The southern press., 1851-12-20

fence against the general government, in the
event of an unjust attack, neither menaced nor
expected. did denounce persons who, as
am prepared to prove by their speeches, at.
tempted, without any aggression on the part of
the general government, to incite the people of
South Carolina to an immediate attack upon the
government, These are the men that de.
nounced, and ] am responsible here and else
where, for the strongest language in decrial of
them. shall always decry them.
Mr.. BUTLER. If had not been interrupted
should have gone on and stated, perhaps, what
the gentleman could not have taken exception
to- so far as am concerned. have not said
anything in personal point OF view, but must
do my duty to others. O."
Mr. FOOTE. Ii the gentlemen chooses to
defend such men, he can do IL.
Mr. BUTLER. South Carolina, in her first
resolutions Of 1913, proposed nothing bnt CO.
operation with the other States. In lS49 in
the mildest terms, she proposed the same thing
In 1867 say it upon my responsibility in this
chamber--she called he- contention in refer
ence to course projected and utimated by the
State of Mississippi. cannot be mistaken in
that. Is it Just that any reproach should attach
to her from representative of Mississippi?
There are many things well ca culated to az.
gravate the popular excitement and indignation
at the course of the general government
Whilst the people were celebrating on their
condition, and the course the State should pur.
sue the administration showed both want of
wisdom and decency. For what purpose some
troops were sent to the fort in Charleston is not
distinctly understood. 'he effect was to arm
all parties with determin cation to resent the
insulting denomination; and it was difficult
for tie public men TO restrain excitement and
control consequences. Tha' movement has
left an abiding impression on the public mind
There was not the slightest occasion for troops,
and if one drop Of blood had been shed, there
would have b,en civil war that would have
put the questions now in debate under the arbi.
tratment of the sword. The gentleman might
have found it difficult task to have found
enough constabes to hang the traitors. He
would have been consumed in his own State if
he had made demonstration against South
Caro- ina. The issue would have been far above
party strife or rhetorical display. g..
| cannot 90 further into thi- subject except
to express my opinion that injustice. has been
done to those of South Carolina who have at.
tempted to conform to the suggestions of Mis-.
sissippi; not altogether under the counsels of
the honorable senator, but yielding very much
to influence which his connsels and those of
others had Therefore think such an aluson
as he made was entirely unnecessary.
Mr.. FOOFE, Of Mississippi ] will not now
ask the gentleman to allow me TO explain, be-
cause have interrupted him 10 often Yet, If
it would make no difference to him, would 90
on now to explaia the attitude of the State of
Mississippi ..r.
Mr.. BUTLER. The gentleman is at liberty
to proceed.
Mr.. FOOTE. will explain more fully here
after. ! wish now simply to protest against
what the gentleman has said in regard to the
course and attitude of the Slate of Mississippi
1t is true signed the Southern Address; and
now appro e every word contained therein. 1t
i. true did forward letter from Mr.. Calhoun
TO my own State which prop ,sed the holding of
the Nashville convention, and which marked out
to some extent the then expected moduS operandi
of that body. 1t is true, also, as have hereto
tore asserted, that not single word is contained
in that Southern Address, or in MIR. Calboun's
letter, which recommends secession, or intimates
that there srould be any amendment 10 the Con-
sti.ution. The State of Mississippi WAS willing
10 meet, in proper manner and n truly patriotic
spirit, the citizens Of the rest of the saveholding
States of the Union in the Nashville convention,
for the purpose Of fraternal consultation, in re.
guarding against certain dangers with which we
were then menaced-one Of which was the
abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia
another Of which Was the attempt to impose the
Wilmot Proviso. | will not reiterate Ill the
measures with which We had been then m anaced
for some years, and TO which the Southern AID.
dress, in the most solemn manner, called the at.
tention Of the South; to guard against which
the State Of Mississippi, under advice received
from South Carolina through me- in the manner
have described, was willing 10 send delegates
To a Southern convention. ] will add, though,
that it was doubtless one Of our objects in this
movement, TO secure our long withheld right to
an efficient congressional enactment providing
for the recapture and restoration OF fugitives
from service But r,itcratc, that we did not
commit ourselves to secession, nor did We insist
on amending the federal Constitution.
will! say further to the honorable gentleman.
that the State or Mississippi, "A she was justi.
fed in doing, cane ~ the conclusion, gravely
and dcliberately-aud believe all di-passionate
men will admit that she acted wisely in coming
to- that conclusion-that the plan ofcompromise
elftctuaily guarded against every single danger
with which the South had been antecedenty
meniced, md secured TO her the fugitive slave
law, to which she was entitled by the Constitu
ton, IN ADDITION, together with certain other in-
cidental advantages, some of which endeavorcd
10 point ont the other day Now IL, in the opin.
ion Of The State of Mississippi, the compromise
has operated la n manner 80 oomprchensvely
beneficial, how can il be contended that the
State Of South Carolina, when sh undertook
without just reason, TO manifest dissatisfaction
with the acts Of adjustment and proposed
Southern Congress for the purp So Of arraying
the Southern States against them. was let into
that attitude by the State of Mississippi |
have heard that said before, and have denied it,
Had the wise monitons ofthe rent convention
of Mississippi been adopted by the Nashville con.
yention, The south would have had no further
troutle believe this advice would have been
adopted and acted upon, but Tor certain intrigu
in politicians, who attempted, in my opinion
in bad fath-of which shall give the proofs
hereafter-to WELD the machinery ct the ma
tional convention, gotten up for very different
purposes, for the overthrow Of the Union
very ingenious plan having been adorted, under
H.