The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-08-12
IL From the Charleston Southern S,andasi /. Z
Letter. of tho Hon. u !. Al. yyoos-
s 81 ward. e 81
WlNNsBoRo' july ,2f,sl az,


came TO hand three Sdays9 since. Yol, In.
tSSite me IN a very fattering manner, Il, be
present. Mt a meeting oil the citizens OF
Charieston, to he Held }on Tuesday, The.
9Th instant, for the purpose Of defining
their position in reference to the present
political position ofgtlle State MS favorable
to cooperation for the purpose OF resistance
ndSopPosed 10 separate State action under
existing circumstances.
regret that your letter found me under
engagements which put it out of my pow
5sr 70 comply with your kind request. But
.ff your object be simply to define your po-
sslton, and my advice is desired to aid you
IN determining what that position should
he, consistently with the principles you
4 profess, presume that letter of mine,
Which appeared in the Daily Register, pub
llslied in, Winnsboro', will enable you fully
to comprehend my views. You appear
to be opposed TO isolated secession, and the
assumption of separate nationality by
/ South Carolina, until there shall ceasc to
be any reasonable hope Of any other Sa.e
or States acting in concert with her. Such
is my view of The policy proper for the
4 State, and so far as know Tho opinions of
The people, nineteen in twenty, if not
ninety-nne in a hundred, cntcrla,n tie
same view. The Legislature, in calling
convention, acted upon this polcv-,hc
delegates to The convention were elected
Upon this policy, and the convention will
s meet under the most solemn obligations to
( shape lis course accordingly.
! know there are individuals who seeing
the sentiment Of the people universally in
Il favor OF action Of some sort. at some time
or another, and knowing that there is no
danger, but advantage in Tnunitcs,ng even
Internpcrate zoal towards thing approved
~ everybody, have thrown themselves for
. ward determined 10 Let it he seen that they
Il occupy "higher ground" than common
PEOPLE,, and in their rivalrics with one an
nher,'havc. perhaps gotten little higher
up than any particular one would prefer To
pc |; but speaking Of tho grea, community,
suppose may say, that all desire and en-
Z pect that The policy Of cooperation or con-
cert, ls, as n matter of course, to have
iuil and lair test, before it shall be aban-
doned. Can any dispute this proposition
no one can. What then is the difficulty
between those who, at the beginning, en-
tcrtained the same views What is now
dvldins them? 1t appears to me to be
ms One portion contend that the meas
ures OF the Legislature when carried out
VIII DC, within the period OF the existence OF
! me Convention, a fair and satisfactory trial
10 the scheme Of cooperation; and leave
no excuse Tor postponiug separate scces-
son. The other dispute this. They con-
{ tend that no fair tria! bas been given TO CO.
operation, but that every thing which pos
s'oly could be done, has been done to put it
TO disadvantage, and make it next TO an
imposslbility that it should take place with
IN The period OF the existence OF the Con-
ventlon And i'll this respect they contend
that the people have been misled and that
the Legislature, actuatcd by the best n,cn-
tons, did, in attempting, by compromise
OIL measures, 10 present an undivided front
TO the world, wholIy defeat its own end and
aim.
NowtStlie question is, Which portion Of
Tie secession party are in the right rcla-
{ ttye TO this matter! ] MAINTAIN TINT The
latter portion are in the right. am one
Of that poriom. Without questioning, in
the least, the fair intention OF the Lcgsa-
ture, and without intending to dlsparage it's
wisdom, considering The brieI period OF its
session, the vast field, not only 10 be cx-
plored, but 10 he made familiar, and the
natural difficulty OF reconciling conflicting
measures, repeat what have said else
where, that the position Of the S,a,e is di-
recliy opposed 10 the policy OF CO. operation.
Aud, had | space in this letter, and were it
mol nnseemly to make an open discussion,
IN face Of the world, Of all matters in
VOWED IN this inquiry, am sure could
iTesent case that would silence every
dcubtcr. But am little inclined to argue
point that is already plain 10 so many
minds, and which is 10 be made evident to
all ny events that are close at hand.
Another cause OF difference lies here
some pi us contend that the whole policy OF
ihc State, comprehcmding corporation and
separate secession, has be:n committed to
the acknowledgements being frs,
IN the choice Of tho people, and IRON tho
nature OF things, first in the order of time:
that tho Convention must he LETT to Judge
ior itself, and will alone be competent IL
Judge whether there has ceased 10 b. sucl,
ground OF reasonable hope of Cooperation
as would justify an abandonment of the
first and preferred branch Of the policy OF
The State that others are not to pre- Judge
TINS matter for The Convention that the
Convention is, not to inquire what the hopes
OF any set Of individuals may be, but is tc
iook INTO its own mind and understanding
and act upon the con"ic.ion it finds there.
o!herwIsc, It will grossly m;srcprcsent the
wishes and expectations of n large MAORI.
tyoi the people, and bc gui ty OF purely
arbiirury abandonment of the first and pre-.
TERED branch of the policy Of the State
But, there are those amongst lis who, IN
effect, deny all this. They regard the Con.
vention as having been called for the Urine
object Of isolated secession, subject to The
contingencies of cooperation for limited
period Of time. They insist that the per-.
cd OF reasonable hope has been, or is to be
ilXeu ny the Legislature or hy the party,
and is To expire some time in May next
the precise day to be settled in due time
After that day it will make no difference
that the most fl,tterng prospect may exis,
IN salnc other State or States, and the
strongest assurances cones from friends
there--the Convention is not to be permit.
ted 10 consult its own hopes. Indeed, ii
IS not to presume 10 think or reason in re-
gard 10 tho matter. Thus, not only is the
acton OF the Convention predetermined for
It, but the operations OF its mind ure tu