Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-12-25
EsDBIsFECAeI.
Correspondence Of the Southern Patriot.l
l'Or M L.. 4
UNION CONVENTION,


Tho Committee appointed by the Union Convention
made their report that body IL O'clock in the
Oh onant ana crowded auditory The report read
by james L. Petigru Esq in style of great beauty and
correctness Ii denounces the Ordinance of Modification
az unconstitutional revolutionary and leading TO civil war
and discaims for the Union Party anv nortcin,,io l.; a.
matter unless ntoerablc oppression compels then TO act
on The defensive. Its manly and energetic document
ed wIth the language Ot truth aud soberess and was
listened 10 with deep emotions AMI the intenscst anxiety
4, WIZ DC given to the world forthwith. Each member Of
The Convention aft Xed his name TO the Protest oonntnc
IN an 10 one hundred and seventy six. The convention is
S''u 10 nave Oech the most truly igufed and respectable
hoiy OF men ever assembled in South Carolina and their
mIId ana calm manner of doing business forms quite A
contrast with the hurried proceedings OF The NulIitvng
convention that pretended wicd the sovereign power
the State Impartial postey will decide the question
uetween thcn and no friend of the Union need fear the
verdict. " Wv
REPORT
V me Committee Of the Convention OF the Union and
Stafe H'shts Party, assembled at Columbia, ION
Decen'6eT 1882 tcih their Renaissance and Protest
he documents which have been referred to voQr
mtee, disclose the character qualification and the shirt
ana sentiments OF the Union Party. And YOUR
have no hesitation in saying that the PROGRESS or nuc,
on has amply justified the friends of the Union In 10
nonncmg as revolutionary and destructive of Liberty
The Ordinance of the State Convention has nrese1ted
inc doctrine TO the world in all its defortv Stunned oftbe
Tim veil OF sophistry which formerly thrown over
ono,.s .ealuTes-Ihe Provislqps OF this Ordinance
respects inc relations between the State and the United
states are too revolutionary to be mistaken The laws of
me Union are no longer be enforced in South Carolina
the cognizance OF cases in which the United States are
party Is Withdrawn from the Federal and given to ,c
State tibnnasn those tribunals every Judge and iuror
IS 10 ne sworn TO decide against the United Stateshe
10Th section OF The Judiciary Act il ullfed and hovn
mus IN effect preclued the Federal Government from Inc
C,V tribunals me ordinance further declares that if
Congress or the Federal Executive proceed in anv other
way man through those tribunals, the State will secede
from the Union. The iTsl blow is struck viii, derI,r,
non uat any roai4tory measure shall be followed by
o'i secession No barhood of assertion will be found
equal to the task OF econcillng this Ordinance Win tho
oes'ons oil those who have Taught the people that null.
ihcaion peaceful constitutional measure II il moi
pss lls, helIic
raj consequences are DISUNGON AND CIVIL WAR.
ana the mere possibility that left OF avcrine Chi,
oPhe IN no degree alters the character of the moasre
20 e occupation OF territory, or the issuing of letters
OF marque and reprisa might end in submission to the de-
d"us u me assaian and terror supply the place of
rms out Is IDLE TO deny that these hostile enter
prises How they viii be received and mel bv fbe Co.
neral Government we will not anticipate But we cannot
regard the threatened destruction of mild and =, ~ ~
e OF hDory without approximations OF the keenes an
y IT, regards The General Government notification s
revolutionary and hostile in relation to the Union Party
bctays all the features Of odous tyranny and
"t progress VIII be as fatal 10 liberty is to the Fee
deral Constitution But another step of the don ,r a
~ - wanting to put the friends OF the Union so far a. the
d'c authorities are concerned entirely ont of the
Ton OF the hw. II only necessary for the Convcp
non 10 declare mat the test oath should he taken v evcr
individual, and that refusal TO do So sLould conS,;,
forfeiture OF lie or goods; they have declared that
he taken by every officer under pain of the CrCoi,r t
once without trial, and upwards Of II 900 voters sond
nave been at once exposed TO sweeping outawrv Nor
would there be the smallest difference in prncple
ne Two casesas there is color of Justice or of
IS III ucPlVlbg any one Ot Office terns
y" W'cn u was granted and without trial, than i'm dcpriv
lnS MN I'D tne sdhc manner OF his life his estate The
convention have assumed do this on the ground ~
hey are above the Constitution and the law W ch Is TO-,
L'""caI exercise oil despOiic power. The power il
despoc, because submits 10 rule and it is
because the act which it requires of the citizen z n,
~ TO his oath of allegiance TO the United States
UnueF inc Constitution of the United States the liberty
OF me cuzen i' doubly guarded Not only are the
curve Legislative and Judicial authorities distributed 40
~ all Tree governments between different dcparmen,s b,
nc cV power itself still further restrained by being d
vlded between two governments-State and FeJeri. o.,
the TOTAL exclusion OF that mad and arrogant
winch knows no limits but its own will Buf ie ines
haO'c securities Of system thus enphadcalIy established
JUSTICE give rise TO corresponding duties, and
mhe power encroaches upon power, the same institutions
"hch give security TO freedom, aggravafo he evs ;I
tyranny imposes on The people No one denies the ON nj
OF F"nlament, because it is established princi
PIE o. me british Convention. But the otnuooence or
nc state OF south Carolina announced for tho fra, ,i
ny "e Fescrpt oil the Convention in language az noy =,
HPeiiouF; Ihey have mposcda test OATH which none
but he That believes the Constitution 10 he rono ~ ,
can take and The alternative of the citzen r b, sauu'
violating hls allegiance 10 the United States and
me Z, Hae9aclng commands Of the state authorities
neither we are bound 10 The Constitution nj fI,o hi,
ed States by the tie OF allegiance il deter,iaI - ~
iact OF being ciz NJ OF the United States ,rbo.a -
denY such allegiance, are driven the exire,nfy of 60
tending, either, that the Federal Union is No W @
o. mat he government Of the United States has nv
len7 Hut 10 dispute the existence of the Cogo.a. ~
- 10 reject truth altogether, and Government, vbo
ciz ~ or subjects, is solecsn in language which rc
nPrs exposure unnecessary. And II fhere h s,,,
DsiWeen the citizen and the General 3overn,o+c, ,at,t
"e Htae Convention nor the Legislature can dssoI,o ~
s'se E Tor "ha'ever may be their authorize over ~
'he Coh5iitution Of the United Sta'cs The orccssd;
ol 'ni' Convention, indeed entirely snopsou ri
proper iunct on Of such body is 10 oryarsle Cjo.
g s,,ols' insnuons Tor securing the great o. inejnes
O,Ly j justice; w they haV0 In TACT fr,rnned no.
' we Constitution Of the Safe without aIiefino IT,
w wv oeV~so constitutional rslss for the action Of st,S