give, I am willing, befor'e the tribunal of ani impartial hiistoryv, to abide by the judlgment of my countrymen. It has been my fate, for the last five years, to take, as your r'epresen tative, a responsible p~art in the Nat tional Councils of the Conf'edera:cy. I have been madeo to feel the explo sure of a struggling and isolated mi nority to an arrogant imajority, who, feeling the vulgar strength of' self austaining numbers, hiave resortedl to all the mnachiner'y of a taunting au dienece and a sordid press to put un) der the ban the State whose repre senttat'vo I wna. T have alwnas hnad much to sustain ine in trying situa tions. My convicti3n was, that South Carolina occupied a position from which she could look down with the luxury of scorn upon truckling partizans and trading politicians, who found it convenient to assail her to subserve their selfish ends. She has been a stumbling block to many, who, if they had dared, would have placed their treacherous foot upon her. I say here, that I had rather encounter all the hazard of debate with fifty Senators, or any hazards that might present themselves outside of her limits, than differ with a single sin cere friend in this assembly as to any measure calculated to affect the dig uity, honor, and rights of our cherish ed Commonwealth. I am persuaded that our difference of opinion will, in the end, be more apparent than real. I may well question the policy of a celerity that may be too much actuated by gallant zeal and uncalculating chivalry. If, with the morc prudent resolution of Ulysses, perhaps without its wisdom, I may be disposed to restrain the im petuous courage of Diomede, I shall have none of the resentfil temper (if Achilles, nor the grumbling censori ousness of Thirsytes. No, my coun trymnen, my heart is too much in the cause you are engaged in to suffer me to do any thing but what is prompted by a solemn duty. It is true that the proceedings of this body will not have the sanction and au patriotisin and e I m FThey) wVil hav comitdahcs T'h'e Nd 71.:r wh0 has been read Coltais a recital vf imposing truths, arrayed wvith aul elcruent stornness andi impenumig an sto u m institutions. Other joutheri States carot condemn it without condeim ning their own resolutions and solemni pledges. The paper has impressed u1p1n it unmistakalble marks of sin erity and deliberate purpose. Its author, or authors, are ready to standi by it, and make it good in the true inport of the terIimis, "at everv biazard, and to the last extrenwitv.i By others, it may be differentiy 're a~rded. Som'ne who will give it their sanetin, may even iegard it as the imucleis of a State party, to be used thtu far and no farther. I chouse to regard it a1s a soleII eginning, thatb inI M result inl an it port ant end. that w ill teeply alffCt the destinies awl iterests o this countrv. And as miy frieili from St. Joh n's has said in another oce:asion . "we shlt tim1d ta.ke 10) begiiiing w0 itiout lookinig to its 'I'le 1 -roceedinigs Contepi lated will rir o oth' Carolina to treal her wayi thirough a narrow p ass as y-et Liintodden aniid unelored.ii~ Suim e lie prep~ared to tread it w ith con warrow was said to have fouiml his tunm by the point of the biayonet. Others, onm the contrary, insist the priudence ofii reciionoilimee bfoire the~ robale teriniation sh all be in diented. T1hec utje'ct of thie address is niot only to pu tihe State oin the tr'ack of sepera'ite seces5sionl, but by the meni su1res contemllated to commit the State, noiw to that determination; in otheri words, it excludes the idea thatd the State will have ini its p~owe r to ado1pt aniy otheri mea~fsure'. TJhe Ie' slaturiie is req uiredh, as far as those p~roceedings~! can iimpo'se an oblhiga tion, to cafll the Conivention together, andit that boihy theii is to putt the State, as soon as it can, on the triall of separate indiependlence. lin relation to thi~s measure, nnd othiers conn iected withI it andit wh iich have been pr'esenitedl as alterntativis. 