The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-29
From the Charleston News.
Letter from Hon. A. r.. Butler.

SrokELASD, June IS, 1851.
GENTLEMEN; La your communication OF the 80 inst
you do me the honor 10 invite meet and address
my fellow citizens at Geenvilie court house. on the 4h
OF July, on the dangers OF separate Stale secession
As will be out OF my power TO accept the invitation
avail myself OF request 10 make few remarks on the
great subject that is connected with your meeting.
l have never thought 90 much, or felt intensely on
the situation of country as at this time Indeed
may cay that feel concern hardly connected with my
self The unknown future will have its history and
eventual Que will be- What place South Carolina may
occupy IN IT, events must tell pray that may be such
that wisdom may IN her judgment, approve the dictates
OF honor.
Why is that such deep and solemn tone pervades
the southern States and especially South Carolina al this
timer II has its origin in The wrongs that have been in
tcled on southern institutions, under the power of a
lory, and In the deceptive palations OF them that
TO be found IN compromises that conceived and
summaed TO propila,e sectional fana,icsm. The crisis
through which we are passing will bring 10 the test OF
tra very grave questions
This conIrteacy of equal sovereign States or il
has become consolidated Union ndissoluble except By
the VIII OF an interested majority.
should the federal government PRACTICALLY assume the
idef character, The southern States must be doomed 10
degraded subordinalion. Should it maintain the for
mer character the parties The compact have their des
tny IN their own hands IN the unqualified right OF
cessona right that could be exercised except upon
very grave OCCASIONS and upon grounds and reasons that
would md Their Justification before the tribunal OF Just
history TINS, IN ~ ,opuion, is a right that should
never be exercised without consulting The neighbors
whose interests to be affected by its conseq
Where common rights concerned justice requires that
the OF common redress should be look ed to- The
southern States longer blind TO the dangers that
beset them. They are becoming reused, and agitation
cannot be hushed. The danger TO the southern
heretofore has been want OF union among representa-
lives and public men oil the South With such union
they could have dictated their terms qualify this last
remark By say ing they could have obtained all that they
had right TO calm-a security OF their constitutional
rights These divisions in the representatives in Con-
gress will cease, because the people of the southern
States will not support those who untrue their real
interests When that change shall take place, and when
he
popular will the South will have potential attitude to
do itself justice in any way that IT may determine
The opinion which have expressed, and which I
shall not repeat TO the separate secession OF South
Carcna still entertain. Assurances OF operation
may be made 10 her but until she has such assurances
is unwise in South Carolina to advertise her purpose
of what she will will not do Let wha, may be said
of the State, South Carolina has been vglan and re-
buking sentinel know of no State that would sooner
make the sacrifice Of Curtus But, in the name of COM
sense, lei il not be useless flee, without fairly
looking 10 the consequences Of exclusively separate State
secession.
am, gentlemen, with great respect, your felow-c-
zen,
A. p BUTLER.
To Messrs. r. b. Duncan, Vardry McBee, b. Durham,
and others, committee.