The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-08
From The Charleston Mercury, June s.
Public Nesting.


Pursuant to a call OF over -four hundred citizens OF
Edgeheld district Tor public meeting, 10 take into
sderalion The alarming position which South Carolina is
made to occapy BY The recent convention which Assem-
BLEED ~ Charleston and 10 ado sueh measures as IN our
opinion will relieve The Stale from The evils OF separate
cesson, large and respectable portion OF the citizens
OF Edseheid district was heid IN The Town OF Hamburg
on Saturday. the 3lst Of May
The meeting was organized by calling Captain Andrew
Hammond 10 the CHAIR and requesting c. w Styles
esq 10 act ms secretary.
The Chair having, in an impressive and appropriate
manner stated the object OF The meeting, on motion,
committee OF thirty was appointed by The Char, CONSIST
ing OF the following gentlemen, TO report business Tor The
Willis G. Harris. d. J. Walker, SAMUEL Clark. Samuel
Glover, M o keefe. q, c. Cunningham, {. p Cassln
w. 7. DELPHI, c. Williams, Joseph Heighlower, M. "
Coleman, w. c. Bewley. T. Gallaher, A. A. kendrick
J. Buckmaser, Lew HILL w. Roundtree. z. MELON
aid, II L LETTERS. J. PaIgis,, J. X Cook, " J Wight
man. J. W. Stokes. Charles Hammond Dr. A. Creigh-
Ton, w Lanham, Joseph Norris A, Burnside, M RadIc,
and Robert Anderson.
The committee having retired, the Hon w. A. Owens,
OF BarnweIl was invited to address the meeting on the
prominent question OF the day, which he did for upwards
OF an hour in strain OF patriotic eloqueDce and irreSis
ble arguments in opposition 10 The policy OF separate
cession the par OF South Carolina and the action OF
the Southern-Rig Convention held IN Charleston IN
April last The remarks OF Colonel Owens respond
ed in such TO Indicate very clearly that the
people not disposed 10 risk The dangerous conse
quences of separate State secession under existing cir
cumslances. We deem II unnecessary 10 comment nr
iher this mastery effort OF Col Owens, as we expect
copy for publication suffice IL 10 say thai in all respects
he echoed the sentiments OF The people Al the conclu
sion OF COL Os remarks, the committee OF thirty return
ed, and through Mr. c. p Cassn submitted the follow
ing preamble and resolutions Tor the consideration OF the
meeting:
Preamble and Resolutions.
crisis has arrived in our affairs in which il behooves
every citizen OF the State without concealmen 10 dis
cover his political sentiments The action OF the last
Legislature convoklng constitutional convention OF the
people, the election oil delegates 10 that body, whose
province il will be decide finally The which
he Sia n sing
the grievances imposed the South by tue Legislation
OF Congress in the passage OF the so-caled compromise
measures. and the contemplated assembling OF that
body cary IN the next year, present issues OF the
gravest import Tor the contemplation OF every citizen
We had hoped that no proceedings would be taken IN
Stale 10 oresiall control the final determination
oil the constitutional convention, and that the delegates
elect would be e entirely free and unlTammeled, 10 act
in accordance with the prospects and circumstances sur
rounding them when assembled But The late cow en-
ton OF the southern-rghts associations IN Charleston
also the tone OF the public press seem to Indicate ex
traordnay and unexampled unanimiy throughout the
State IN favor OF the separate and early secession OF
South Carolina, either with without cooperation; and
well satisfied that there serious division
among the people upon this subject, conceive il 10 be
sacred duty owe TO ourselves, our country, and our
poslerty, to place opinions upon records and u by
counsels example aid IN saving the State
from entering upon The dangerous hazards OF separate
action without any prospect OF CO. operation or sympathy
from southern sisters, shall feel that We have dis
charged a solemn duty and done the State some ser
vice. And we are the more socitous that moderate
and prudent counses should prevail because lneylia
BILE that the southern States destined al early
Rod, 10 become grand coniederacy OF indepsnten
States without the necessity OF forcing issue upon
them which they regard premature and unwse al iht
particular nnclure, and calculated TO defeat the grea
measure We seek to carry out.
Il We not the supporters apologisls OF the com
promises We think that the South has been deeply
wonged by the adoption OF these odlous measures. W.
not Tor cquiesclng them, do we oppose sepa
rate secession for any such end We are for resisting
them by any and every practical mode which has beer
or may be devised but we believe that no efficient re
dress be obtained without the operation OF oihe
slave Sates whose interests are now and whose destiny
in every respect must ultimately be the same as ours
We expect most confidently to Obtain cooperation, moi
only IN consequence OF the aggressons OF the past but
from the enboiened spirit OF fanalicIsm all over the
\ North in the daily preparation OF new ourages We
have confidence IN The patriotism OF our bretsn oil lht
southern States and as they are hgh-mnded, spirited
people reasonable fear need be entertained that they
will sink down in and willing acqulescence in the
wrongs OF the past, idle and Indifferent spectators OF
the onages OF The present. and The prospects OF shame
and humiliation in the future. We merely state our
opinions, without entering into discussion fully OF The
reasons which bring 10 the conclusion that under
listing circumstances, South Carolina cannot, with
dom or prudence, secede from the federal Union But,
when the prospect for cooperation brigbiens-wheo
other southern Saies will give assurance OF their eadl-
to dissolve their union with the northern Statesouf
heats will leap and voices join III hearty amen TO
the 20, fui tidiDgs
Bsu therefore ye,o,psd, Thai willis, we are in favor Of
resisis 10 the late unus aud odons legislation OF Con
grrss known hs cVnpto Mise measures, In tue mos
se o' we w oppose 70 ,ne p y
ne remedy for past security against more
tbrestenink dangers IN the future
Resolved. Tbat the cooperation OF other States Ia the
South having with us common origin, Institutions, and
destiny, Is Indispensable the p-rpetuaton ot African
slavery and that nil able should be used 10
South Carolina produce unity concert, harmony
other southeIn states IN any orssnzed pisn OF resist
ance 70 the engToachmen OF the federal government
Rs,ltped, That tho noa determination OF nls question
by the Stale convention after rs adjournment should be
submitted TO the peop. Of this State Tor approval dtsap
ptoysi the ballot box.
Rfsoipef, That destiny OF South Carolina is oui
destiny, and that we will all the means placed Ia
power the evil OF separnte secession this time
reckless dissolution Of the ties that unite with
brethren OF the SCUM, whose origin, Interests and destiny
are InsepaTably linked with ours
The preamble and resolutions having been moved for
adoption, w. w Boyce, e,q., OF Fairfield district,
called for, who and length entertained the
meeting with stirring eoquence and sound Argument in
support OF the resolutions. Mr. pointed out. in a
vivid manner the evils consequent upon separate State
action and showing the mPossibiy OF forcing the other
States OF the South into contrary TO their iug
ment, by the act OF seeding alonedemonstra
ted the folly OF such move being remedy for the
wrongs seek TO redress bat lraught with mischief TOO
painful TO contemplate He argued The impossibiIty OF
/ South Carolina maintaining her existence indie
pendent sovereignty among the nations OF the earth. and
sdveed briefly TO the vain hope OF obtaining coopera.
/ ton after The act of secession.
Mr.. b. gave ample evidence OF his sincerity in the