The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-09-16
From the Corolinian and Telegraph.
To Col. John 8. Preston.

Sir: The circumstances OF solemn form
under which you have been led u the
scaftOld by committee Ut HecesSionists.
protesting TO be your personal friends, are
calculated TO attract public attention to the
case, ns characteristic OF the times, and
suggestive OF serious trains Of thought.
Your name being thus associated before the
public, avail myself Of it tn state some of
The thoughts which, the affair brings to my
mind. Amongst the gentlemen who are
dealing with you, one AT least occupies the
position of leader in his party, und is
regarded as an exponent OF lt-a man Of
respectable character, OF fair talents, and
by position conspicuous in the movcmcn,
II which he participates. therefore
regard the proceedings Of the committees
in respect 10 you as indicating tho purposes,
temper, and character Of the whole parry.
Let me, then, look TO the proceedings Of
these gentlemen. iou, il seems, were
put in nomination rs candidate for the
Southern Congress- These gentlemen,
with no doubt o( your general qualifications,
TO which they bear ample, and, | suppose
just testimony, conceive & doubt whether
your political principles arc such as will
authorize them to support you for that
station. In addition TO thus doubt of your
politics is intimatcd, though, in the
back ground an nputatlon on your
consis,ency-vz: that you had induced
them to suppose tina, you entertained
different opinions from vour present. This
and merely shows the quo amino, and lh:.i
and prescription. Now, tlla, this resulted
from any personal hostility or disincina,ion
to you, tho gentlemen themselves forbid
me to suppose. They disavow any such
feeling, and they arc honorable men.
What, then, are the political feel ings that
operate upon then: and animate their party!
Let us see. The office to which you were
nominated was one having for its objcct-its
sole and avowed ohjcct--a co-operat;on OF
the Southern States in resistance to the
nggrcssons Of the General Government
Now the objection 90 you rs a member of
that Congress, and the only objection, is
that yon are in }dror Gifts purposes. The
Southern Congress is the expcdIcnt Of the
co.operatonisls. "They," says the
distinguished sccessonst who nominated
you, "are the persons to manage and he
responsible for it," But your friendly
committee will not trust with the
instrument, because it is yours and you
approve it.
!, How can clever man like Col. Gregg fall
into such solecisn!
What! join our sister States in hollow
and dc :eptive association. into which we
admit NJ man likely to promote the purposes
OF the conference, but only those who are
previously pledged to different course Of
action!
This objection to you, sir, made by these
ganllemen, satisfies me that their object Is
not successful resistance to federal en-
croacbmsnts. but an exclusive, blind addic-
ton to particular line Of internal policy,
which viii secure The nation of South Car
olina to the hands Of junta, and give it the
power of exile, confscation, and prescription
do not moan to say that Tho committee de-
!iberatciy calculate on and work for these
definite results, but do say that The ton