The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-04-01
The Charleston Meeting

1t seems that the Honorable John G. Cal
houn, has been making speech to the good
citizens of Charleston, who held a special
assembly in order to do him honor. There was
one President and any quantity OF Vice
Presidents to give it due formality; whilst a
Committee Of twenty-five was immediately
organized for the purpose Of considering
what The state OF public affairs in general
or of Mr.. Calhouns in particular? or the de-
sertion by that gentleman in his negotiation
with Great Britain, of the American ground
on the Oregon question? or the controversy
with NIcsSrs Turney and Benton, and the
Washington Union? or the prospects Of the
"balance Of power" party? No, none Of all
these things. The topic Of topics with which
to draw out Mr.. Calhoun, was to be ''the
| Wilmot Proyiso!"
Upon the speech itself, which was the re-
suit Of all this operation, we delay any COM
mcnts that we may be disposed to make, UNI
til we see it printed in full. The Resolutions
presented to and adopted by the mceting,rea
as follows
1. Resolyed, That in the opinion ofthis meet
| ing, submission to the proposed exclusion
from an equality Of benefits in the territories
of the United States, beyond what is already
yielded by the Missouri compromise, would
be unwise, dangerous, dishono.ablc, and de-
! basing.
I'd. Rcsolved, That this is a question para
mount to all considerations Of party, or mere
temporary policy; and that he who falters,
and Esau like, barriers his birthright for a
mess Of pottage is recreant to the memory of
the past, to his duty IN the present, and a
traitor to posterty.
Sd. Res0lyed, That this meeting cordially
respond to the resolutions lately passed by the
House of Delegates in the State Of Virginia !;
that we hereby reiterate the same, and adopt
them as expressing not only the sense Of this
meeting, and of Charleston district, but as
they believe, Of the State of South Carolina,
and, as they confidently hope, Of the whole
south,
There is meaning in the whole movement,
Of which this is part. We see enough al
ready, to understand that it signifies u de-
termination not to submit to the decision Of
any national convention, upon the nomination
of candidate for the Presidency, and also a
disposition to push Mr.. Calhoun forward
upon the single ground, explicitly declared,
of his devotion to slavery; of his beng the
champion of the Shareholders rights in the
United States, and the guide of their poll
! cy.
Can Mr.. Calhoun and his friends succeed
in this undertaking? We think not. He is too
bold aud too independent, to be fully trusted
with the management Of a complicated and
delicate interest, like that of Slavery under
the general government There are already
indications of desertion on the part of many of
his friends in Virginia, who are not yet
prepared to throw away all the benefits to be
derived from such conventions, as that last
held at Baltimore Mr.. Calhoun will fail in
defeating a meeting Of such body, unless he
should be assisted by circumstances wholly
beyond the sphere of his influence, and he
will also fail in making himself the acknowl-
edged champion of Slaveholding party.
There are others in the ranks of the so-called
Democratic party, who although not possess
ing 1.-THE Of his ability are yet far more
gifted with prudence, and who see that the
way to guide Slavery out of the shoals and
quicksands with which it is now surrounded,
is not that which he proposes to follow. 1t
will be the fate of Mr. Calhoun to do now as he
has so often done before, to grasp at the lead
and failing to get it, to sink into an effective
yet unwilling instrument in the hands Of men
lar inferior to himsef." -Bost, TVhig