The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-06
CHARLESTON, May I, 1851

se,tei aud Discussed at the Contention of tie Fifth
of May-Disusion, or a NeW State of Things
IdccaaHc.
General Churchill, of the U. S. Army, reviewed
to-day the four companies Of troops stationed at
Fort Moultrie, and having also duly inspected the
works, returned to town The several Notifications
Of Charleston harbor now being supplied with
munitions of war, which indicates that the admins.
tration have taken the alarm, and is preparing to
act the defensive, should these Notifications be
assailed That they will be, in the event Of seces
sion, is very likely contingency.
The general convention Of the 9TH instant though
1t an Off ;ial or authorized body, will yet slbstan
TALLY possess the power of dssolving perpetuating
this Union. Ii will represent every district in the
State; and such is the tendency of the public OPT
nion that resolutions in favor of isola;ed secession
and Of direct and immediate secession, if adopted,
will be decisive Of the course of South Carolina.
This convention, then, Of the 9th of May, is to be
to some exten. the crisis of the controversy They
have to decide whether they shall seeede orrecede
il Is only the difference between an and sand
that the convention will be dangerously warlike
have every reason to believe. The Southern Rights
associations Of the several districts aud parishes,
arc composed Of the ultras Of secessou-these opea
disunion organizations, q'toaa fdcie imply it. The
delegates from these associations TO tn Charleston
Convention are, of course, for lsanion, either sepa
rately no y, or in a onbined movement hereafter
And when we say now, in the language of Mr.. Cal
houn we soon as it can be done, which
may not DC till next Inuary or February. But in
the interval the alternative will be understood, an
the people viii make their arrangements accord
ingly.
TO secede or secede-one or the other-for the
flxy, IA Tnfr Ch Ar
OF seeding will be reeedng To secede, is TO break
| up the Union; aud to recede, is TO submit. The
one alternative is full of certain disasters to the
Union, TO republican institutions, to mankind; but
the other is largely believed, in this state, to b.
full Of burning disgrace, shame, and ignominy, TO
South Carolina.
The materials, then. aud the temper and COM
picXion of this convention OF tue Southern Rights
associations, Justify worst apprehensions. or
one thing we feel assured-that should they recon-
mend a compromise, or an armistiee, or postpone
meIt. it may be considered omen OF the safety "
the MON.
But there 4 danger, also, of the moro prudent
Of the members of the Convention being carried
away by the plausible reasons of the unqualified
seccssionsts in favor Of South Carolina going out
alone. They urge this alternative OF secession -
Because the argument is exhausted, and the time
has come.
| Because the separate action Of South Carolina
will rally the other cotton States to her support be-
fore the reaction of public opinion shall have
i ried them too far into the ranks of submission.
/ Because a single state is sufficient to begin the
work and a cooperation of any other state with
South Carolina in the iutlatory act, il either
I impsactieabe or impossible
Because delay Is to submit. if delay Is exte nded
to the ensuing Pre- sdential campaign. Ant-Slayery
will control IT, elect the contempoFane pus Congress,
prescribe the policy of the administration, an
tend the entertainments and policy OF the North
perhaps with Canada--perhaps to Cuba and Hayti
and Mexico 10 the exclusion OF any further annexa-
4 tions 10 the southern section OF the mon.
Because, hereafter, the institution OF slavery and
the of the South, in the Uuion will be at
the mercy OF the North and delay oil few years
awaiting combined movement Of the cotton States,
will be to wait till the North have secured, with
England, the control Of the isthmus Passes and Of
! the worlds commerce in that dreeIion involving
Y the power to exclude the South.
Because the act of secession now viii break M
this coalition between England and the United
states, in breaking up the Union; and will lead u
Southern ccniederacy from the junction OF the
other cotton states in the movement and will re-
suit ia n treaty Of alliance between England Goa
account Of the cotton trsde) aud the Southern
federacy, including the command OF the isthnus
passages.
Because the act Of separate secession is explicit
will be sufficient, and wall secure TO South Carolina
M immense foreign commerce nov in the hands of
Northern merchants, in addition To securing home
manufactures through all the South
Because In q separate nationality the South oan
secure their slaves against the abolitionists North
orn men, whose conscientious serupes stronger
than their Of duty to the constitution, will
longer be torInested with the idea that they
ponsble for slavery in the South, because they will
be living under o separate government. The south,
by treaty, teo, secure the safety OF their do
lnestic institutions; and the North will longer be
20 ready to increase its free negro population by
Southern fugitiyes, when no object vi rcyeage Or
sclf-1tcrest H. 10 be sabseryed by H.
m al the journals Of the state In various forms.
we ind oil these reasons, and many others, urged
IN favor Of the separate secession Of south Caroliua
We hear thcni discussed every day, and We doubt
not they will be most clOguently prcscntel IL the
forthcoming convention.
The practical questions n reference 10 TIC action
Of the convention will be involved III The resolutions
T. be adopted, and the course ~ H. recommended
a. TIE policy of the state. There arc fgycsl plans
suggestcd. bat submission after the fashion 0f
Georgia and Virginia, u not ono 81 them. Tie
policy. VIC srprchend, win either be-
l. lilo separate aud illcpcnleut sccc ssiua or
South Carolina from the Union, or
2. a rea lonable p0stponcme1t With the view Of
consulting with the other cotton states urou plan
~ compromise to ~ demanded Of thc North; on
the refusnl of which the Southern combination are
IT, seccdc feom the Union,
=. A rccomrne ndaton ior special session oi the
Legislature, to decide uppn the subject.
III the convention, WITH anything like dccsivcness
adopt the first alternative, the question Is settled
substantially IN advance ~ The Authorize action or
the State. south Carolina viii Be virtually out IL
the Mon. II they adopt the second. or anything
like Il. the Presidential election viii b. one Of the
mos, singular and MON t1us political contests ~
the last fifty years. aud will IL made the pivot of
disuniou upon the slavery question. TIE adoption
Of Tie third would be very apt g e3nGm the p0pu.
lar feeling 10 favor q g0inG out alone sood a. i
can Be dcne, with tho gravity and ds,yrum becom-
ing an act of such vast moment.
The proceeding In the Northern States Official
and unofficial, q The last tx months, have ailei
constant fuel to the fires III tsiOn W up over the
whole length aud breadth u south Carolina. The
resolutions 81 the abolition societies TIC election Of
Wade. Of Ohio, Fish, Of NeF iork cote. of Veg.
mont, aud Sumncr, If Boston, g. the United states
senate, the ostIacism Of Webster in Mss-aehasetts
ard Of Dickinson N New lore, n 'qnabbng IN