The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-09-23

Southern Rights Association OF CIaFemoht;
and, we desire to say in advance, that In !
the remarks we propose to make upon that
call, We intend no disrespect to that gen.
tleman; for, though we regret to see him
in tho position he occupies, we entertain
for him personally no sentiment but that Of
respect and esteem.
The readers Of this paper who are Co
operationists and who are members Of the
Southern Rights Association of Claremont
--an Association formed for The purpose OF
uniting The South, and in no aspect favoring
the separate secession Of South Carolina
have the right we conceive, to have the
following questions answered, and we
know Of no one whose duty it is to answer
them except the President Of the Associa-
ton -
Why has the Southern Rights Associa-
ton Of Claremont not been called together
since May last! Has it not been because
the separate Wiling and de-
string that it should be taken for granted
that they were in the najorlty-were afraid
Of Free Discussion ? Have not letters,
circulars. or other documents or
not marked. prirate and confidential, l,--com-
ing from persons styling themselves the
Central Committee of tho Southern Rights
Associations Of South Carolina, or ether
persons acting or protesting 10 act for The
separate secessonists of the whole State,
been addressed 10 and received by persons
in this District, The object and design OF
which was to STIFLE THE VOICE OF THE
I'EorLE and prevent FREE DIscuss1oH p
Has not the President OF the Association
for Claremont received one or more Of
those documents, and has he not acted upon
the suggestions they contained? Has il
not been the secret policy Of the separate
scresslonists since May last to discourage
Free Discussion, and why has this change
so suddenly come over the spirit Of their
| dream?
These questions arc not founded upon
matters within our own knowledge, but
upon rulUors that have cached us from
various quarters and upon differences drawn
from! the conduct of the separate secession
lists
Ard when the questions we have pu,
shall have been answered fully and with
out evasion--whcn all The secret letters.
circulars and other documents shall have
been made pubIc-and the conduct Of
the separate sccessionists explained, SO
that we shall see that the rurnors we have
heard. and the iufcreuces we have drawn
arc without foundation, we shall then, bui
mol till then, be willing to meet the sepa-
rate scccssion:sts in Free Discussion We
canno, consent 10 meet party in free
discussion. who when in a (supposcd) ma-
jorty did every thing they could to discour-
age and prevent free discussion-who really
and truly are afraid TO see the people en-
ightened-who, to rush them blind!y and
madv into separate secession, hoping that
ter the deed IS done they will stand by it,
We ask in ull candor, ii the belief under
which we act is true how can the Separate
secessionlsis expect us TO meet them in
discussion before the people! We will agree
to meet no opponent, under such circ uul-
stances, whose object is bamboozie and no,
to eiiiish.on: md If the policy of The Sepa-
rate seccssIon:sts up III this tilne-a p5::cy
persucd inthe dark with secret circulars,
letters s. documents-has been to keep tho
public mind in darkness-how can we con-
tidc il their assurances that, they now de-
sire 10 enlighten it-tl,at they really want
ftc,, fair, honest dircussion.
FREE Discussion is new born idea
with tho Separate scccssonists. If they
wanted free discussion, why did they not
postpone the election of delegates TO the
Convention until October, the usual time
for holding elections in South Carolina.
Reflect, citizens OF Claremon,, when the
fact, that the election was held in Fcbrua.
ry-in less than two months from tie tine
the Act was passed.
To the Co.operationists Of this District we
arc bound to say, have nothing to do with
the meeting of the 23d inst. 1t is not
meeting for free discussion-we are at
least bound SD TO conclude until the secret
documents are published or until we are
assured by honorable men that 10 such do
cumcnts exist. l.is meeting Of the Se-
parate seccssionisls and knowing that their
party is in small minority. they hope by
calling incir meeting mass meeting and
a free discussion meeting 10 get Co.opera-
toniss to attend who as soon MS they en-
ter will be counted RS one OF their party.
Of course then the news papers will close
with the account OF tremendous de-
mons,ra,ion in Old Sumter.
We saysto the Separate Secessionis,s
il you truly and III good fa tn want US 10
| Nlcet you III 1Eee DNCuSStOU, Dut SATISFY
us upon The subject OF those secret docu-
mcn,s. Ii such things are in existence
or haze been in existence send us copies OF
them all for publication, il we choose to
publish ,hem-keep none hack let US have
them all--and then, il we are satisfied up.
OH reading them, that your party has pursu-
ed no such policy az the above questions
indicate we wi meet you in free discus
sion on any day you may fix.
We would add as further and obvious
reason why we should meet the Separate
SecessionIsls. they are no. sincere when
they say they desire it. II they really dc.
s're 1t why did they rot consult with us
before hand! Why is it that the first no.
ticc we had Of their proposed mass meeting
was through the columns of the IYaichman!
And again we would ask why is il tha,
Messrs. CHEvEs BARNwELL, and WITH.
ERs. are the only persons named as invited
and expected 10 address their meeting1
Was il no, we'll known that these gen
tlencn would not attend, and were no.,
their names inserted as mere blmd2--
/ The disguise is too tJausparent