The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-10-01

quest ItS puuliSae'oh s's SNo',N
spectfully, yours, ). A. LhLAND'
PENDLEroS, Sept. 81, 1850.
Dear Col-I have received your letter, in
which the propriety of an immediate meeting OF
the Legislature is suggested. That body, in
December last, adopted the following resolu-
tions, viz:
aThat should the Winot Proviso, or any
kindred measure, become law of Congress,
the Governor is hereby earnestly requested to
call together the Legislature, should it not be
in session at the time of the passage of such
law"
To execute this request, forthwith" )" would
in my Judgment, be unwise and impolitic. In
an emergency like the present, it is vitally n'
portaut to avoid precipitation. The most con.
elusive reasons exist why South Carolina should
be deliberate aud wary in her movements.
false step on her part, at this juncture, might
rnin the cause in which the whole South is en-
@barked Wehave soIemnly resolved no longer
to submit to Congressional aggression and
Northern fanaticism. That resolve ought to
ebe carried into effect with calmness and great
discretion by united people. While, / may
almost say, / personally know, that no division
exists in our ranks on the question ofresistance,
at all hazards am not certain, that the best
mode of making that resistance effective has
been agreed upon. Let, then, the remedy for
Federal usurpation from this period to the day
OF the regular session ofthe Legislature, be the
subject of ceaseless consideration. Let meet
ings be promptly held in every District and Pa.
rish, in order that when the great Council OF
the State shall assemble, it will be ready to act,
and not to deliberate merely.
Our stated elections will take place in less
than month. 1t is pretty certain, therefore,
that the present Legislature cannot be conve-
ned. To call together the body soon to be
elected, only about FIVE weeks preceding the
time when it must assemble under the Consti-
tuition, would, on my part, display needless
ness not warranted by the momentous conse-
quences involved in the issue before US. Give
the intervening time to the people to consider
and prepare measures that will insure success.
On matter of such immeasurable moment,
little delay, be you assured, will be productive
of the most signal advantages.
But again, the Nashville Convention is to re-
assemble on the llth of November, or just two
weeks before the meeting of our Legislature.
The latter, consequently, it is nearly certain,
will be in session after the adjournment of the
Convention. 1t will be in readiness to ratify
the acts of that august Council, or to take such
other course as the exigency Of the crisis MAY
demand
Would not an extraordinary convocaton of
the Representatives of the people Of South Car
olina Immediately before or at the time of the
assembling of the Southern Convention. in
which this State will doubtless be fully repre-
sented, embarrass the proceedings of body
convened for the special purpose ofdetermining
upon the mode and measure of redress for
Southern grievancesa If so, what useful end
could be attained by an extra call, that might
not be better reached at the regular session of
the law-making powers
Georgia will shortly hold her Convention
Virginia, the flag bearer Of the South, unless
our sister State contend successfully for the
honor on this occasion, is bound by statute to
assemble herLegislature in the event of the pas
sage of the Wilmot Proviso, or if the slave trade
be abolished in the District of Columbia. That
Mississippi, Alabama and Florida will take the
field, we have the assurance Of their solemnly
recorded declarations South Carolina, it is
well known, is willing to occupy any honora-
bic post that may be assigned her. In a few
weeks, having surveyed the entire field of ope-
rations, we shall be wellprepared to cooperate
with our sister States in the noble task Of pre-
serving. unimpared, the federative principles of
the Government. Very truly, yours, &c.
WHITEMARSH B. SEABROOK.
Col. JOHN A. LELAND.