The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-07-11

ion. Moreover, / talked freely with
those whose presence requested, in
explanation of the objects Of the contem-
plated meeting. l could confidently
appeal to them, and each of them,
whether in all I said, I limited at disun-
ion. Well, sir, that convention assem-
blcd. Much debate occurred, and
much division sprang up, chiefly on mi
nor points-such as the time most prop.
er for decided action against our adyer-
saries, and the mode in which such ac-
ton should take place. I maintain
(and defy contradiction) that there was
not q single sentiment uttered in that
body that. fairly and dispassionately
considered, if made known to the
world, could bring the least discrcdit
upon the assembly In Which it was an
nounccd.
can address was sent forth to the
people of the South, every statcmcnt.of
which is true beyond contradiction
every of which is of irresistible cogcncy
every sentence and line of which is
marked with high toned patriotism and
devout regard for the Union. This
address. sir, was subscribed by a large
number Of the Southern members of
Congress present. 1t was not sub
scribcd, for different reasons, by others,
whose refusal to subscribe it is, I hope,
capable Of satisfactory explanation to
their respective constituents. | feel
bound to 50 further, and say, that there
arc among those who thought it not 20.
lilic, under all the circumstances Of the
case, to subscribe the address, Cas- rrc-
liminary to its publication, some of the
most worthy men and unqucstioncd pa
triots 10 be foundin the republic. And
now, sir, the address has gone forth--it
has performed is high office. The
! South is rousctl up to a circumspect and
scrutinising survey of all the dangers
which threaten her present peace and
future safety. Our enemies stand par
alyzcd by the moral energy SO sudden
ly and so imposingly displayed by
Southern Senators and Representatives,
and the contclnporaneous legislative
resolves of nearly all the Southern
States of the conCederacy. Ats last
there is some prospects cf pacitication,
Of compromise, of tho final settlement
Of the most distracting a2d dangerous
que stion which has been agitatcd in our
times. Darkness is fleeing away, and
light is beginning to beam upon US
Who shall dare to denounce those who
mot in that convention as traitors to the
Constitution and the Union? Who
shall presume to arraign now the sound
intentions of that noble body of South
crn gentlemen and patriots Who
among all those that so fraternally CO.
oppcrated for the defence and vindica-
ton of southern rights and southern
honor, will ever cease to be proud that
he was one Of that glorious Southern
Convention, the members of which dar-
ed, in spite of malcdictions, misrcprc-
sentations, and .ridicuIc, to perform a
high and sacred duty to their constitu-
ents and country, by which those con.
stitucnts and that country have been,
i'll all PROBABILITY rescued from dangers
which could not have been cffcctually
warded off save by the means SO provi-
dentially adopted, and so tearlessly put
in exercise %
| Mr.. Benton complains that he was
not invited to attend the meeting cf the
Southern Members OF Congress. /
should have thought that man Of lis
sagacity would have been able to account
for this failure to secure his valuable
presence, without feeling himself com
| PEELED to imputc unworthy designs to
those who got up the meeting. l will
| iciffliiiiegll,tcn him though on this point. He
was not inviiv;;as.sah nviitil;;s. .sa be present, because
he was hostile to the adsasp,tl9n ot all dc,
fcnsive measures against AboliifSss-'ssssaaaa a RI q
Free Soil hostility; because it was as
We'll known then, as it is now, that he
was Free Soil man in opinion and feel
ing; because he was known to be in SC.
crct correspondence with tho enemies
Of the South, and had already entered
into compact with certain Abolition
and Free Soil Managers, to sacrifice
Southern honor and Southern prosper.
ity upon the alter Of his own political
advancement. 1t was known to some
of us at that period, as well as it now is
from his OWE confession at Jefferson city
that his personal sentiments were
against slavery" We had perfectly
ascertaircd, and l had charged the fact
upon him in public debate, not when he
was absent, but when present: in sight,
and not ten feet distant--that he had
openly avowcd the Wilmot Proyiso faith.
His formal declaration at Jefferson city,
that "it is absurd to deny tn, power to
Congress to leCislate as it plcases upon