1 have niothiing to disguise-I htave 110o oili on1 to retracit , 110 seiitil it to suppiress. I shall at least he cir sistent with im yself. lIn setting fo)rthi rourl wrongs antd endteavoring to irimse senitimenits of resentmenit to thein andiin lpepaing the publdie mind for mneasures of (effectual resist ance to thle nieralcliineints of tihe Fedleral G aov ermnieiit on Souitherni Iistituitions, thirough the breaches of a violated Counstitution, I have enideavoredI to dlo my dulty to the host of m y ability, and I have .no steps to tak-o back wards. What stens forward ia the question. Whilst measures were under consideration, in which the slaveholding and non-slaveholding States were at issue, I expressed myself freely, but with the circum spection of one who was willing to let his remarks be carried out to their consequences. The representatives of the planting States spoke out with signal unanimity the resolutions of three different Legislatures. I am proud to say, that the resolutions of South Carolina, compared with some others, were in terms moderate, in tone firm, and in purpose deliberate. All these reso utions were regarded as mutual pledges and covenants for the South, ern States to make common cause, and to stand by each other. The Southern members conferred togeth er, and at one time would have been prepared to sink or swim in a com mon strurgle, and their destinies as involved in a common fate. For a time the minds of all true men of the Seuth, were lifted above the inis erable contentions of party and the jealousies of neighboring st ife. Under the influence of this suspicious state of tnings, I finished oneo of rey speeches with a high note from the Dimede of the old Thirteen-our neighbor Georgia-"Flquality or In. dependence." And I say now, if the Southern States had become united, they would have made good this declaration. They have it in their power to make it good at any he :111tual, md shall only ob. ye;ose :- meires, ras, mi myi o1' noswJI,,'a m esult in -hm-e a:N (is eotutiure. If m'easurd cannot he to r c,'.re a iust equality-an eriualit V as by their ccnjunction Can assume tLe attitude, and invest themselves with the attributes of a national sov. ereigity. As this is a grave conclusion, or one that will so lie regarded beyomil this ineeting, I liust sliilit the [-ro position upon which it is founded. The constitution of these States was intended by its express and dele gated powers to imnypose lititations on the department of the Federal (overnient. For some vears these limitations were Jbserved in ood faith; amI after it was said that sutie 01f thm had been violated; it was thought that the States, by the inter piosition of their sovereignties, coul enafoxc ani observaice of thea. Tihe securities of good faith lhave loit, since disappeared, and the power o (the States to iliterpose to protect their reserved rights has not anNl wil hnot be recognized h1v the Iederal au thiority. All the llrvisins of the (onstitution initenmded for the p rutee Lion of a mlinorityv have beeni perer ted by artful conistrwtion, tor fr!'iauidu I ent comp1 roi se: undo er' these com pro.ises: nder thiese combineint id enees the ,S'uthernL States have not only lost their influence, but will b ecomne wo rse th an depenent pro~. vinices5. 1They will becm prI :eri-t Ihe' 1 p.li tical ct olnmi ties- diSfr~ani chisel from tinhe~ high1 lhonorls of he F*edleral G.over:nm ent. and with thieir propertyv and inistitut ions liable to coniisca tion and un11.i rvok ed inva sion. The Souitherun Statecs can noe I nge he~ the nurse of g reat stat esman i. VTe ambition of' the eag~le's fligh t w ill be no loniger seenm-wec imay, have crows nad duicklinigs whIo ~uill he readyV to bel sa t~'id w ith the crIumb! s an~d garbagec of' oflice. Thiere arte the se who will be willing to mak~ie an ea'iy transition to degaa'ton, byv being candii I ates for thle se'contda r'y andti suborinat~te oflle'es .Smse thiere were' a prvi'sin in the C'>sti tittiumn, that ino ml:an from the Sutth lhe I 'residletncy , it woi~ubl not changei the pr'esent State of( thin es. At ch a iuis! igh4 t ats well bea iln thle Ccin TJo conchil de the pr'oposi tion, th e F'ederal G overnmenfti t has bec'l o ai despotismi of' an iterested mta jirit'v You will aisk why have ntot the othier' Southiern Xtates'hieen ready to *jtOin Southt Carolina, or rather to e' 11ne itto a voluntary conjunction with themselves, to devise measures for their protection. I cannot better reply, than by Quototd the nnunnor- of a reamar., mnade by l'emosthenes, in answer to the reproaches of Esebines, upon the disasters of his administration. He said he had to contend with the three great enemies of free States: "The jealongy of neighbor ilg States, the gold of Phillip be stowed on corrupt orators, the corn bined love of pleasuro and the charm of tranquilty." The Southern States have had some elements of distration, destined, I hope, to be temiporary. The dis union of party, in refoerence to federal politics, has been powerful; but, un less I am rnistaken,-nust become less. The Federal Government has a Macedenian partyin the South strong for a time, throughu the inifi. ence of oflice and