The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-07-16
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Substance <>s the Remarks of
HON. WILLIAM T. COLCOCK,

Delivered before tie Contention Of
Southern Rights associations, as
sen,bled IN the Military Hull,
+ Charleston, s. c., May 7, 1851.
Mr.. President aud Gentlemen of
the Convention: Ifa stranger should
enter this hall, and sec this unusually
large asscmblagc Of citizens from all
parts of the State, composed rs it is,
in o great degree, Of her wealth, in.
telligencc and influence, he would at
once come to the conclusion that some
subject far beyond the circle of orl:.
nary toplcssha brought them togcth-
er.
A short time since member OF
E one Of your local associations rises in
his place, and offers q resolution pro.
S posinssthat Q general convention of
Tho ociations in the State should
he hold IN this. city for the purpose Of
consultation and cooperation.
In answer to this call, thus unob.
strutivcly made, and without concert
Of excitement Of any kind, | find YOU
leaving your homes at this busy sea.
son Of the year, and at much cx-
pense and Inconvenience assembled
here to-day to the number Of near
five hundred delegates.
This must afford to every one the
most convincing proof Of the earnest
ness and sincerity Of your purposes,
and of the deep and absorbing inter
s est of the subject which brings you
together.
I am aware that some Of our friends
whose judgment | highly respect, arc
eof opinion that the action Of this body
should be confined strictly and solely
,to'the objects and purposes prescrib.
ed in the constitutions of our associa.
tions, and that we should carefully
abstain from the expression of any
opinions which might have tenden-
cy to forcstall the action Of the con-
stitutional convention which has been
recently elected, and into whose hands
the safety Of the State has been com
mitted. Whilst am free to confess
that those views may have been urg-
cd in the first instance with much
propricty against the call of this Con
yention, still / must be permitted to
say that it is expecting too much of
a popular assembly like this, under
the circumstances which now sur.
round us, to tread this narrow path
without touching those great qncs.
stions which lie on either side of it.,
:and which now fill the hearts and
minds of our whole people.
& For one, therefore, / do not regret
sthat'the questions which are present.
.ed by the report and resolutions now
sbcfore us, have been presented for
-our consideration.
l regard this as family council,
las meeting of friends bound toccth.
.er by the indissolublc ties of a com
mon destiny, and we should conduct
our deliberations here, and our dis
cussions hereafter, with that fairness,
"candor, and good temper, which are
due alike to our own characters, and
to the interest of our State, for whose
welfare l know we all feel an equal
land ardent devotion.
In entering ON the discussion Of
'the questions before US, the first thing
that strikes the mind is the almost en-
tire unanimity of opinion which per
vades this body, and indeed the
whole State, upon the subject of q
dissolution Of our present form oI
government. | feel myself justified
in saying that it is the universal, de
liberate, and well considered judg
ment Of the people Of South Carolina
that the government under which We