Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-08-21
political,
letter from Chancellor Dargan.
DARLINGTON, S. c., Aug. Q, 1851.

Letter from Chancellor Dargan.
DARLINGTON, S. c., Aug. 9, 1851.
Gentlemen My attention has been called
to a communication which appears in th'
Evening News of the 4th inst The article
is without signature. and is headed, Lundy'.
Lane Its purport is, to give and account
of political meeting at Pleasant View, il
this District. This article demands some no
tice from me. My repugnance to this mode
of correcting misstatements. Cor erroneous
infcrcnces rather,) is so great, that | should
acquicsce if they affected myself only.
will notice but one sentence in the commu.
nication 10 the editor of the Evening News
Speaking of the remarks of myself and
others, on the occasion alluded to, the writer
says, "The Separate State Action speakers
yesterday, from Chancellor Dargan down, re-
pudiaied the mad fanaticism of Rhctt and his
party. and all affiliated with such rashness, as
has been recently displayed by them; and
Chancellor Dargan does not differ more with
us than with Rhctt."-The writer does not
say that any such language was used by me
or by others. 1t is only his construction
which he has given. LIDO not charge. him
with anYintentioNaI peryersion of my9Isan-
ing; but / must bespermitteato say, atEhis
3 49,
constTnetio1iis entirely unwarrantgd by any
Ia Il - sss
sion. What said of Mr. Rfett, Occurred
in connexion with some observations made.
in which | cndcavored to define q course Of
action, which | thought would combine the
Secessionists with the genuine Cooperation
lists, meaning such Of the Cooperation party
as advocated resistance for past and existing
grievances. spoke of those among the
Scccssionists, who were in favor of secession.
as soon us the Convention could be assem-
blcd; and alluded to Mr. Rhett as Il leading
and prominent individual of this class.
] said that ] had myself not the faintest
hope Of previous Southern cooperation, but
felt assured that we should have il so soon
rs South Carolina showed herself in earnest.
and had seeded. Therefore, that /, lis an
indiridual, had no motive to wait longer for
cooperation, and was ready for secession
NOW. | then dwclt on the necessity of
union among ourselves; of baniShing party
strife, and healing party divisions, so far as it
was possible to accomplish these results.
referred to that large class of the Co-opera-
ton party. as they call themselves, who still !
c!ung TO the hope "a deusve one thought) |
of obtaining the previous cooperation of the
Southern States, and who would 90 with |
their whole souls for separate State action
1s soon as they were convinced of the falaey
of their hopes. | spoke of the necessity, as
we'll as propricty of conciliating this class.
md that !, as one, was disposed to make con-
,essions to them as to the Time of action.-
For the purpose Of larmonizing all the
friends of resistance, | WAS disposed to wait,
out not indefinitely. The work must be
by the Convention elect, and
lot postponed longer than the period of its
political existence To this end, very car
,cstly suggested that the day of assembling
he Convention should be fixed on the first
If April, May, or June next, which would
Extend the duration of its political power
Until corresponding period in the year 1853.
This would allow the most ample time for
lie hopes Of the Resistance wing of the Co.
operation party to be fully tested; and if no
demonstration Of Southern Cooperation
hould by that time be made, these patriotic
ncn would unite with the Seccssionists. to
indicate the honor, the rights and inlcpcn-
cncc of South Carolina.
In the meantime, | was not in favor of the
being inactive, but thought that
should engage alone in active preparations,
nd that it should at once adop. some dcci- :
i've ard irreyocabe measures towards scccs-
ion. Some of these measures briefly hint
d at My sole motive for temporary delay,
as to obtain harmony. Il was as Il conccs-
ion to those who were not quite ready.
or these considerations, l was in hopes that {
lie more moderate counsels would prevail,
nd keep in check those who were for the
cccssion of the State so soon us the Con- $
cntion could be called together. These arc c
ie views which eypres' OIL that occasion
Il that part of The subject, and which crl- c
Odicd in Il letter addressed to public meet '
lg but two or three days previous.
II will lie perceived. that If NIr Phnif i !