The southern press., 1851-08-06
From de Winnsboro Register.
Letter fren Hon. ]. A. Woodxa ard.


GEETLEmEE: Ia connection with other gen
tlemen, was invited to attend celebration OIL
the 4th inst, at Traps Store.--The expressed
object of the invitation was TO obtain an express
sion of our views on the political questions OF
the day. Physical indsposition rendered it in
advisable that should attend and make an ad-
dress, and supposng it would be equally salts
factory, il not more so, to make known my
views through the press, engaged to adopt that
method
cannot suppose that there was any desire to
obtain from me an expression OF my views on
any question, the discussion of which preceded
the late act Of the legislature, calling conven-
ton of the people Of the State. On all such
questions, and whatever was incident to them,
| have so frequently, so fully, so specifically, in
so many forms, and at so many places ex-
pressed myself that no one desiring to know,
could fail to be informed how | stood. ] am
obliged, therefore, to infer that the call made upon
me had reference to issues that have arisen since
the action of the legislature What these issues
are, presume fully understand.
Itappears to me to be the policy of portion
of those opposed to the call Of convention, to
prevent its assembling, and for this purpose,
they are in favor of the legislature, at its next
meeting, declining to pass law indicating a
time for the convention to meet
am, for various reasons, altogether opposed
to such course. 1t would be in derogation of
the rights of the convention. The convention,
though not in form organized, is yet in substance
an existing body. To perfect it, nothing remains
to be done but what is to be done Ly the delegates
elect themselves. The time of its meeting con.
stitutes no part ofitsform or substance, ,but is q
matter wholly external to itand accidental.
AS to this matter, the Legislature at its next
session will bear ministerial relation to itself
in its late session; because the rights of body
of delegates, superior in nature and dignity to
the legislature, are involved. The legislature,
therefore, is bound as perfectly as in the nature
of things, it is possible to place legislature
under legal obligation, to fix time for the con-
vention to meet.
The rights and authority of the people are
involved in this question. II must be assumed
to be the will of the people that their delegates
should meet. This will has been expressed
since the elections by which it was their will to
bring the present Legislature into existence.
Shall the previous will of the people, qualified
by the forms of the constitution and the struc-
ture of the government, be made paramount to
their subsequent will, unqualified by any forms.
say unqualified, for a convention is the people,
1t is not stating the proposition strongly
enough, to say that the Legislature cannot, in
good faith, refuse to fix time for the conven-
ton to meet. 1t has no right to do so. True,
there is no legal process by which it can be CON-
PEELED to do its duty in this particular but neither
is there any such process by which it can be
compelled to discharge any other duty. The
constitution Of State, though the supreme low,
can yet impose no other necessity on the legis-
lature than that of perfect moral obligation I;
and for the honor Of civilized society, | could
fain hope that no higher necessity might ever be
needed
Entertaining this sentiment, shall not deem
il worth while to argue what incline to believe
is quite true-that the legislature being in de-
fault, the delegates elect would have the right to
meet and organize; and, having don, so, would
constitute legitimate convention of the people
of South Carolina. It is conceded that this
would not be true of the bodies subject to
higher jurisdictions, and possessing only deriva-
tive authority but il does not, therefore, follow
that it would be false, in reference to a conven-
ton whose authority is supreme over all others,
and, except in very large sense, underived ; for
convention is the people.
take it for granted, then, that when the mat
ter shall be duly considered, there will be fourd
no respectable body Of people, and no body of
respectable people, willing TO oppose the meet
ing of the convention.
But, supposing It to have met, the question of
absorbing interest is, what shall the convention
do? In case no other State be ready TO cooper
ate shall it ordain secession or decline to do so,
and only take such measures as may be deemed
expedient, in order to procure cooperation.
In relation 10 this matter, my first observation
is, that il seems inappropriate, under existing
= r. a
announcement of the opinions and views Of in
dividuals The question has been committed to
convention-that body has already been
chosen, and when il meets, il will possess sbso
lutte authority to decide. What matters it what
my individual opinions are! Now, the question
what my position is, is quite different thing
Every man, both public and private should hold
position and let it be known. | do occupy
position, and il Is this, that every citizen Of the
State should abide The decision Of the convention
To demand Of me the publication Of my In
dividual sentiments as what the convention
should do, and yet deny TO me the right TO send
with them all the reasons upon which they
might be founded, would be an outrage All
will say so. But should state these reasons,
they might, in their effect, be incompatible with
NY position, and be calculated 10 drive hundreds
Of very good men, of partially enlightened con-
sciences, from the rositon which have said
every good citizen should occupy, namely: i'm
plcit obedience 10 the supreme authority Of the
State. God forbid that I should say anything
that would strengthen the hands Of those, IL
there be any, who propose treason against the
State. But further, should state all the easons
for opinions may entertain, might give very
useful information 10 Northern politicians, and
greatly embarrass friends in other States. ]
might betray the sacred confidence Of friends,
and thereby convert them into enemies-put
them under a necessity of denying the truth
Of my statement, in order 10 extricate them
selves from the embarrassment in which |
had involved them--I night excite them t.
peculiar zeal in their animosity, with the view
Of assuring the world that had, in truth.
misrepresented them. Go read the proverbs Of
Solomon, and learn the amount Of mischief that
fools babbling is capable Of doing.
] shall never forget remark Of the lamented
McDufie, on my first acquaintance with him.
asked him why Northern politicians always
managed 10 carry their point He replied: at
il because they have system of policy and plan