Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-07-26
Diss.nion in South Carolina.


The speech recently delivered by Mr.. Rhett at
Charleston was bold and undsguised decara-
ton for dissolution. Protesting to recount the
acts of the Nashville Convention, he stated that
its resolutions presented to the North "the fair
and simple alternatve-equality in our territories
under the cun5ei>N.ias, partition of them be-
side it," The Missouri Compromise with arecog-
milton of slavery South of 36. 80, was, he said,
the partition of the Territories, beside Cor not au-
thorized by) the constitution which the Conven-
ton intended. He proceeded to avow his belief
that the Senate's Compromise, whchthe Conven-
ton condemned, would fail, and chiefly because
the North "more strongly opposed it than the
South!' The Missouri Compromise was, in his
opinion, ''stll more desperate of success"
Lastly, the asked will the South be admitted to an
equality Territories, including California, by ter
ritorial laws passed by Congress To hope for such
legislation is hope against hope. IT, then, all of
these expedients OF adjustment fall IN Congress- where
are we? We are in the beginning Of revolution"
And this he maintains by what has already
CURED, the meeting of the Nashville Convention
being the first act in the drama.
Having argued that the federal government has
been grievously oppressive to the South, Mr..
of reforming it; and he answers the inquiry
thus:
"In 1887, l went to Washington member of
Congress- and, after witnessing the operation OF the Co
vernment for years, in 1874, anticipating the re-
peal of the Dist rule, by which jurisdiction the sub
ect of slavery would be assumed by Congress, came
to the conclusion that il impossible TO reform the
Government, and keep it within the limitations OF the
Constitution. My personal relations. as well as
sense of duty induced me to communicate my conclu-
Tho in
as her wsest counsellor ard friend, and by the whole
South her mightest arm OF defence. Hediftered with
me; and still thought that the Government could be
restored to its integrity by proper Executive admins
traton. At last however, even he as devoted friend
10 the Union existed within its broad limits, before
he died despaired appears to me, OF reforming the
Government. When he proposed new guarantees to
the Constitution, in the last speech he delivered in the
Senate of the United States practical decara
ton, that the Government could not be reformed, In
the usual course OF its administration The Constu-
ton, as administered was not enough TO protect the
rights and liberties Of the South Despairing OF any
reformation, which will bring the Government back TO
amendments of the Constitution which will give us new
guarantees see but course left for the peace and
saIoation Of the South-a dissolution OF the UnioR
Again he says:
Looking to the pastlooking to the nature of things
Il deem all reliance the good faith of the free States
10 protec, Of slavery in the South
and futile The South must protect itself Its force is
powerless in Congress and in the Union, because it is
peace which the Constitution and Union was established
TO secure the South, she must the connection with
the North.
After inviting the stigma of traitor for these
sentiments, and dwelling with complacency upon
the successful treasons of long line of ancestors,
Mr. Rhett touches in conclusion, upon the i'm
portant topic of separate State action.
Returning from Nashville, through the interior OF
State learned that the people in one OF our upper
districts, fearing that the Nashville Convention would
be failure were already agitatng the policy OF South
Carolina taking her rights into her own hands and act
ing alone in their vndication. There the true
spr OF old South Carolina, and think hear it pro-
claimed in your cheers that she at least will sub
init to dishonorable subsection and ruin. She will join
her sister States OF the South. support any OF them,
in all expedents Tor redress they may propose, and ia
to follow rather than TO lead. But fthey
should kneel down to Government without limitations
its powers under the control OF the consoidatonss
and list OF the North she will
in counsel in the field the first to sound the ouge
which has called the South together for the vndcaton
OF her rghs-and Alabama, where many OF our sons
have planted their homes, and we have fondly hoped
have aided in setting up in richer CLINE younger and
fesher liberty, purer and otier hatred OF tyranny
and Georgia, the Empire State OF the South, proud
of her greatness and strength, but prouder still of
that free spirit and dauntess courage which never
YET has quailed In the maintenance OF her rights
whom we will all YIELD if she yields not herself TO
lead TO victory and redemption-great in
spirit and wisdom and unconquerable as she is great
and Kentucky and Tennessee, not only abandon u.s. but,
some OF their statesmen have venured to proclaim,
shall join the aboitlonsts and consodaonsts to sub
jec us to the dominion OF the free States-shall South
Carolina submit No, no, my friends Smaller States
have before struggled successfully for their ndepen
dence and freedom against far greater odds and il
must be, make one brave long, last desperate
struggle for rights aud honor the black pail of
tyranny stretched the bier OF dead liberties.
To death little little later be OF
consequence TO very few OF us whilst duty performed
may remain in its effect to many generations and fair
fame live forever. Looking TO that undying reputation
which has followed every people who have dared
all preserve their liberties and have conquered Pc
rished noby in their defence instead OF shrinking we
might pant Tor the trial which shall isolate South Ca
rollna IN thie great controversy But wish isoa
ton, We desire peace-we desire liberty ;ahat peace
and liberty which the Constitution was intended 10
cure but which has been basey wrested from US by
tonal tanatcism, avarice and ambition.
This is certainly very rampant talk, but the
public is so much accustomed to the like from the
Palmetto State, that it cannot be readily taken to
be in earnest. 1t may be, however, that the real
wolf is come at last, and that disunion is serious
ly proposed and contemplated by the men who
have been making speeches about it for twenty
years We are certainly persuaded that If Con-
gress continue to leave the slavery question open,
sentiments like those of Mr. Rhett will spread
more and more widely, until it is too late to avoid
the consequences, Notwithstanding the resolves
of the rump Convention at Nashville, we believe
the Southern States, including South Carolina
herself would quietly acquiesce in the adoption
of the Senate's Compromise.
Mr. Rhett seems to be regularly campaigning
it for disunion. and was to parake of public din
ner on ST. Heiena's island, on the oath inst We
may expect something quite as startling as his
Charleston discourse for he found ready au-
dience, if we may Judge from the toasts given on
the island at the recent celebration of the fourth
OF July. Here are some samples from the "re-
guar" list:
l. The 4th Of Jny-A day which tells that quali-
~ the soul OF compromise and equality The basis OF
ad usment
3 The Unicn-ODee the bond OF peace, and price,
less; It's peace gone, and now calculating rs
sue