Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-24
SATURDAY MORNING. MAY "a. 1851
SOUTH CAROLINA.


The speech made by Judge Butler in the Con-
vention of Associations, which recently met at
Charleston, has been published We have read
it with much interest, because it discloses the
views OF those leaders of public sentiment in
South Carolina who are willing enough to witness
a separation of the Southern States from the I'm
ion bu: are opposed to the secession of South Ca
rolina alone In this class are included, besides
Judge Butler, Langdon Cheves Ex-Governor
Hammond, Mr. Orr, and many of the most promi'
nent men of the State. As Mr.. Webster would
say thev are Disunionists in the abstract, but not
in the concrete; and as the concrete is always the
only question in practice, they must be consider
ed, at the present juncture, no Dsunioniss at all
Their influence, if they have the moral courage
measure of secession, which is really the only
pending issue. Judge Butler at least, appears
to be determined to place his opinions fully before
the people, and they are fraught with strong
good sense so far as they relate to the matter of
secession, that they cannot fail to produce con-
victIon.
He sets out with declaring, "the fate of the peo-
NAV come shall stand or fall with South Carolina,
the fond mother of my birth and my affections"
Then promising that, if other Southern States had
kept their pledges, they would have made good the
declaration of the Georgia observation-disclosures
ty or independence" he proceeds to pronounce the
Federal Government despotism, and to affirm,
that the Southern States, if they do not resist it,
"will become prescribed political communities, y
DISTINGUISHED from the high honours of the Federal
Government and with their property and institu-
tons liable to confscation and unproyoked inva
sion."
As to the Federal honours, the ground of the
Judges apprehensions is certainly not very APP
parent in the history of the sixteen Presidential
terms which will close with that of Gen. Taylor
and only four of which have the people chosen
Northern men to fill. But we pass to his argu-
ment on secession, which he discusses with much
more force:
"Iwill 20 directly to The measures which have
suggested as the object and end of your deliberations
That is, shall this Convention, at this time, undertake
commit the State to the trial OF separate secession
by imposing as far this Convention can obliga-
ton on the State Convention TO take the step az soon
practicable.
Al shall now proceed to state my objections respect
fully to this mode Of procedure
al think 10 the first place, that this Convention ought
not to take cognizance of matter at this time,
before there real occasion toi decision. And in this
do not differ with great many who hear me. This
Convention consists OF representatives., pnequaed IN
number of selfconstituted associations The Conven-
ton OF the people to be hereafter convened having the
responsibility OF decision ought to be lett perfectly tree
form the best judgment in It's power under the actual
uncture OF circumstances that may exist az the time oil
lis meeting 1t ought neither 10 be instructed nor SUI.
perseded by the pre- determination of irresponsible
interchangeable mean in any official point OF view:
Such predetermnation, will make an issue not called
for by the OCCASION that must result in popular agitation
within the State. 1t will make divisions among our
selves and disclose feelings which have not heretofore
existed, and ought not 10 exist In iact y WI, defeat,
rather than pro mote the end contemplated. To show
how It will operate our friends IN other States,
need only refer to the consequences OF movements OF
similar character. say here, that from the time that
prominent men in S. Carolina minated purpose TO put
the State the track of separate secession in disregard
Of the corporation OF her nelghbers, they deprived our
real friends OF the power othepng u.s. lthey did not al
together ALLEVIATE our friends from their devotion TO the
Southern cause they gave their opponents great advan
tage them. In fact Southern party at Wdshlng-
ton. that oas fast organizing ,oas dissoired Ihey
srere toiling fast and Ue as they could
What would have been tLer final resolve and mea-
sures, know not. But do know that they ielt
that they pere separated from their true Jriends oy
ntnatons for phieh their people UeTe not prepared
Our ancestors made no such advertisement oil lhelf
purposes enable others, opposed to them to oce
and defeat them. In general, they were b heir acts
ahead OF their resolves and made the latter with
out previously having means to accomplish them We
seem to revere this order Wegive long notice, 10 the
form Of speeches and threatening resolutions The
consequence has been that short performances have fol-
lowed long advertisements, tor the reason that we lost
the aid OF our allies There are how friends 10
other States willing do all they csn nnde, the en-
enmssoees OF their situation. fear they Will be drlv
co 10 disavow us: when, if left to themselves, they
might have pursued course TO maintain The true bus
mneh abused cause OF the Southern States.
The measures ntimaled in The draft OF the address,
and IN some Of the resolutions will not allow many oil
this body to vote upon them. All who are members
OF the Constitutional Convention of the people, cannot
give vote to control their future Judgment. They
ought not TO be required SO to do. have conversed
with several OF them, and they have to a common
Soscuson TO give no vote upon any matter upon which