The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-07
Hom the Charleston Courier Of May 8.
Tho Convention and its Issues.

What! is the congress to be held at the
Military Hall; and whence does it derive its
powers; from the people, by ballot; or does it
emanate, like the Jacobin clubs of France, from
the fermenting of revolutionary materials2 The
high character of the men who compose it is an
augury that no improper acts will be done.
Whence comes it? South Carolina is in no rev.
olution. Her government is not obnoxious; no
revolutionary substitute for the laws and execu
tive power is required. 1t would seem that a
conflict, looked for with the United States, has
somehow other suggested possible domestic
or internal controversy, in which more energy and
prompttude may become necessary than the laws
at present afford. In fact, the tribunal of Judge
Lynch seems to be looked forward to a coming
necessity, else why these congresses and associa-
tions' Not. surely, against the United States; for
the Legislature and Executive already con-
stutcd power to concentrate all the energies of the
State. Some fearful bodings are agitatng the pub
lie mind. The act of secession if pcaceable and sue
cessful, involves these probable conscquences The
natives of Europe free citizens of this State by
force of their naturalization, will all become aliens,
all their real estates will cschcat, and, being vested
in certain corporations, who will, by the very act,
become seized of q Vested intsrest-the escheat
might not be removed. This equally applies to
every man, born North or South, in any State but
arated into natives of this State and aliens; and the
aliens being thus in the power of the natives, must
and swear fealty to their lords paramount, or
forfeit their estates. The native American claims
equality because Of the old articles of confedcraon,
and the more perfect union Of the Constitution.
South Carolina must have still remained British
province if she had relied on her own strength She
conquered; her best citizens were prisoners OF
war, took British protection. II was tho aid Of
the other States, and foreign allcs, that con-
qucred her enemies and made her sovereign
State. Now, as this "right of conquest" "the gal
liant title Of the sword" ia that by which alone
South Carolina holds her sovereignty, may not
Great Britain once claim her rebel province.
by her original ttlc when she ceases to belong to
any but natives, who reject the strong claims Of
those who, having nided in acquiring her title to
Independence. may well call in question the right
of the native citizens to claim any exclusive IT,
tie to sovereignty at all, except by once more
returning to the allegiance or loyalty original
ly due to England? England has the power,
and has acted on slighter grounds in retaining
provinces wrcstcd from her by conquest These
views seriously disturb those adopted citizens, who
do not belong to Queen Victoria, according to the
theory Of perpetual allegiance. Her Irish subjects
are citizens of the United States Look at their
tifcatc; they not citizens OF South Carolina,
except as ono OF the United States, which che Will
not be when che scccdes; 80 that every Irish sub
ject of the Queen OF England must move out Of
South Carolina into the United Statcs, or be liable
to be impressed into the British navy, or enrolled
in her army, as this State cannot gainsay England,
with her navy and army. In the case ofthc Chesa-
peakc frigatc, British naval officer actually fred
broadsdc into an American frigate, compelled
her to strike, sent on board and seized four Ameri-
cans. alleging they were deserters, which was true,
bat they were originally impressed Americans. If
England dare do this against armed frigate Of
the Union, what is to hinder her reassuming her