The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-28
South Carolina.

ever destined to continue an eyesore to the po-
litical quidnuncs at Washington, and to perplex
the feeble understandings Of speculative and
specializing correspondents.
When her Legislature met, loud was the out
cry, confident the predictions Of these knowing
gentry, that she would seeede in five minutes,
and not allow her delegation to return to this
"city of magnificent" -fabrcations.
The arrival of the delegation put an extn-
guisher on this story--and the reverse ofthe medal
was instantly exhibited by the newsmongers
some even limited that the State might "acqui-
eSce"-though they themselves did not believe
this-nor any one else in possession of his sober
senses.
Then expectation stood on tiptoe for the pro-
ceedings of the Legislature, which went to work
with a systematic and business like GOODNESS,
not anticipated by the compromisers, who
hoped and prayed for some indiscretion on
their part, which might tend to isolate the State
from her sisters.
The indefatigable correspondents of some of
the papers transmitted imperfect dispatches
!
inferred that the two Houses could not concur
in their action-aud consequently, that there
might possibly be some division of opinion, rs to
the mode and measure of redress for the spoa-
ton bills, and other Northern outrages.
Now, the fact of the matter simply is that all
these dispatches, and this talk about dversities
of sentiment, &c. in South Carolina, amount to
new version ofthe old play Of, "Much Ado About
Nothing"-as the final and almost unanimous
action of both Houses, aud the fraternal harmony
which characterized their proceedings, proves.
From an eye witness Of those proceedings,
who was present at the seat of government dur
ing almost the entire session, we learn that
ono spirit only animated the House and Senate,
with but one solitary excepton0 and that spirit
of resistance to Northern aggression at any and
every hazard: and the only question was whether
separate State action should be resorted to at
once, or be reserved for the last resort, after all
hopes ofco operation from sister States had been
exhausted,
The only member, whose voice was raised
against separate State action in the last resort,
was Mr.. B. +. PERRY, Of Greenville, who be-
lieved Southern Congress all sufficient to re-
dress Southern wrongs, and provide security
for the future, if not indemnity for the past
4 His was the only speech that even limited at
"acquiesoence" in the acts of spoliation, and
the reception of his sentiments was 30 chilling,
that he abruptly terminated his remarks, so evil
IDENTIFY distasteful to his audience
i Mr.. PERRY is one Of the projectors Of the
proposed paper in Greenville, South Carolina,
the advent Of which was SO enthusiastically her
aided in certain quarters before its exact COM
plexion was known.
The minor differences of opinion between va
Erous members as to the precise manner in
which, delegates to the Convention should be
elected, have been magnifed into grave matters !:
and We doubt not, the sage spcculations they
have given rise to have afforded much amuse-
ment in Carolina, where their real character
was rightly understood. We understand that
on the receipt fthe despatch which the Mercury
refers to in the editorial we subjoin, certain
politicians in this city were hugely delighted.
and swore as awfully as sour army in Flan-
ders," that South Carolina ,ras going 10 desert
Mississippi! The "bluster and back-out party"
were highly indignant at such conduct on the
pant of a State-however proper they might
deem it for individuals--but when the truth was
known. they felt how premature We're their " re-
joicings" and shuddered at the poetic justice of
the doom which befel the animal commemo-
rated by GoLDsMITH-when similar prophecies
resulted in similar misfortune.
"But sure, the rogues they lied
The man recovered Of the bite
;. The dog it was that died"
The Mercury says:
The LEeIsLAruREANp THE CoNvENrioN.-The
National Intelligencer of last Friday, has, among
its latest news from South Carolina, The following
statement under date Of the 18th inst, from CO.
lumbia
"The House of Represe natives of South Ca
rolina rejected yesterday, by thirty-one major
itv the Senate's bill calling State convention TO
consider matters relating to the slavery question,
and other things growing out Of that subject"
The Geographic dispatches to Charleston were
so worded that those who did not know or re-
member the stringent provisions of our constitu-
ton in reference TO the calling of convention,
might be led TO believe that there a ority
of the House opposed to the Senate bill. Moth
ing less than twothrds of the full number of each
house is competent to order convention. The
senate bill passed through IFS several stages in the
house by large majorities, till it came to the final
vote on the question, will the house agree to this
bill' which resulted, yeas IS; nays AZ. There
not being two-thrds Of the full house, the bill was
| lost.
1t is proper here to state the points of disagree
men, between the members. The senate bill made
no provision for the Apo ointment of delegates to a
Southern Congress, and its leading friends were
opposed to such appointment by the legislature.
They though, it should be left to the convention,
which, all agreed, lad the power to &C, in tina,
matter, while many doubted the power Of the leg
islature separate bill in the house for the APP
pointment of delegates, had been indefinitely post
poned But minority in the latter body, suff-
Gent TO control the convention bin, (which re-
quired two thiris,) considered that the failure to
appoint delegates would be construed in other
States as refusal 10 cooperate with them in such
! , CONGRESS and The EXPRESSION Of determination