patronage. The greatest enemy to the South has been an indisposition to encounter the hazards of change. As it would be ou& of p.lace to dwell longer on topiep that may not be immediately connected Niith the questius here to b9 discussed topies with wlich tlhislssemlibly 's as well neflliail ted as ll7m-I Nvill go directly to the ineasuia which I have Sugrgested, as the l 4J and end of yur deliberations. tat is, shabI this Convention, at t tAiine, under take to commit tihe ato the trial of' separate secession q imposing, as far as this Conit a can, an ob ligation oi the N0 vetiin to take the RT aC il.ale1ab. T .M t~~~mti. bbethr flr deciion. Andj h I~ differ ii oo r c fw. differ W 1 ,a v- Ot. co e41N, 'n- .3 bility of deciliori, ought to be left ieir feetly free t > f-in the Lest juit iml its power, unler thie actiual june tuIre U cirCIStu1aCncs tihit inar CNist at the tinia of its Ineting. It ough t Inither to 1ie ils true wlI supersed. ed by the prJe-determina:in'l of'a irre. spoinsil d y-irresponsib I Iiean in any ullticial p-Int of view. Such pre-detr:ai , w ll %%ill niake an i u e not cal 1r yV the OCc:si'in, thaiit 11uust resuilt inl popui1lar agitaion'l with inl the. State. I t w ll inak1 divLis . arh~oi:n.. urselves3, st ldisVclose feelin''s which have 1;to eeor exiited, a11(41 0u1%!t I t to exi.:t. Il ni Wt, i't C1141 Ct~it'll.1 - 41l ,) illi. i defe1, ae t I.m , i.i n t end contei lated.lo how wi t11llie that :uinient illn . n i Car lita it 1 ai pur t o 1 t the~v taei on te track, 1f lara 1. s Itill of lie neiot ls, theyl de lived1 igu.If theyi tid t~' ail tete thineateour hfimb- frt their deiVs o-ii tion~ it. t S luther case it hy gave theirVe~i opoets grat 'lvntag iiver that ne 1st h!I., a4 NitI 1eri-tie .alliea. wasr di(iv 1. Thi y I ar ilein to~e m4%ivel as das :41d ta twi' llas thevconl. thawlhae hite4-t~1c4' n1 their fliiinal 1eov anteai itur iile . II4I o n it. VO i h hit 1 d.>1 w tha te lt tha:1 eS they weret11I ~' cep ra lfoi their411 to. peleal werI te no rae b ad u an oprplsed tol. the, and defeatw 0 nee aethe latterons wiout prev lui of this body to vote upon them. All who are members of the Constitution al Convention of the p6ople, cannot give a vote to control their future judgment. They ought not to be re qired to do so. I have conversed with several of them, and Oiey have come to a common conclusion to give no vote upon any matter upon which they will have to deliberate, when there shall be a real occasion for their officially responsible judgment. I find mysElf inl that class. What may be tlc situation of things when the Con vention shall be called on to decide 1 know not. There may be many in structive developements and rovela tions before that time. Madness and infatuation take their course with a c blind confidence, and at the next se sion of Congress I shall look for some of their usual exhibitions. .Beforo I speak of the probable and I conjectural action of the Federal Gov ernment in reference to South Caro liin, should she determine to secede, I will notice some views, and submit somne considerations connected with Secession as a remedy for our wrongs. The right of Secession in the ab. stract, and the right of resorting to it to effect a wise and beneficial end, in a political and moral point of view, are diflerent things. The one may' be conceded as a legal proposition- t whilst the other, as it may effect oth er coinmunities as well as the State t itself, involves hi--h considerations anid Obligations ofdty wich no Stbtes, "n ca rf ~.! 4,-,I 1 dinrre-ard. N t l I ccl09aSV ~ 1 to er hierself 0::! co~nfederiates to 1 gol pect !heir rights fror- Foreign Jpwers and tF o tyrd d ytic tran- I 'quility. - If these enrds shoultrnkh. t Iiecoljplished---but in fuotif it shold. partner-s to the or presion und detri II nt 11f abr- thesein:ate suaoutid have tw riglht of resuungi their original position. To say oth erwise wouild be to make free States is they entered into the Confederacy, ntot merely parties to a despotic Gov ernment, but victims of it against their consent. Hut whether secession be culceded as a legal right, or as meas. ur11e of revolution. is immaterial, if there be a real occasion to resort to it, and it can be used to effect some great polsitical end worthy of its exer cise. If it should end in merely sep. arating the State from her former coifelerates, and placing her in a. colitien that would require her to invest herself with all the attributes an1(d duties of a sovereign nation both abroai anil at home, then it might bring South Carolina into a situation of iHolation, at war with her