The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-10


A. p. BUTLER.
LETTER FROM THE HON. A. BURT.
ORANGE HUI, May 80, 1851.
Gentlemen greatly regret that l shall b
unable to attend the meeting in your town, OF
the 3lst of this month to which you did me tn
honor to invite me- My regret, however, i
diminished by the fact that have recently re-
monstrated, in the most resolute and emphatic
manner, against the suicidal measure to which the
most reckless and desperate efforts are making
to drive the people Of this State. ] heartily
concnr with you, TINT tho people who are Il
bear the burthens and fight the battles tina
must result from such madness, should rebuks
the headlong indiscretion OF those who .woul(
precipitate such evils upon them.
Incontestabe as hold the right of accession
to be, those who urge the State to resort to it nj
the present juncture, do not pretend to deny
that its exercise would. probably, involve the
State ia a hostile collision with the federal
government This concession is abundantly
made, in The address of the meeting, which was
lately held in Charleston. have never doubted
that such conflict would take place if but one
State seeded, and tho assertion that have
modified my opinion, is wholly destitute OF
foundation. do not perceive how any rational
man can doubt it. Those who urge us to se-
cessiop, regardless Of tho other States. with
but four exceptions. admit, that without the aid
of some Of those States, defeat would be the
probably result of such an unequal struggle. !
presume no sane man, OF respectable inteiii-
gence could come to any other conclusion. In
deed, it is so obvious, that unsparng efforts are
made to assure us that the other slaveholdng
States named, necessarily become involved with
k,,b ,v av.itad ~
our example, or by being dragged into it against
their will Again, we are told that it is one
mission to save the South from the doom that
impends ard that our first gun will rally the
slave holding States under our banner. / tell
you, gentlemen, we can drag no State into our
difficulties 1t is preposterous to think of it.
Would it be manly to do it, if We could! We
must concede to the other States, what we claim
for Observation-Disclosures to understand their
rights and courage to defend them. Yes, we
must take it for granted that they also have
some selfrcspect, and that they are not COW.
ards and cravens arm proud Of the valor and
hcroism of South Carolina, but am of opinion
that other people have these qualities also And
it is, in my judgment, bad policy, as it is bad
taste, to assume that South. Carolina, alone, has
the spirit and the intelligence to defend and
preserve the common rights Of all the Southern
States.
believe have the means of knowing the
public opinion of the slave holding States, and
declare, with sincere sorrow that no one of
them, nor any considerable minority in any one
of them, is prepared to advise or justify the
secession of South Carolina. As to public SEN
timent in the other States take issue, and de-
mand the proof know, personally and WELL
the gallant and distinguished and true men, that
represent some of them in Congress, but know
no man amongst them that would not stay US
from the madness of secession. Let those who
affirm the contary name the mnn.
No, gentlemen, we have no hope that we can
coax or coerce any other State into secession at
the present moment
| think we should deceive ourselves if we
suppose we should excite the gratitude of the
Southern States, or even their admiration, by
secession They will let us understand, that it
is not their battles that We shall fight or their
cause that we shall uphold. They will not hail
us as the champions of the South But if the
secession of this State-its political separation
from the slaveholdipg States, could be effected
as peaceably and quietly as sore have tried to
make us beleve-if it could be done without
the use of musket, or dollar, my conviction
is, that il would be dire calamity to ourselves.
We should be the victims of the most extraor-
binary delusion that ever ruined country, or q
people And in my deliberate judgment all
good men-all patriotic men--should strive,
without ceasng, to avert disaster so utter and
so irreparable.
| should have been most happy, if could
have concurred in what seems the unalterable
determination of the States, | know the conse-
quences of daring to dissent from those who
have lead us to the brink of the precipice, and
am prepared to meet them all. Let them
strike, crave not their forbearance or their for
giveness.
With great respect, | have the honor to be
your obedient servant,
ARMSTEAD BURT
The vote was then taken on the preamble
and resolutions, which resulted in their adoption
without dissenting voice.
| Mr.. G. p. Cassin offered the following reso-
! luton, which was unanimously adopted.
Resolpcd, That this meeting requests the
people of South Carolina, who entertain similar
opinions, to assemble, in all parts of the State
and respond to our resolutions.
| On motion, Messrs. Boyce and Ovens the
gentlemen who addressed the meeting, were re-
Quested to furnish the secretary Of this meeting
with copies Of their remarks for publication
Mr. VIM. Gregg, esq. offered the following
resolution, which was adopted:
Resolred, That the proceedings Of this meet.
ing be published in the Hamburg Republican
the Charleston daily papers, the Columbia daily
papers, and the Edgeield Advertiser.
On motion. the thanks Of the meeting were
rendered to Messrs. Boyce and Owens, for Their
Kindness and patriotism in attending and address.
sing the meeting.
On motion, it was resolved that the names oil
the Subscribers to the call for this meeting be
published with the proceedings.
On motion, the meeting adjourned.
ANDREW HAMMOND, President.
| G.. W. SYLE, Secretary.
VALPARAISO, May 10, 1851.
Every thing here is in confusion in conse.
qusucc of the late earthquake, the particulars OF
which You will find in the newspapers There