Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-13

South CarUluI aware lnt
cn nusltun arising from past events rendered cct i ~
serve on their part prudent und proper have stnaiousy
avoided thing which might look like assuming the iGan
in The defence OF Southern Rights They desired 10 act be-
they believed that safety and honor required actions
but they hoped th.t they might find leaders in other
States whom they might follow in defence Of the common
cause When the ancient Commonwealth of Virginia, inc
orcr leader of tic South declared her discrimination TO re-
ss all hazards and the last extremity hostile measures
then threatened South Carolina with all alacr!ty stood ca
DIV TO support Virginia in carrying her high resolution
When Geocia-whose former resistance to Federal nsura
ton under her heroic statesman roup gave promise III I'M
inchng mness in any contest in which she might engage
prucaed her determination 10 make stand Tor the lights
of the South South Carolina rcOced ut the prospect OF raj
Iynr under the banner Of Georgia. And when her young
and gallant sister, Mississippi proposed the wise measure 81
Southern Convention for the purpose of endeavong TO
unite the Southern States in maintaining their constitutional
RIGHTS and al the time preserving, possible the eX
listing Unon South Carolina heartily entered INTO thiS nea
and she has carried out The recommendation Oh the
Convention so assembled at the instance OF NlsslsSpp oy
providing for the election of Delegates to Southern Con
gress whose meeting she still looks win ANXIOUS
In NIL these proceedings think that the citizens OF South
Carolina have evnced all proper anxiety 10 AVOID the appear
of arrogance dctaon act in concert with The cit
of the other Southern States and to do nothing sepa
atev or precpitaely And now strongly as we have eX
our belief that there is hope tor The Snuh In the
existing Union prepared to give trial. ialry and in
good faith any eectual plan which may be- proposed by
uny sister State of the Souh for obtaining redress for the
past and security for the future without dissolution OF The
existing Union if there be possibility OF such consumma-
ton. -.
on what are we do if find that there is reasonable
hone of the cooperation of any other Southern Stale in
INV eectua plan of relief and the alternative presented as TO
US OF submitting acting by ourselves And reluctant as
we are 10 separate ourselves from natural friends and al
lies we have made up minds. We cannot submit. We
know that South Carolina entered this COnfederacy
vereign and independent State and that having been wrong
ed she has the perfect right 10 withdraw from H. Her
must exercise the right and the consequences II
other State will join in relieving ourselves from the wrongs
already inflicted hope in waiting for ouIrages,
to arouse higher spirit of resistance. The outraGcs,
well convinced will come in due tnc but We feel no
that the spirit OF the vassa Will s: IN proportion
to the ndsnes heaped upon his head On the contrary
see that the South has already borne what would for
moment have submitted to ten years ago. and what the
North would not then have vcntued 10 perpetre We
not willing try the experiment how long it will be
before our spirit is completely broken BY gradual
ly and continually yielding to slow and gradua!
but unceasinr encronchments. And if exercise the
right of secession is be followed by the attempt the part
of the Government of this Confederacy subugae South
Carolina it is better that should meet that attempt while
still have spirit and power of resistance left
II submit TO the condition of conquered people,
think less dshonorabc not 10 do until have first
been conquered And anything could add 10 the necessity
which believe exists for withdrawal from the existing
Union would be the denial Of the right Of secession For
the denial Of that right indicates of itself extreme danger
The right of secession has heretofore and in better days
been regarded unquestonabc by all Southern politicians
with the exception OF nconsiderabc number OF CONSOLE
daonsts. And if that right be denied without
arousng the whole South sustain It, the South will be ripe
for the miserable fate which has belaen any people
1t will them permanent sectional minority have no de-
fence against the tyranny Of Government combining nl
the vices Of the corruptest democracy and the most opps
sve foreign desposm.