true in ''trsts and poliey. If she should resort to tlis ineasure, with a view of Liu in' her neighbors into a politi cal ceinectionl, so as to enable them intly to form a Confederacy for ~ th mlvyes, that would be adequate fa~ all the pupoet'o maintaining ter rights at home and relations w ih forea ign powers, then it becomes a questionat of' the g:'eatest mangnit ude, full 4of conseq uenLes that should be looked to with all the care and intelli genIce that canu p'osibly be employed. The State shtouldl take ino course that w uhl m take r ivails an~d adversaries of her' South ern neighbors. On the con-* tra :y' she should endIeavor' by all pos ibmeans to act with them. as allies. If thec State should look to nothing heyoend her otwn secession, she will enuale the Federal Governmecnt to makec rivals of those who ini interest are, and ini feeling, should be her ftilends. I mtake the br'oad remarks, that there is ntot a plublic man in South Carot liina sensible of a responsible rust, an d for'eseein g the inevitable C~~~tcans (neces ofi separate secessionh, th at. woul put the State on the trial tif that experhnitent, if' the act were to operiate exchusivelyv on the State itself such ant act would not only cut off' our' commterce, but would place it in the 1hantds of' utr rivals. Ini assumning such an attitudel, it would be the duty of the State to mtake artrangements for the mianageimentt (of her rights abr adi. Ileri pride would revolt at sendinig forth her flag, without some utuvy to pr'otect it, antd without minis ters anud consuls to represent her rightts, andt proetect lher interests abroad. No nation can rely on the forbe-aranco of others, when there m'ay be a collision of interests, or a ttnihtation forP viaion. At an imito [ would not allow the Palmetto Flag 'o float by sufferance only. Whilst t would represent as proud, as spiri. ed a people .as ever lived, it would >o regarded as the emblem of a 3laveholding Commonwealth. Many vould be tempted to insult it from Nantonness. How would the pTou(d pirited people of the State feel, to iear that their flag had been pulled lown and torn to pieces by a Boston lialing party, or by a vessel from Liberia, or in any other way ? Iow :ould they avcnge the insult ? If he State assumes a national respon, ibility, it must provide also the attri ites and means of national power. [t must have a navy and all the oth. -r appliances of national dignity. It :annot rely with safety on the comity >f nations, or on a code founded in a iublime Anthropopathy. It seems to )e thought by some with great confi lence, that by opening her ports with ow duties on imports, South Carolina ould, under the temptations of free rade, invite the commerce of the vorld to her shores. Well, perhaps, f all would be good, and do as South .arolina might think they should do, omething of this might come to pass. 3ut games are generally conducted >y adversary hands; and sometimes a )lay is made'by one that may not be hought by the other to be secundern irtem. None of of us suppose that he Federal Gpvernment would re ognizo the Independen 'of South grolina;. or would 'be disposed to dl. treaiailh 4 atn Gove,-1luent woutld mna'&t nao ur commerce in every iiay it coun!.i t would bestow bounM in, and give reference to, our neighiboring p- r t, so far as it could, wiould mak" reaties with foreign niatiena to isolute night confine us to our exports alon-e is te basis of out .tianercial re ;oU'rces. I uideiiand that the arti .les of commerce that come into our ports, coastwise and by foreign im portations, amount in vahie to some hing over $2,000,000. Of this sum nore than three-fourth finds its way nto other States; into Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee; eaving something under $500,000 o be consumed in this State. It is contended that under the op rations of Free Trado more would one in, and in some way or other it vould find its way out. Now if south Carolina was a seperato sov rcigity, with a free port, there is o doubt she might attract a greater ommerce than now comes to her )orts. provided it could find a market ut of her borders. liut could it ind its way out without violating the -evenue laws of other nations'? It s said 'a rose by any other name mells as sweet.' We might intro luce as much commerce as we >hease, and send it to) Savannah riv ?r, undler what some would call a >risk Free Trade, but what, in the istimatmin of others whotse rights vould be involved, woul be re ;arded as smuigini~g if carried icross their borders in v'iolationi >f their laws. It would be an icknowledged sight of the