The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-04-19
THE REPUBLIC.

ZION 10 De heid IN Charleston ON the nrst Mon
day of May. At this meeting committee was
appointed to nominate the delegates, and to
draught preamble and resolutions and they
reported the following:
:" Rssolued, That your committee recommend
that the delegation be governed by the platform
laid down in the preamble and resolutions adopt
ed by this Association at it, organization. which
are in these words: avg
Whereas, in the long and constant agitation Of
the subject Of slavery by the North. the admission
OF California into the Union with the Wimot pro-
viso in her constitution, the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
Texas, and the establishment of territorial gov
ernments for New Mexico and Utah, with
out repeating the Mexican laws against slave
'ry, which the majority in Congress contend
are in force, and the abolition of the slave trade
in the District of Columbia, recognise
a settled purpose Of deadly hostility to the
South, and series Of unconstitutional measures
excluding her from all participation in the new
ly acquired Territories, endangerng the institu-
ton Of slavery in the State, destructive Of the
sovereignty and equality of the States and practi
cally changing the Federal Government from one
of delegated powers to that of consolidated des
potism, which knows no law for it's administra-
ton bat the will of the majority:
"ResolUed, therefore, That no people who have
the intelligence TO understand their rights, and
the courage to defend them, ought to submit to
such series Of abuses and usurpations; but that
it is their right and their duty to themselves and
their posterity to resist them, .at any and every
hazard, to the last extremity
RESOLVED, That, in the opinion of this meeting,
the most effective remedy for the aforesaid griev
ances is secession from the Union.''
This is worse (if possible) than the treason
that has been talked for the last month at the
fremont Temple, in Boston. There is not
single alleged grievance to justify the rebellion
the resolutions are designed to instigate. Be-
cause individuals in particular localities persist
in agitating on the subject Of slavery, is that
any reason for seeking TO overthrow, or with
draw from, government that disclams all
right to interfere with it2 California was ad-
mitted into the Union on the very basis which
declared to be the only basis for the admission Of
States. IfCongrsss could rightfully legislate to
remove prohibitions on slavery in New Mexico,
could it not interfere Gas question Of power) to
impose prohibitions2 The abolition Of the slave
trade in the District was measure that COM
mended itself to the judgment of southern as
well as northern men, and was as cordially en-
tertained by them. There is not the first one
of the measures stated in which there is the
most remote approach to the exercise of uncon-
stitutional power; and this view of them is
now taken by very large majority Of the peo-
pie, in all the southern States, except South
Carolina. 1t is hardly conceivable that men
outside Of an asylum should set up such a series
of imaginary grievances as the ground of an
agitation" And still more wonderful is it that
they should expect to "remedy" such grievances
by secession" Will the secession of South
Carolina expel' California from the Union2 or
restore the integrity of Texas2 or repeal the
Mexican laws in New Mexico and in Utah? or
re-establish the slave trade in the District of
Columbia2 And if it will do none of these
things, how will it prove an "efectire" remedy
for any one of the grievances of which South
Carolina complains?
But these resolutions did not meet the tenn
per of the Southern Rights Association of Lau-
rens; and soma difference of opinion having
arisen as to whether this platform had refer
sncc to separate State secession or not, in or
der to settle that question, so far at least as
those (the members of this Association) who
were present were concerned, Mr.. J. d.
WRIGHT offered the following resolutions as
substitute for those reported by the commit
tee, which the committee accepted:
Resolved That it is the opinion of this Associa-
ton that all argument against Congressional
wrong and northern interference with our rights
is closed, and it is time for action.
"Resolred, That the right of secession being ad-
mitted, we believe the only remedy left to the
slave States of this Confederacy is to secedc from
the Union.
Resoped, That however much we desire the
cooperation of one moro slave States, yet, If
that cannot be secured by the Southern Cong rcss
recommended by the Nashville Convention, it is
our deliberate opinion the State of South Carolina
ought to secede alone, let the consequences be
what they may.
{. Resolced, That our delegates to the convention
in Charleston be left uninstructed to act as they
think best with the lights before them in the con
vention."
An Intellectual effort was made to strike out
the third resolution, when the substitute was
voices. SO it seems that, as far as the South
ern Rights Association OF Laurens Is concern
ed, South Carolina must secede alone, without
regard to consequences.
We learn from the Pendleton Messenger
that the Southern Rights Association of Pick
ems district assembled at Pickens courthouse
on the LIST instant, when Colonel j. l.. Dan,
their representative in Congress, addressed
the meeting. He spoke, we are informed,
with his usual ease and ability; and, after
gancing rapidly at the inequalities Of the ben
efts and burdens Of the Federal Government,
and its expressions of the South, went on to de-
clare that the Union was curse, and its dis
solution inevitable, and that a southern con-
federacy must succeed it, and was what he
most desired. He then went on to define his
own position in relation to the action of South
Carolina; he was opposed to separate State ac-