We know the consequences which will follow failure in
effort maintain liberty. We clearly that TIL
umphant excron of the power Of the Federal Government
suhu.atng State will vastly increase that power and
greatly accelerate the change already far advanced OF our
We sce also that South Carolina will suffer The
quences Of this change alone but that the rest of the South
ern States suffer in equal degree They will have no
safeguard against the Central Government strengthened by
frinmDhant
what Northern enemies have long been endearong TO
make by fraudulent usurpation- the supreme Government
of consolidated nation The sovereignty Of one Southern
State be destroyed without the loss OF their
eighty by all the Others We Of the responsibility
of doing which may hasten these consequences We
feel the respect which States having
interest," threatened by danger but equally
persuaded with ourselves Of the necessity OF action And
nothing would induce 10 take without their concurrence
which 10 involve them in It's consequences, but
thorough conviction OF the necessity which and Of
right 10 do
Addressing citizens of Southern States associated to
maintain the rights Of the South cannot Imagine it TO be
necessary argue about the right oil secession We hold
be the great Stale right without which all others are
nugatory and incapable of being enfoced and your posi-
ton that faith cannot be different from ours
Nor regard necessary any farther In discuss
the wrongs which have been inflicted on the Southern
States They may be denied BY those who shut their eyes
tem but you do not belong 10 that class Southern and
States Rights may differ TO the necessity OF cAeTc
sing the right Of secession al particular time on account
those wrongs But certainly the right exists each
State pusscss the right Of Judging for herself as to the
occasion and time for its exercise II South Carolina de-
ccs that honor and safety require her 10 secede she has
the right leave the Confederacy peacefully and without
moesaton. II the act of secession is not permitted 10 be
pcaceabe it will be from usupaon OF power by the tede
raj Government not from the nature Of the act performed
by South Carolina Accustomed we have been 10 viola
tons of the Constitution and of the rights OF the Southern
States by the Federal Government have TO look forward
10 the probability of another outrage by that Government
in the attempt TO force the State to remain in the Union
We suppose the attempt will be made if the other Southern
States permtt Those States must decide for themselves
whether they will permit it, South Carolina must decide
herself whether is necessary 10 secedc Her sister
States OF the South will have right TO complain that she
forces them into position where they either ntcpose
prevent her subJugaon or by consenng TO IT, abandon
their sovereignty and lay themselves the mercy of
despoc power In seeding, South Carolina will simply do
an act which all Southern who believe in the existence
of State rights ALL admit that she has perfect right
do and which she regards absolutely necessary She
will be acting her sncred right She will be acting. as
she would have Of the other Southern States
were existence and she the only object OF agrees
sion by the Northern States and the Federal Government
She is not answeabe for the usupatons and injustice which
be committed against her And for her sister States OF
the South ask of her to refrain from exercise of right
which she regards indispensable for se-prescrvation,
would be an interference with her free action OF far dsr
character from any with which she can be charged to-
wards thcm Sovecgns equals In seeding aJne South
Carolina would be placing her sister States OF the South
under consraint If they should find themselves in
position of constrant would come from the action of the
Federal Government not of South CerOna But II they
should insist upon her retaining from the exercise OF her
right and submitting condition which she regards as in
oeabe they would make themselves parties with the Fed
era Government in placing unusablc constrant upon
sovereign and an equal.
We wish that the necessity for action by South
Carolina which have contemplated, may be avelled.
We conde in the gallant spirits whom address There
may be hope of the assembling of Southern Congress-
devise Of redress and relief upon which some
Of the injured States may unite We have heretofore been
willing sacrifice much for Southern Union. We still are
We do not desire lead but follow Propose any cectu-
al measures for vndcang rights, and provl-
ding for common safety and will heartily unite win
you in carrying them ou We should regret most deeply
incur the of friends, with whom have the
strongest desire act in But feel deep con-
vicon that have acted heretofore with precpl-
taon, and that in the right in the determination
which have formed The reimbursement of submission,
appears 10 unworthy of still pretending TO be free
The gloomy prospect of inevitable run follow subms
sion appears formidable than any dangers TO be
encountered in conendng Alone against whatever Odds for
rights We have the deliberate conclusion, that
il De our fate TO be left alone in the struggle alone We
must vindicale our liberty by secession.
Mr. Gregg stated that the Committee would report upon
the other matters referred 10 them and especially in refer
ence 10 the more perfect organization Of the Southern Rights
Associations. tomorrow,
On motion of Gen. j. H. Adams, the Resolutions and Ad-
dress were ordered 10 lie the table and made the spe
cia order OF the day for tomorrow 10 O'clock and ordered
10 be printed
On motion by Mr.. Adams, the letter of ar. Cheyes was
also ordered 10 be Drintpd