Federal Gaovernment, to regard South Caro ina as a stranger, and to place her :omimerce going into the laorts of the States in the Union under an eml~bar ;o, and so far as concern~s Georgia mnd North Carolina, to regard as nor-ts of entry, thosa places only vhich communicate by water with he ocean, such as Savannah andl WVilmin gton. TIhat Government night not establish ports at Augusta tad Charlotte, or the North Caroli a line; under this view, commerce :ould come into Charleston, but how :ould it get out without the process >f smuggling? At the interior omnts indicated, it could not without itnuggling. I then put the proposi ion, 'would capitalists import goodls nto Charleston, ini opposition to the IFederah Government, uder the sun osition that they could make a profit >n them through the operations of :hrifty smuggling? That ini a comn nercial war, the State might be dis >osed to take all advantagres, and t might h~e to the interest of 3eorgia and North Carolina to inve ports of entr-y at Auigusta~ and icar Charlotte. What then? Could goods pay ten por cent, in Charlew. xon and fort~' at those places,--in 3ompetition with a tradeathrough Sa rannah and' Wil gtam ayhsfi duty of thirty or fdtii Certainly -not. I w A this view of he "ubEL as I do my 'riiands ti say that they have a ai-n one whose dign may give their movemp ent character. :To' moe w6' first view alone, .would the State submit to somet than a vain sacrific. 4 not have the consolation ofb i tellus, who0 lost his, 6e through the flames of thAta save the Palladium. Her ft not only be self-destructioN, . would be a sacrifice tobig interests of new rivals Those who really look to th b of this begiring, take the -Stcp -,,W this view-to induce othe tO thc prosperous and succefdljox.u: pie of South Carolinaf AH conjunction with her.. tozr them in such circumstandesi. -t having a commoii destiny, thep'y4 be compelled to be involved in "mak ing a cominon stieriffce.- I will 4ot notice the first part of the Oro' tion. Tlhe latter presents the eb ject in its great magnitude.t'. n64 connected with considerationsof-ti deepest delicacy; To force ve eign Stateo6 eaka ostio- a its conent It a4oca-to o-0e PIo force its judgeme thgamny evidence that otid be forced to take-position nU nder the present juct'urof f airs? SIe will perhaps contendt Iat having deelded for herself, Sout Carolina must abide the fato of 1 own deci-sin. Before such vm s madoeon Georgia, sometbing,; ougl.t to be rade known oftheA. the kind h be eKen t4V,4,4 may be asked if I can giv i surance that Georgi& ie prepared to aet.. cobierit a or that she'will take any Wea" et to throw off the oppressions 'd e croachments of the Fedeal 00't ment. All that I can py ,ii she once said she would, and h4t in the most solemn form. Butin$ 4its of herself, she will havei to 'et such a conclusion. The:slao a non-slaveholding States caiinot- re; main long together with thePres6nt issues, and under the 6peiito16 of causes that must brin,' about flri. separation. That is as certajn as if it were written 6fi the.all Ii confederacy, that. in a .h6it might comprehend fifty State , 5uit undergo ne w organizations. .-TI uld not have a change effected theon the confusion of anarchy end va lence, if it could be done with5iil' gence and the co-operation ofth parties concerned. Insult, usurp tion, and accumulated wrong, ili not allowv our Southprn neighbors' remain indifferent to their gn situation mouch longer. .'.hey carmo stand anid see one corner of the honed in which they and we dwelig det: mined, without seeing that the 'd6fl6t is in danger. and that when 3 ll the enmmonior tenants9 much porish with it. Roth interest attd Shnif uumst require the Cotton (a 4iir take counsel together. ~e~~ d look upon themselves noa with the jealousy of riv'als, but as as epnmeru ere w, all equally endangetoad wosi duty it is to mnako a long apl~ strong pull and a pull to utd save themnselves frut n an e~in wreck. It is bad utdet'nid ide judgment tfdr<State; 'ie RfA interest, to use langaboFdji and censuro towards each' The same remaniks may be e 'f. pumblic men who holdrpn sition8, and who ougl~t to.\prleto Courtesy and inculcate heinony.4: Such has not been the course of-oe few publie men in Georgia eepeciaU7; I have been surpr'ised dat - attributed to Speaker Oobb, d speaking of South%!atolinanaid that her ind~icated Col ise wvould b ajut mions. Thtit go 'tletnen'il&i*4 lect that ever low aimed at Carolina will strike Geo . * South Cairolina is now ~o~ C oring to do what Gee 4 ought to-do.;It i0 ing in thusow 'b trust of $66itine their pot~bu,