The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-10-14

same.
PROM the Black River Watchman.
Response of Maj. HAaymsworlh
M OcToBER 9, 1851.
In the Banner of the 23rd ut.. find
/. certain questions propoundcd to inc as the
PRESIDENT of the Southern Rights Associa.
ton for Claremont, which think t proper
dor Inc to respond 10. The writer, whose
piece, not purporting to be n communica
lion, and appearing under the editorial
1ieat, i presume to be the editor, eXprcsscs
jfer myself sentiments of respect and cs-
teen, Tor which make to him my acknowl-
edgments, and assure him that to me one OF
the most painful incidents Of an excited
z Ioiltical contest, is its tendency 10 ALLEVIATE
feelings OF good will and friendship, and
10 distrust and suspicion rs to the honesty
ana purity OF purpose Of the opposing par.
ties. assure my friend Of the Banner.
,that am quite ready to account to the
puoiic lor my conduct rs President Of the
Southern Rights Association, and TO an
4 Eswcr all proper questions relating thereto,
SIMPLY and honestly, and that a series OF
cross questions such as are rcsorlcd 10, TO
cxtort The truth from a reluctant or sus-
lpectlng witness, was not necessary to draw
!, Vt rom me, and certainly shall not bctray
me me to say anything W hich my own sense
( OF propriety may not approve. Before |
90 SO, however, will he permit me TO saw 4
few words on the character OF the iuou;si-
non Which am called upon TO undergo.
and the extraordinary conditions as they
appear to me, OH which alone, it is annouccd
the co-opcrationists will agree TO meet
kheir opponents in free discussion. For
myself, ! bave believed, and yet vcriy be
lieyc. that the good of the people Of this
and the other s.ave..oo.. ..iig ..ates. and the
.spest measure to secure that good, are the
!, object and wish of the true hearted Of both
parties. Unfortunately, we differ as 10 the
edisncy OF a. certain important measure
s,koi,e's " Pfpposed, the One party believing
5that itwould result in the salvation of The
country, tnnther ths,s,, ;woul.t,n ,,ly
:;sl intended hn, on
sasss contrary would MOI only result in the
:ssnin Of The State. II is a question in
81 s$sslncl, the people ure vitally infested. The
;SSeaiof our condition cannot be avoided bv
shutting our eyes upon them, or by doing
as the ostrich is said tn 60 when pursued,
Ihoplng thereby to cscapeD covering his
!iead in the sand, while his body remains
~ posed. We must do something or sub
10 i to car the ills wc have. 1t is a qucs-
a Y.on Tor the people to decide, and which il
IS Y! !ncaiGniablc importance that they de-
.clde arIgn', Now simply, and according
70 The I'a%linS Ct every day common sense,
u hay oc Il "a | think ti.at hey VII hc
more ComIG4a,.t ~ u.,Ln q r.eA,, Gr.is,,.y
they har@ lnIl understanding uy navina
the arguments OH both sides submitted lol
their judgment. The maxim of MIR. Jc(.
!. ferson in substance q am moi sure that
+ us: his words) was that error NAV he safe.
~ tolerated, it truth be left free to comLa,
1t. But It is insiEuated that the party ten.
I uefing free discussion have put themselves
out OF the pale of civili:y and lellow.c .citi.
s 1 szenship by their conduct as party: in
that, "Whlle in a (supposcd) minority, they
z lid every thing they could to disconra gc
and prevent free discussion" "That vii.
ling and desiring that it should he taken 70,
l. granted they were in the majority, they
We're AFRAID OF free discussion" ..Thal
/ circulars, documents, and letters, marked
E7't.tlrattte and confidential, coming from per.
I sons styling themselves as The Cenitrnl
D committee, &c, have been addressed TO-
y ana received by, persons in this District
{ the object and design of which was 10 s,i.
I he The voice oflhe people and prevent
Tree discussion. These | think are the
substance of the charges made by nsin,-
i /. .'ai atom l,olthesc is added direct chnrrc
.sof iTslncerity. And wo are ,old when tiIc
questions put "sllalI have been answe, ed
.ftttfi and tpithoat erasion--whcn all the
serfet letters, circulars and other docu.
B Wents shall have been puade public, and the
4 Sn9nd.ist Of tho sepcraie secessionists OK.
.,lilsnet, NC, thea, but not till ,hcn,n will
sstiie tender of free discussion be accepted
2si course some of these arc impossible
rond;tions, and must putthe cxtinguishcr
',l,on Tue proposition ofts,lch discussion;
Il sapippeso5 4 @ag so intended; for besides The
violation of confidence which 1t demands
ssil, relation to what may be called public
donplIeDtsi TINT js to say, circulars. and
older communications relating to party
\ matters ipserchangel betweon officials ap-
pui1ted for that purpose, (Which ] suppose
Z fnre cppj!pollt 10 all parties, which when
4 Intended TO he private aid confidential,
lifayo never before had It suggested to me
III would lie otherwise but dishonorablc t1
+ give other pnbllcity!to, than that intended
or Aallel Toned by the author) the require.
i i stleat s goes further and demands that all
tcss, ;by which L understand all
private eorseapo pondenco about publicsmat.
ters-Sfor. do mt suppose that The priirdte
gaitairA g0f Individuals could have beer
q & meant to DE brouglit in--shouid also be
+ DIE lles Piils is of course out of The
u uestinH, and could mol have been expected
ssat laast so u appears 10 mo. and desire Il
4 70 besu staod hat speak Tor ,nysolf
fandsnot al BY antI6ri.Y ef any ona else.
5S \ y haze yefGrred to Tie unfortunate
/ teadenea excited polttical cofstests te
gene fstlss tlistrtlst and suspiciop rs itctl,e
{ honesty and purity motive oftfe opposing
paftlcs make lloiyanccs for il t,aDd Iii Til;
i wa y1aecout,t for liie vision 81 sprcsscs
Willcl seems 70 have presented Itself fteibs
silsoiy iela g!aatiorss OF tho editor and !ls no
! hppe, tho1gll calnp,
~ ~ n 4, Il :. K. N 4,