The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-09-30

election. II II known to you that II 10 supposed
= msjority OF the delegates so elected, arc in IA.
vor u the separate action of the Stats The
Legislature has reaerved to itself ut the epsuing
session, the discrimination Of the time nt which
this convention will assemble Ii called to-
Rether. as Is now proposed, before the Aaectons
in October, 1859, the novel exhibtieuSwill be
made of convention assembled to express the
will Of the people without acknowledge of what
that will may be-. avs
The election for the Southern Congress now
presents to you, and the people OF the whole
State, an opportunity for expressing in the
plainest Mariner the opinion OF the people in
reference to the question OF secession. If the
result Of that election shows, AS we believe it
will, that a majority of the people OF South
Carolina, oppose the secession OF the State,
such manifestation OF the sentiment Of the
citizens of our State, must have the effect Of ar
resting that action, which we regard AS fraught
with so much evil to the common interests of
the South. II, however, from indifference or
from The want Of n proper appreciation of the
importance Of the approaching election, there
shall be no strong exhibition of public opinion
against the proposed measures, it will of course
be claimed by our opponents that the voice of
the State is in their favor.
BY your votes, then, you will be able to stay
the hurried, onward course Of events which we
so much deplore The Southern rights party
of the slavehoding States soon will be rallied
under the auspices Of the temperate and firm
conduct you will exhibit; aud to our own
State will be restored the confidence so I'M
happily disturbed, by which her citizens will be
protected In the enjoyment Of all their rights !;
and her sister States induced to co operate with
her. when prepared herself, she waits the
earliest signal that as part Of a combined
movement, will alloy her to strike with honor
and success
And, now. we vsOommend to you, as our can
didates, entertaining onF opinions, well known
to Won all, ident fed with us in all respects,
bound to the State by ties which can never be
sundered, at this time honored with the appro-
baton of their couptrymen, by positions OF high
public trusts, and always worthy of any and the
highest confidence which can be reposed in
their public servants, by a community of free
men, the names OF
The Hon. WILLIAM AIKEN,
AND raesN
The Hon. WILLIAM D. PORTER.
Mr.. Rose, then stated that he regretted to
announce, that Mr.. Aiken and MIR. Porter were
absent, and could not respond as they would be
pleased to do, to the compliment conveyed in
the nomination. That their friends were look
ing for their arrival, and he hoped that before
the election, our candidates would both be here
and in the midst of the party, whose opponents
they had been made Mr.. Rose concluded by
introducing to the meeting Col C. G. Mem
minger, who was received with the most distin
guIshed applause.
Colonel MEMMMaER commenced by stating
that he would not consume the time OF the meet
ing in the discussion OF matter pertaining to
himself 1t was known that an address, deliv
cred by HIMSELF had been published and circu-
lated by the secession party. II that party
counted upon him they had mistaken their man.
What he said in that address he repeated now ;
hut in speaking Of what South Carolina should
DO in the last resort he utterly repu iated that
his lea of the last resort should be determined
by the narrow views Of those who supposed that
such struggle was to be settled in a few months
or year. But whatever construction Others
might put upon his expressions, he meant now
to discuss what was right and proper. and this
he pre- ferred to consistency, if il lead to error.
Colonel MEMMINGER then proceeded to dis
cuss the pledges of the State, showing, conclu-
sivey, from the record. that her honor was not
commit ed to separate action, but to co-opera-
ticn He showed, moreover, from the journals
of the House and Senate. that the measures of
preparation for defence lad been pressed by the
cooperationists and opposed by the secession
leaders. That finally, of the delegates elected
by the Legislature to the Southern Congress
three Of them were co-operationists. He then
proceeded to discuss secession as remedy, or
measure of r. sistance. He showed that far
from it's resisting the Wilmot Propso, it was
submission to the measure, not only for the past
but also for the future. That if it led to a sep
arate nationality, II would then be complete
abandonment Of all which had been taken from
us, and also of that which had not been taken !;
he showed that to resist the action of our State
would be treason in us, and that according to the
same princip<e the citizens of Georgia and other
Southern States could not come to our aid in
case of war with the United States without be-
ing guilty Of treason against their own State.
But any attempt to sketch the mastery argu-
ments Of the speaker on this and other points,
shelving the utter folly Of separate secession,
would only end in injustice to him. The effect
produced on the crowded assembly was mani.
Tested by frequent and rapturous applause.
After Col. Menminger closed, Col. ]. w.
Hayne was loudly called for, and, notwithstand-
ing the laieness and the exceedingly unpleasant
warmth of the room, he commanded the atten-
ton and frequent applause of the audience bya
spirited and convincing argument, of considera
bic length.
A. G. Magrath and B. C. PRESLEY were then
loudly called for, but in consequence Of the
lateness OF the hour they declined to speak
On motion of Mr.. NJ C. Mordecay, the ad-
dress and nomination were then unanimously
adopted and confirmed
s. Y. Topper, esq, moved that the proceed
ngs of the meeting be published in the daily
papers Of the city. Adopted.
On motion of s. II. Topper esq, the meet
ing then adjourned.
JAMES ROSE, President
c. Kanap1ux,
w. Y. Paxton,
John b. Gibbs, c
A. l.. Taveau, Ne0'''"'e'
G. w. Montgomery,
G. Douglass,