Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-03-06
DOMESTIC.
- Charleston s. G. Feb 25, 1882
MIN = IFS OF THE SECOND MEETING OF THE
CONVENTION.


The Convention of Delegates from the State Rights and
free Irade Associations throughout the State, called
TO order at o'clock this evening The President opene
The business of the Convention.
W. H. Seabrook, Esq then addressed the Convention
ana offered the following resolutions
ReSOced That the President of this Convention do con-
vey the thanks OF the State Rights and Free Trade Party
to the Hon Robert Y. IIayne aud the Hon. George NJ
Dullic for their recent efforts i'm Congress- i'm the casn
Free Trade and Constitutional Liberty.
Hcs0Ired, That we highly approve OF the late speech
o, Mr., Hayne in reply TO Mr. Clay Its mildness and
iibsraity, which we commend not incompatible with
Carolina have arrived.
Resofced, That we regard Mr.. MDuaie's Report on a
reduction oil The duties on imports indicating the true
constitutional point TO which the duties ought 10 al and
mat this distinguished statesman has brought discus
sion OF the subject power argument and variety of IL
lustraon that makes his Report one of the abcs among
me numerous State papers which have signalzed our pub
| lie history.
DR.. Tidyman then offered the following Resolution:
The Members of the State Rights and Free Trade Con-
venon OF South Carolina, being deeply sensible OF the in
trinsic merit of ondy Racquet ESQ Uhe editor of the RI
ner OF the Consitution,) do
Resolce, That he is highly deserving of their graft
tude confidence and esteem, for his Jealous and
fui Efforts IN detecting the exposing the aacv
OF the msnamed American System, well as for his un
geVaung eXerons in propagatng the principles of Free
the People of he Southern States
This motion was carried, mem. dis
Judge Colcock addressed the Convention and as Chair
nan o 'e committee on the Address, read and presented
THE ADDRESS
oF me oNvENrioN Of the STATE RIGHTS AND FREE
kADE Associ ATOMS, reported by the Committee Of
that Body, and unanimously adopted at their meeting
on Saturday eUening last.
The Delegates in Convention of the State Rights and Free
Trade Associations,
To The People If South Carolina
FELLOW CITIzENs:-When we last addressed YOU
from the Convention in Columbia, we endeavored to inn
press upon your minds the importance those PRINCIPLES
on which associated; and by an appeal TO vour co
son nam ana patriotism to vndcae our plans and purposes
That address was made during period of faint
but ondly cherished hope, that the Congress of the
united States, just then assembling, would listen TO
the earnest and solemn appeals made TO its iustce
and wisaom and avail itself of the suspicious iuncture
to afford prompt and ample remedy for our long endured
grievances 1t had been publicly announced by our Le-
Ssature that whena hope of redress had been exngu-
ed the State had the right, and cOd peorn the duty of
redressing herself South Carolina under these crcim-
stances had paused TO await the decision of the present
congress; ana although attentive examination of the
principles and purposes OF the majority in Congress which
mad enacted and sustained the Tariff forbade us TO enter
tam very sahguine expectations of relief yet were un-
wiring entirely to despair The Congress of the United
states has now been in session nearly three months
All agree, that as far as the General Government is con-
cerned, its final decision is be made These cir
cmstanccs fellow authorize us to address Won ON
inc present OCCASION You are brethren-our coun-
try Is our common inheritance-s interest orr common
property and its liberty, happiness glory the common
objects OF our guardianship and Defence If there are any
among you who hate the injustice of our oppressors less
nan what some consider the hcresies of principles
II there are any among you who after full deberaton pre-
Ter .ie quiet oil predetermined settled submission to in
Jusuce ana violation OF the Constuionto the hazard of
asserting and maintaining rights, we are willing IN
confess however painful may be the recognition of the
iac that appeal TO such must be homeless Mi We
make no appeal to those who think essential principes
may be compromised; that public ranqlility even If il
he the stagnation of death cannot no n,rcb,oJ =, ~,
high price; and who consider that ganfuI traffic NAV
be driven with oppression if any thing be left 10 sustain
The remnant OF miserable existence. But to those
whose minds may not yet be finally made up on the great
question OF Southern rights and Southern wrongs and
who are yet hanging with lingering, though baIled
nope that these wrongs will be redressed by the natural
and sautary action OF the General Government it.
SELL would desire offer briefly a few reflections
hey belong to the crisisor there device OF cunning
mat can disguise even from hmdiiy ITSELF the fact that
the crisis Is rapidly approaching when the people of South
Carolina Will have before them the issues OF liberty or SER
vtudcnlamy honor-resistance with all lis hazards or
submission with unalterable disgrace Our position i
peculiar one. We would say that South Carolina is
committed because that would Imply that have been
led by an Incorporate zeal into the occupation of an unite
aDe position, to maintain which, have rather now TO
consult puncuouS sense of honor than rational esi-
mate oil our essential interest 1t so happens that there
are no romantic or chlvalrous notions of national pride
that are hall equal in their potency the common mani
lest ana we might almost say every day, and interests
that are involved in the ground have assumed-howe-
yer nsensiby may feel the obligations that are due TO
the first class OF these considerations.
me peculiarly of our position results from the fact
(whether Tor good or Tor evil remains be proved that this
state, smaIin its territorial extent and population is in the
van III the assertion OF rights in the very centre of
geographical division of this Union having common inter
ess with ourselves; and which appears only to limited
degree, at least participate in the intense excitement
which haspcrvaded all classes among ourselves We shall
not attempt to account for the phGnomenon-We are not
disposed 10 dsparage the motives and conduct of others
we VIII not however, gansay dscernment by adj
mtnS In spite oil this seeming apathy, that because we
leel intensely we cannot act undeTsandingy on the sub
Ject OF our rghsor that the fire which has been knded
I'm our hearts has not thrown light elsewhere TO rradate
our path and to guide steps.
For ten years. precisely the period which elapsed he
tween The Stamp Act of 1865 and the night when Samuel
Adams and John Hancock caused the Tea TO be thrown
overheard in the harbour of Boston, the public mind of
South Carolina has viganty watched the progress which
the government oil the Union making towards the po0
which ii has at last reached; consolidation i'm te hands
OF an irresponsible majority, of almost every essential at
tribute oil sovereignty which tho yanlv supposed
they had reserved TO hemselves-We began bv humble
petitions, aFgumentave eXposions delerenial remon-
srances terminating after travelling through every sign of
the political zodiac, which marks poor dependence non
great and imperial central head and in Protests which
we had the folly to think would least be read by our on
presSors, although they incapable of answering the
arguments on which they rested
III redress OF our wrongs postponed we were al
ways told that when the Public Debt was paid reduction
would BE made in the amount OF the tribute which " paid
ana which formed principle item in the aggregate of orr
gnevances-Ihat event has, for all financial purposes
taken place and we see accompanied by the tokens that
the will OF the majority is substituted for The consiton
and not ray OF hope beams upon as to tell us that we
are to expect even bare and scanty Justice The Sec
rotary OF the Treasury and the great champon of the
American System, in despite of their angry contest for
power have both presented identical propositions for ,,f
they are pleased TO call notifications of the Tariff
he scheme fellow citizens, Of the reduction thus offer
ed Is gross insult to your understandings and an unar
rantablc piracy your pockets II is indeed notbin,
short OF an expedcn keep the entire pressure of the RE
srctve system the articles of foreign production which
purchase staples, and remove its burden from ali
those articles which enter into the CONSUMPTION of the
manufacturing States without info