The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-22
g o q 81 e RIM M o We M q N T s..
South Carolina.

Our readers will find to. day, on another col
umn, well-written letter from special cores
popdent Of the New York Herald, now in the
city Of Charleston, who is evidently close OBJ
server, and an impartial one. The letter will be
found very interesting, as embodying the DELHI
crate conclusions Of disinterested witness.
From the Charleston Mercury we extract the
following significant editorial, foreshadowng the
policy that will be adopted, and the purposes
that are to be subseryed, by the meeting of the
the first Monday in May next:
"THE BARNwELL SOUTHERN RfGHTs AssocI-
ALTON, AND THE CONVENTION OF ASSOCIATIONS TO
BE HELD IN CHARLEsToN.--We cordially approve
the resolution adopted by the Barnwell Assoc-
alton, on the motion of J. M. Hutson, esq. 1t
affirms That any attempt by the members Of
that body Ohe convention to be held in Maya
to Illustrate the action of the State Convention
will not only be highly improper in itself. but
will be altogether foreign to the purposes for
which the delegates from the several associa-
tons have been invited to assemble together
"For ourselves, and for our association, we
respond that, we trust that no effort will be made
to interfere with the freedom of action of the
State convention. IF the convention of May
shall desire to maintain the influence and pro-
mote the usefulness Of the Southern rights as
sociations, it must confne its deliberations and
it's action to the objects for which the assoeia-
tons were originally constituted. If the con-
venton shall exceed these limits, and shall trans
form these associations into mere agtating and
inquisitorial clubs; above all, if they shall
prompt them to pursue measures which shall be
designed to control the constituted authorities
of the State, from that moment they will be-
come potent for nothing but evil We depre-
cate, therefore, any action by the convention
which shall be designed to limit the freedom Of
elaboration, or in any way to dictate to, or to
control, the action of the State convention.
This body already stands in its proper relation
to the people of the State. lis members have,
| in some instances, been elected as untrammel-
ed delegates, and left free to exercise their best
| judgments when they shall be assembled. In
other instances, the people have thought pro-
per to indicate their wish that their delegates
shall go for the early secession of the State.
| The matter, therefore, has already been arranged
| in the manner which seemed best to the peo-
Pile of the respective districts. The people so
classed in districts, and who have thus acted
and voted and appointed, and instructed their
delegates to the State convention, are the State
Let not, therefore, our Southern rights associa
tons, which in fact consist of only portion o.
the people, undertake to regulate, or control
the action of that body which represents and il
entrusted with the power and authority of thu
whole people of the State.
ave believe that the associations, pursuing
steadily and vigorously the objects for whic
!. they were. originally organized, can be the in
\ struments of incalculable good to the country
But let them remember, that an essential ele
ment to the success of their efforts, is the pos
d session of the public confidence; and that to re
tain this is essential that they should CAREFUL
: avoid all interference with the constituted au
thoritios Of the State, and even the seeming Il
assume inqusitorial or dictatorial power"