The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-11

From the GsreAsilk JMnsnast~eer,
The MASS MEETING At PxsDLseou, s. c.
We had the pleasure of attending this meeting
on Tuesday last, and were truly gratified with
the proceedings Of the day, and the spirit mani
tested by the assembled multitude. About
eleven o'clock in the morning the people from,
the surrounding country, for several miles dis
tant, had collected and marched up. with band
of musicians from Anderson at their head, to a
stand erected in grove near the village, where
the orators Of the day were to address them
The number Of those present codld not be far
from three thousand 1t was certainly Il full
representation of the people of Pickens and An
ders0n Districts, and the sentiments OF the meet
ing were undoubtedly those Of the people OF
these Districts. What these sentiments were
will be seen from the resolutions adopted.
The meeting was opened with beautiful and
impressive prayer by the Rev. MIR. Cornish,
which gave to the proceedings serious and SOL
emn character.
His Excelency Governor Seabrook, C. G..
Memmi ger, esq, of Charleston, General ]. r..
Whitner, the Representative Of this Congress
sional District in the Nashville Convention, and
Caloncl Andrew Calhoun, of Alabama, each ad-
dressed the meeting in patriotic and spirit stirring
speeches We have neither the time or space for
an attempt to give sketches Of the addresses Of
these gentlemen. Some OF them will be pub
lished hereafter, when those who wish can have
an opportunity of estimating their merits
Suffice it to say, that they all breathed the true
Southern spirit, and spirit true to Carolina.-
The general desire expressed, was, that other
States should take the lead in resisting Northern
| aggrcssions; but the unanimous opinion Of the
orators, which was most heartily endorsed by
the people, was, that if every other Southern
State should refuse TO resist the late aggressive
measures of the General Government, South
Carolina alone should take her position, assert
and maintain her rights or sink in the conflict
Every alusion to this latter sentiment drew from
the multitude loud plaudits OF appreciation and
satisfaction.
After the gentlemen whom we have already
mentioned had spoken, Col WIN. Sloan offered
the following resolutions, which were separately
submitted to the meeting by Hon. r. +. Simp-
son, and all OF them unanimously adopted:
l. RESOLVED, That the sovereignty and equality
of the States of this Confederacy constitute the
basis upon which the Constitution and Union
were founded, and that when they are destroyed
the spirit Of the Constitution is extinguished and
the liberties of the people are in danger.
g. Res0lred, That the Federal Government, by
its unconstitutional interference with the terri
tories, which Of right belong equally to the
States Of the Union-by the admission of Cali
fornia-by the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Texas and
the abolition of the slave trade in the District
of Columbia, has given a fatal blow to the
sovereignty and equality Of the States, and con-
summated a series Of acts of injustice and OPP
preston upon the rights Of the South, too
grievous to be borne by freenlen.
g. Resolred, That the President Of the United
States, in his last message to Congress, and
Congress, BY carrying out his recommendations,
have gone far 10 establish doctrines which, If
not firmly met and resisted by the South, will
subvert the principles of the Constitution and
change this Government from one of limited
powers to an absolute despOtism.
a. Resolred, That the proceedings Of the Nash
vile Convention having met the appreciation Of
the people of South Carolina, we recommend
the assembIage of that Convention at the time
appointed and we look to it to advise such
action on the part Of the South, as they may
think best calculated to preserve or restore her
equality and social institutions.
g. Resolped, That as, throughout this contro-
versy, South Carolina has not been disposed to
assume the head, but has been always ready to
cooperate, we think she should yet maintain
her position, and stand Animis Opibusque
Pmati" ready to sustain any one or moro Of
the Southern States in such mode and measure
Of redress as they may think proper to adopt,
and which she may regard as efficient. Should
none such be proposed by any State, in her
sovereign capacity, within reasonable time,
South Carolina will then determine for herself.
G. Resclrea, That the allegiance of her citi-
zens is due to South Carolina alone. Therefore,
we pledge ourselves to support, at all hazards
and to the last extremity, whatever course may
be decided upon BY the people of South Caro-
lina which has for its object the maintenance of
the rights of the States
Hon. r. F. Simpson offered the following:
Rescued That in view of the consequences
which must follow the aggressive measures Of
the South which Congress has lately passed, it
becomes us, as a people, to humble ourselves
before Almighty God, and seek divine aid and
counsel, and to that end we request his Excel
lency, the Governor, to set apart day of fasting
humiliation and prayer, on which we may invite
the people of our State to unite their prayers
and supplications for that wisdom from on high
which may direct their steps in the present enler-
gency.
On motion of J. J. Gilman, esq,
Resolred, That in consideration Of the early
period of the reguinr session of the Legislature,
the re-assembling of the Nashville Convention
whose deliberations we ought to await-and
the settled policy of this State to follow, and not
to lead in measures for the protection Of the
South from the federal aggressions, we approve
the course of Governor Seabrook in declining to
convoke the members of the South Carolina
Legislature for an extra session
The above resolutions were all adopted with
out single dissenting voice. The only objec-
ton made, was, that they icere mol sufficiently
strong The candidates for the Legsla- ture
were then called upon to say whether or
not they were in favor of the resolutions. The
candidates for the Senate having the precedence,
Colonel Hagood, was first called upon, and ex
pressed himself most emphaticaly in their favor
and his firm determination to stand by his native
State to the last extremity. To use his own
language, she would go with South Carolina
through six troubles, and in the seventh he would
not forsake her. Forhcrsupport he would pledge
his life fortune, and sacred honor" Dr. Evins
and Colonel Pckens, the other candidates. for
the Senate, briefly expressed themselves in the
same determined and patriotic spirit. The can
didates for the House of Representatives fol
lowed, and were unanimous in the expression of
similar sentiments.
Low Il. IL,