Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-17
JUDGE Butler in South Carolina.

seen no explanation, the Southern Rights Asso-
citation of Charleston did not hear Judge Butler
and did hear Mr.. Rhett, the former has taken &C.
casion to make known to the people of South Car
olina, his views upon the important questions
which most of their public men have for some
time been busily discussing. On Monday, the 18th
inst after notice given, Judge Butler addressed at
length the Southern Rights Association of Edge
field The Edgefeld Advertiser promises to pub
lish a revised report of the speech, and, in the
mean time, gives, in the following statement, what
it terms the 'ssum and substance of his views up
on the exciting measures of South Carolina legis.
lation"
He is then, clearly of the opinion that the Federal
Government is but another for the despotism of
maorty-tha, under il, the Southrn States have been
plundered and nsulted until has become their duty
and only road of escape dissolve their with
it. We will say, in passing, that the Judge was eo-
quent indeed, when dwelling upon this point He is,
without shadow OF doubt the advocate under existing
circumstances, off dissolution of the Union.
In reference to the action of South Carolina, he is
convinced that secession will not be opposed BY any
act OF war on the part OF the Government at Washing
He has come TO the conclusion that the State will
be permitted TO secede peaceably. This he considers
by far the formidable danger that lies in our path
Were war consequence OF our action, he would not
alarm to the Indications which are becoming palpable,
that will be permitted to depart without molesta
tiou His apprehensions of evil from this course OF
mastery inactivity basedupon the di.sensons which
he fears, will spring up among people, from the
str ng opposition OF the commercial interests in
midst, and from the annoyance which Federal gold
may bride the surrounding States to inict upon
He fears this may render action failure But he
firmly believes that ii South Carolina united she
could safely and certainly dissolve the Union at once
He expresses his determination to 90 into the Con-
fpr fbS sol OFe1f hat
which shall then appear TO him most advantageous
the STATE He declares his resolve to go with the State,
whether that Convention may choose to adopt his adj
vice Such are his views and feelings, according
to understanding of them.
II there be nothing very definite in this brief denea-
tionl the fault is not ours. We perceived that the
Judge was aborng under some degree OF restraint i'm
posed by his present connection with the Federal Gov
ernment But for this, his views might have suited
majority of shearers much better. We are free to
declare as faithful journalists. that honorable SEN
ator indicates temporisng policy as the towards
which he leans. We OF Edgeheld sincerely respect
his opinions; but many-very many OF us were utterly
unable to reconcile his brilliant eoquence while de-
pcting our wrongs and powerful demonstration while
arguing the utility OF hoping Tor any good from the
Government, with the singular conclusion he deduced
therefrom.
dsrespect the distinguished eaaor0 that he
LEFT the audience almost precisely where he found the
Those who had made up their opinions sufli-
Gent reason 10 modify them Those who had not
saw nothing sufficiently express definite 10 induce
them to take either side.
There two facts that we sdduce from the occa-
son. One IS that the speech OF Judge Butler was in
The main the best effort have ever heard from The
other IS that the secession party OF Edgeed are more
determined than ever.
1t is impossible not to note the discrepancy be-
tween the editors positive affirmation, in the out
set, that Judge Butler is for dissolution, under er-
listing circumstances, and his subsequent acknow-
ledgment that the Judge came to singular con.
clusion"-namey that secession by South Caro-
lima will be very unwise unless she can get I'D |
war with the Federal Government There ia a |
whole reservoir ofimportant suggestions in Judge |
Buffers hints. that if South Carolina were permit
ted to secede without moestation'' Ito 'pass free
ly," as Mr. Polk directed in regard to Santa An
MAJ dIssensions would spring up among her own
people, the commercial interests would be arrayed
against violent measures, and the neighbouring
States would trouble her with various annoyapces
tsuch, for example, as the total diversion of the
cotton trade from Hamburger 10 Charleston.
we are glad that such sensible admonitions have
at last been addressed to the South Caroliniaps
by one of their most trusted champions. They
seem indlsposed to heed the kind and even affec-
Tomato remonstrances of Virginia. Their failure
to enlist cooperation in a. single Southern State
appears to have no effect in calming their ardour
for separation. The arguments of such menas
Mr. Poinsett and Gen. Hamilton take no root in
their minds. But, when they are taught the evils
of secession by one of their own Senators, who |
has voted and spoken against the Compromise, |
they may begin to consider the pros and the cons.
we regard ii as strong evidence that Judge
Butler reasoning must have a powerful infu-
ence upon public opinion in South Carolina that
the Edgefed editor should strive to counter
act ITS tendency by affirming that he left the |
hdgeheId audience precisely where he found |
them,