The southern press., 1851-06-04
EcoMMUN.cATIoN.l

| [coMMUN,cATIoN. ... r.. ~.
To The Editors The Southern Press e..
| GENTLEMEN As witness of the proceed
| ings of the late Southern Rights Convention at
Charleston, s. C., the plain motive of common
justice has suggested to me the fitness of swim
dicating the truth of history" against the impli-
cations involved in the following paragraph from
the National IntelHgencer! The editors are
speaking of the speech of Judge CUTLER before
the convention. They say
st must be obvious, indeed, to any intelligent
reader that the worthy senator himself would
have torborne no small portion of the whole of
this part Of his discourse, had it not been neces-
sary, before he could expect his grave and wise
counsel to be received with decent respect
which. according to the newspaper accounts, it
hardly was, notwithstanding to deprecate the
displeasure Of his hearers by aattering their
foibes and soothing their prejudices."
| Your deponent saw nothing, heard nothing,
during the speech Of Judge BUTLER, nor before
it, nor liter it, nor in the convention, nor out OF
it, aflording the slightest ground for the insinu-
alton, that Judge BUTLER was compelled TO
qualify, or modify, or disguise his real senti-
ments in order "to be receired Nth decent re-
spect." ..
Your deponent friend of the Union, and en-
tertaining for the National Intelligencer that re-
spect, which personal knowledge of the cdi-
tors never fails to command, regrets their treat
ment, in this instance, particularly, of South
Carolina, because it can do no good, and may re.
suit in mischief.
So far from Judge BUTLER being in any de.
| gree embarrassed by, or having occasion to be
embarrassed by, the evident disposition Of the
convention towards himself, he was received and
welcomed, and listened TO with not only defer.
ente and respect, really hattering; but with that
yeneraton which was so natural from "A liberal
people towards faithful Senator. To stranger
it could hardly fail to be remarked that if Judge
BUTLER was embarrassed, il was by the fila
kindness of the convention towards him,as if they
were DESTROYS 10 hear his advice in all frank
ness, freedom, and familiarity, and profit by it as
far as possible. He may have been somewhat
taken aback, as was your deponent and many
others, at the overwhelming strength Of the spir
and the party for separate State action in seced
! ing fIom the Union. And from what was wit
messed in that convention, and from what any
man may ascertain in direct intercourse will
the people Of South Carolina, they who take the
Greenyille Southern Patriot, as the true expo
nent Of the public sentiment of the State, are
more widely deceived than they who suppose
that Mr.. WEBSTER represents the popular opin
ions Of Massachusetts.
But the simple object Of this article is to win
dicate the truth respecting the Convention
While its spirit, aud the result of its proceeding
were revolutionary, and looking to nothing els,
than disunion, nothing else and nothing less
never have we witnessed in any public assem-
bIage, on any occasion, Of very many occasions
such dispositions of harmony and Cancellation
among the members; or such marked and en-
couraging kindness TO the minority TO speal
their views freely and "to the fullest extent
This feature, in the convention was very remark
able. Il looked TO the writer like a spirit oil
unity and earnestness, misguided and deluded /
you please, but spirit too earnest too nearly
unanimous, too grave, and decorous and solemn
to be met successfully with derision and con
tempt. "Concord and harmony" come not ofsucl
agencies. JUSTICE.