The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-05-17
THE UNION,
Correspondence ofthe N. y. Herald


CHARLKsTos, May S, 1851
Agreeaby 10 appointment the general convention Of
all the southern rights oil The Slate oil South
Carolina assembled in the Military Hall to-day al 4
O'clock, p m.
The assemblage was organized with remarkable de-.
cornm. and spirit Of fraternity and unanimy pre-
vailed significant OF harmonious sentiment in oppo.
son to this federal Union and IN favor OF going Of
II expedlent, ai all hazards and 10 the las,
extremity"
-Four hundred and hirty-one delegates--a highly re.
spectacle and intelligent body OF men-from all quarters OF
the State, were enrolled upon the journal Ex-Governor
l. richardson was unanimously elected president, and
the organization completed ia the appointment OF
seven presidents and Dix secretaries, and the adop
ton OF the rules reported for The government OF the con-
veniion. Sly
Governor Richardson, on taking the chair delivered
powerful appeal IN behalf Of this ebellious attitude OF
South carolina To the government Of the United States
and the peace and safety OF the Union. No northern
man III The North, out OF South Carolina, apprc-
ciase The spl vi secession and OF alienation from the
general government which here prevails Ii il the uni
versa sentiment We venture 10 say that not one man
OF his covenon is in favor OF South Carolina contn
ulng ~ tins Union as i s--noi one To stranger in
this place tie assembdge this Gothic hall has the
moral and political atmosphere around ii OF conyen
ton in some foreign country Accustomed, all Jelib
eraye assemblies heretofore, in our experience if
IN opposition TO acts OF Congress or sectional sgges-
aon 10 hear something OF attachment and vencratIon
pressed for the Unon Me glory Of which Eliminates the
earth, and accustomed TO hear only Of dsunion the
last dreadful resort IN the last Dsupporabe extremity,
feel IN this convocaton OF seceders per if had
passed beyond The limits OF The United States and
in State already cut off, and in the chysalis OF sepa
fale nationallty-a foreign Statea State beyond the
Jurisdiction OF Cong ressbcyona the iatenal relations
OF the constitution State within, and ye, without,
the confederacy lacking only the forms OF declaration,
Tie opening speech Of President Richardson in every
ausion to secession applanded with much cnhu
sasm as speech OF Henry Clay in behalf oil the Union
would be received in front OF the As;or House Mr. Rc-
ardson admitted the doubts, The gloom the thickenng
dangers gathering over this movement TO break up The
Union Few that undertake 10 ride upon the whlrlwnd
can direct Storm but The increasing OF Con-
gress. and the increasing dangers which from
the North admonsh that to defer eyaie the issue
presented, oil resistance submission is TO acguesce
our h,niliatop Applause The only questions for
US TO dele"ne are the place. The Tune, and The means OF
the end We have in view. How, what or where, and
when are we TO act lApplausel He appealed 10 the
Moultfe 10 Churubusco and Chepuliepec. But however
revolving The idea of dissoviDg our come xon with
ssie States may have been ten years aeohowever sad
and hazardous now-- has come To be only aitena.
tive. lApplausel thaih been said, '.Whom God hath
Joined together let no man put asunder;' but the con.
verse Is equally applicable "Whom God and Nature
hath put a.under lei attempt Join together"
lIifea, appausel The president then proceeded 10 de-
scribe the ,pcongfuous clements geographical and poili
CAL that men have attempted TO anal gamae and halmo-
nZe under The federal conpacl-a coniederacy under
which the South has been Impoverished in enrichmg the
NoTh and to the last supporabe degree OF hu-
initiation. Our federal flag rs the refuge OF The exes
and the oppressed Of every land except the South II al
ords no shelter, refuge protection TO In fact,
the Union is already IN rs spirit and inen dissolved
The division, North and South. in the churches d.
vision under which, OF seli the Union cannot survive,
The ogerw hemlng religious sentiment Of The North
against institutions such that remain in the UAlon
we remain to be destroyed [Appause We have, then,
but 10 perform duty and leave the consequences
God Let US deliberate upon II IN spirit worthy Of ouT
ancestors feeling that have decide upon the Union
without our institutions or institutions without The
Union. lApplause Let our counses be directed, then
not TO the Union, but TO the unanmiiy OF South Caro
IA [Applausel The of submission is dissension
amonI ourselves and The greatest triumph to enemies
Such were some oil the leading illusions 10 secession
IN the presidents opening address, and which
shnctvely seized upon IN 'he appreciation OF the
ton.
After the organza,ion was resolved that the pro.
ceedings should be regularly opened with prayer, and
| accordingly, the Rev. Mr. Somsrs, OF the Methodist
Episcopal church South, was called upon 10 open the
proceedings His PRAYER rema kable than the
presidents speech. There thankiulness Tor The
blessings shoNered down upon this Union OF thirty
free aud independent States no gratitude for the blessed
and oenehcent inheritance OF federal organ cation
but the prayer was dark, studied lugubrous, SOLITARY
dismal. and sepulchrL, Ii had nothing OF Mr. Web..eIr
''odoT OF nationality" about il, but an awful aroma oI
secession from beginning to end. lie prayed for wis.
dom to enlgb,en the me bers OF the convention in this
crss-ior peace and yet for justice, for South Carolina
and for her authorities but never word more for the
Presiden OF The United States than for the President Of
France. All the world outside Of South Carolina was
summed up in I'D Thou bless also all the nations and
people OF the earth and in the end in Thy king
DOM through Christ, our Redeemer Amen"
But strange as was this prayer 10 accustomed al
ways, all occasions. hear the Union cassed with
such blessings as light and life and health, and liberty
aud law, II afforded s another evidence of the con.
sccnious esrnes,ness OF this people, in this tremend
Gus enterprise OF separate nation inside of the United
States
The objects OF the convention declared 10 be- 10
consult consider and resolve upon the initiative of the
policy which the Stale is 10 pursue. And with sach
manifestations described Of the tenor and temper OF
the convention, they adjourned.
SECOND DAY-sIay 8.
The convention reassembled at 10 o'clock Prayer
like tina, of yesterday Journal read.
On motion OF MIR Maxcy Gregg, a committee Of TWEEN
y-one was ordered 10 be appointed TO whom sll resou
tons in reference 10 the action OF the convention should
be referred without debate the committee TO report upon
the The committee being appointed, the districts
were called Tor resolutions; and among those submitted
we give the following, embracing the mos, moderate
and the most decisive propositions presented.
BY Mr. Orr, member OF Congress:
Resoiped That the State convention called at The la,
session OF the legislature OF Sbut Caona in opinion
soud be assembled by order Of the egisare thai
have implicit confidence in the wisdom fidelity aud
patriotism OF the delegates elect, aud pledge ourselves
sustain the iiusl OF the convention and that wa
consider II ncxpedicnt dictate
bcts thereof the mo ls and of redress Ter the many
grievances inflicted on us by tho federal government
The resolution was received in silence and referred in
silence omlnous that il not the thing
By Mr.. Rhe,t, OF the United States Senate:
Resolved, That in the opinion Of ,h. coovention the
institutions Of South Carolina longer sale unoer the
constitution nor in tue Union.
Resafrc5, That the of the thern States in
any sysemsc and decisive resistance power the
general government has been hitherto sought in vain
ResVrsd, That the only elective calf upon South
must be by the appeal Of practical issue.
Rs,oiped, That the commtee To whom these reson.
ions referred be instructed, in the OF the conven
ton, memorslzs the legislature Of State TO convene
ueft