The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-14
From The CAsrleston Mercury, ocsoser 81.

FROM TIC ChoftcEon suoICuJBs OCtoocT
DINNER TO MEssss. BARSwkLL AND CoLooex
"A complimentary dinner was given To Messrs
Colcock and Barnwell, in the town of Beaufort, by
the people of the Helena Parish, on the 25th inst
MIR. Barnwell was too unweil 10 attend. Mr.
Colcock made long and able address 10 his con-
stituents. He showed them what injustice had
been perpetrated upon them, and that they should
calmly and firmly look at the issue, and make up
their minds definitely and determinately upon the
subject The address was listened 10 with the
most profound attention. After the address, a
very sumptuous entertainment was pariaken of by
a large company. A number of spirited addresses
were made, and toasts gwen; letters from distin-
were also read. Ii was one of the most enihu-
slasiic meetings we have ever had in our ancient
town.
Letter from Hon. "A. p. Butler.
a. SToEELASDs, Oct. 81, 1850.
GESTLEMEN: have Just received your commu-
nication of the Is instant inviting me TO attend
dinner by the citizens of 81. Helena, to the
Hon. VIM. f. Colcock and the Hon. Robert w
Barnwell.
Few offerings, at this time, could have been
more agreeable 10 my feelings than such AN invi-
taiion, as there few men for whose publ,
worth and private virtues, entertain n more cor.
d al regard than for my friends Barnwe and Col
cock. 1.., LII -. &.
The terms Of your invitation are highly crafty
ing TO my feelings. Coming firm a community
whose character is marked with an ntrepidity
only equalled by lis frmness and uncompromsing
PATRIOTISM, and Influenced by an intelligence thar
would command respect from any portion of the
world.
have not had time to write Won specal com
municatIon. When received yours, was pre-
paring answers 10 invitations ~ Marion ana
Sumter-Beaufort was one that i would like 10
attend To. But am sure you will excuse me, ana
accept for the occasion the communication which
Il Van flt.,..,, A., g..
yourselves. 1 have no time To write another.
Allow me 10 offer you this sentiment:
South Carolina only asks Of her neighboring
confederates that she may be consulted in mskiny
common cause with them, and that she never
can be against them whilst they aud she are true
10 their common interests. .se.. f. ...g.. ...,. "
am gentlemen, with cordial respect, .#
.. Your fellow citizen,
A. p. BUTLER.
To Messrs. Jas. D. Pope, VIM. Henry Tresco,,
Dan. Jenkins, Geo. q. Barnwel', VIM. H.
Cuthbert, Beaufort. ........, g., ....... g..
GENTLEMEN: find that private duties, growing
out OF domestic bereavements, will not allow me
to attend and address several public meetings aud
associations TO which ! have been invited.
Personal feeling, as well as high public consid-
Grafton, would concur to Undue me to accent such
invitations at this time. The two first 10 which
have been inv ted, are those at Sumter and Ma
ron. They are inspiring names--full Of historical
associations. The epitaphs Of the heroes, whose
names your districts bear, contain lessons IF lib
erty ard duty, showing what brave and deter
mined minority could do in the darkest hours of
our Revolutionary history; and will be bu ming
and condemning rebukes TO the trucking and
compromising herd who are willing to take
"what they can get" and not demand what they
are entitled to, under a Constitution signed by
equals, and intended to protect the privileges Of
equals. The organization of your societies pre-
supposes a fearful truths that your rights under
the Federal Constitution, have not been regarded
and are not safe In the keeping Of the Federal
Government. My experience and solemn con-
victions confirm this assumption.
My opinion is that the last struggle has been
made in Congress to arrest the aggressions Of the
Notwithstanding States on the institution of sla-
very. The slaveholding States are in minority,
and may appeal in vain to an invaded Constitution
for protection and defence. BY acts Of the last
Congress breach has been made in the Constitu-
ton of the United States, through which as
saults will be invited on your institutions. Your
rights now held at the will of an unrestralned
majority-an infatuated majority, that is CARRYING
out its arrogant, but blind and wicked policy, by
an insane combination Of unscrupuous dema
gogues and reckless fanatics. An assailed and
distracted minority have crunbled under excuses
and influences, which it is deplorable to think Of
The reduced minority, who stood out to the last,
had to encounter overwhelming numbers, new
combinations of parties, and the betrayng infu-
ences of prostituIed presses. There are statesmen
at the North who would willingly avert the dan
gers that are certainly coming on their section !;
they will either be FRUSTRATED by the storm, or
survive 1t only to behold the wreck that -ias been
occasIoned by its violence. They deplore the d..
visions at the South, and justly look upon them as
so many sources of betrayal of the interests of tn.
Constitution and desertion of themselves, and AZ
an ing glorious surrender TO wicked agtators Of
once magnificent, but now crumbiing Constitution
No Southern man can honestly put his hand To-
his heart and say that the aggressive agitations OF
the slave question will terminate with the measures
OF the last sesslon-purPorting, in the cant and
disgusting Language of the day, make a satisfac.
tory COMPROMISE. And no man who is disposed
TO maintain with proper pride and honor the reso-
lutions of several saveholding States, ought to
acquiesce In these measures, if he even could re-
gard them as respite for time, from further a.
saut and encroachment, They have already done
their work of perpetrating IL statutory insult on
those, who, IN pocrIcal slang, called breth-
rem. They have given sanctions and established
precedenls to proceedings, heretofore unknown IL
practice; and have pade system to rem. er j!
at o: &c an example and fl instrument for intro.
ducing an absolute rule Of despoc maiorry-a
majority acquiring by It's rapid increase, the at
has this been affected? Through the Federal Co,i-
sttution, Constitution that was adopted as II bona
for the security of co-equa confederates. Instead
OF being shield or security, that instrument has
been made use Of az an engine of assaults for I'M
der its forms the Southern States have been as.
sailed in a way that they would not have been,
had they been communities Of strangers. The de-
bates in Congress have been like so many ncen-
diary publications to ncite i, surrecton among us
And by VIII, M Ry those who seduce The sav.
from his better condition, TO give HIM the mere
name Of freeman, only to degrade him with
themselves, and deny HIM the means of all honest
subsistence.
But who can suppose that the measures refer
to, will have the effect to stop further aggression
Agitation and aggression will go on with Increased
ve'ocy-wirh the furce OF torrent that is increas
ing in strength and volume from above, and from
withdrawal and instructions below-by e force
OF sinister numbers, and by the vacancy of rdid
desertion.
The liberties OF no intelligent people have ever
been much in danger from open and sudden
assault, as from piecemeal invasions. 1t is nd,
worth while to look at this measure in its specific
operation.
Events have made up apractical issue and that
issue is, shall the Southern States submit to have
themselves degraded, their institutions denounced
and violated, and their property confiscated, by
the measures of confederacy formed to protect
them with greater security. The fatal result may