The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-09-30
From the Southern Slnr,durd.
COLUMBIA, Sept. 3, 1851,


coLuMnIA, Sept. 3, 1851,
Mr. Editor,-Thc meeting Of the "Sou,l,.
erii lights Associations" OF Richlanm Dis
s!rlc', which was held in this city on Friday
last, cXil bitcd one Of The most cy,raordina.
~ spcctaclcs ever witnessed in BODY pro.
aiesSing to 4bc free and delibcrativc. Its
i,,t"','E" u"ry Justly challenge par.
a''ei III the whole history OF political s,ra,c.
gy.
t was the Annual meeting OF the Asso.
citation, on which occasion, the Constitution
prcscrlcs the election of officers. |, WAS
not known that any other business would
claim The attention of lhoso who were
members, majority of whom are the
friends OF Cooperation The COMMITTEES
oi Safety is charged with the duty OF origin.
atng and preparing business for each meet.
Tug Of Tic AssocIa,ion, and, inasmuch ns
this Committee had not been convened bv
its chairman or otherwise, it was very nat.
urally inferred that nothing OF an important
character would be presented. Hence, bu,
lew Of the Co-opcrationists attended. 1t is
true, rumors had obtained circulation and
credence with few, that the immediate
accession party would seize the occasion
10 introduce and pass resolutions affirming
those adopted by the SELF constituted Con.
vcn;ion he'd in Charleston in May last, or
making nomination Of exclusive Scccs.
sionists as Deputies to the Southern Con.
Grcss.-.ofI" = ','l, ~ w. ,}r,+ r,,,r..
v.rcpintaIoga ,.,srnc', no,y,rr,
-" u..rrt"gv - Committee ,cl.,,,, -.
nGh, 80 iuj as Lilc friends Q; co.,oc,,,,,,
!Snc", been held: [aud There was :, !c:,.;
one n.einber oi the Co.o;rcra;io p,r.v ~,
thnt Ge:n'h'itC'. J tnS rrprct wa: crC,,i,c!
,,slhs4shatsic c,y-z The icw who ,,,ondcj ,nc
Jli1ettfr rcSfIVtiu ,,L;t ii 5r'l. -. r!y,,S,
.a;iv p.occdil'. s'.a,cu d i|9 ur. - = ,h..
N4.uviatir.. n. ~ a.ri.l.i.n- .t ,.,rr.
.:tu. s.lrh fnS, q; OIL ...I.u uu,u..,,,,.,.
bly be. Properly regarding the .Associa.
ton as designed to secure "conccrt of nc.
4 ton among 'le friends Of Southern Rights"
and the pledge as simple declaration of
fidelity TO the Slate whenever she mult
act through her ieynhy constituted organ,
the friends OF Cooperation believed that
the introduction OF resolutions OF the char.
acter indicated, would be wun,un deviation
from the rule OF action understood TO gov.
crn body SO constituted, a wilful pcrver
sion OF the institution from its true purpo.
hes, an unjustiiiable INVASION of the rights
ana privileges OF Othcrs-in fine, the usur.
patton and exercise Of function totally un-
supported by authority and unsanctioncd
hy any necessity.
The Immediate ScccSsioniss mustered
IN tier full strength. and. as the SEQUEL
proved, were well instructed in the nart
they were expected to perform 10 the
utter amaZcmcnt fall but thcnisely ono
OF their leaders rose, and after studied
I forensic cxUrdun, preferred bill Indlct.
ment" against Col. John S. Preston, which
lie attempted IL sustain with all the ingc.
nniiy OF the lawyer, aud all the subtletv Of
The sopliIst Never were charges more
rnnnngy devised, or more artlulIv drawn.
Both the "nill'' and the speech had been
most studiousy elaborated, giving unmis.
takeabc evidence, lha, whole days and
nights, perhaps weeks, had been consumed
IN pcrlectins TIC work Of prescription. The
suihEand substance Of thus bill Of lndict.
mcnt and .itanJcr we're, that Col. Preston
"had changed his p"stior," iorge,:ul, alas,
HAT ltwas they, Qhc prosccutors) who had
changed, and not Col. Preston. They
seemed To have either overlooked or disrc.
gardcd the tact, so apparcn, TO all others,
liat by prescribing new, and until recent
ly, un'icard OF test Of political orthodoxy and
hdelhy, they themselves had violated their
own voluntary pledge whilst attempting to
irrlnliiatc olhcrs-Lad broken the bond of
union, and thus made a fatal breach in the
very walls OF the citadel, which, by solemn
covenant they had sworn TO defend "at ey-
cry hazard and 10 the last cxtrcmiiy."
y Cols. Preston and Clcsnnt, and all the
friends of Cooperation, are still willing 10
redeem the pledge they made when they
5signcd the Constitution of the Southern
sls,gl,'s Association; they are still willing to
spiIluIcate he rights and tho honor OF their
state, by al! Inc Ineans which God and Ma
'uro nave pu in their hands still willing
10 stand by lhe.r State "at every haz,rl
and to tue last extremity" aud in doing SO,
sthcy VIII but pindicatc their honor as men,
ana fu.clr CONSISTENCY as statesmen. In the
words OF The ilustrIous, tho immortal Cal.
noun. "iionrert Of acton is The one thing
heediul, Failing 10 secure this, after ali
honorable means have been tried and OK.
l'austeti, the Trends OF Cooperation will be
louia raliypg 10 man, under the glorious
standard 81 States Rights and Stale Soyrr.
tls,ity, ics---no matter how desperate
iiIc ,cllanccs--l,o matter how unoou,l tho
eohisst---'lo matter how sanguinary tho
.."hiiict-7,io matter how great or how long
il.e struggle, they will be found tho last to
seoo,mplatn, ?, and The last 10 give up in despair
but toTesulnc. Col. prcston's accuscrs.
Wit''oat Dl al intending il perhnps, paid
1la very highest compliment TO his genius
alia elo9ueHee which II is possible 10 con.
cove y consisted in the extraordinary
sGare Gar, VIII, which The prosecution was con.
nu;cted7-tbe ';., Ingenuity, tact, and ability
VIII Wtlcb u Wasinvested--ia tho andeay.
. or y ING prosecutor to anticipate the main
i'oNlfs ot tDl, l'raston's deicncc--n the al.
'oihpe % Iioras,al his arguments, TO d ,pre.
cate 4tl'c effects of his acknowledged ala.
Huonce, and last ttholgb hv ny ,n.,ns 49,,