The southern press., 1851-08-06


that may Govern his course, without becoming .
minister Of ruin, instead OF useful public ser
want And | would never consent to hold Office
upon such conditions that would oblige me L
become contemptible In my own estimation 4
incur the guilt Of defeating my own cherished
hopes for our deliverance, and subject me to BE-
condemned as fool or knave by every man
Of discernment and competent knowledge of po
litical affairs.
am not trust, understood to be speaking oil
that social interchange OF opinion with frlnds
and constituents, which should always be full
and frank. II is a misfortune that is cannot be
more 50. II is only by such intercourse that
the people can truly know where to find any
public man. And submit to all who know me
whether it is one of my faults that do moi
speak with sufficient freedom, whether | have
ever been found waiting to know how the cur
rent was running. In position, am at this time
in minority IN South Carolina, and am there
voluntarily; and be assured that If discarded al
home, there is no indemnity to be hoped for
from the federal Union
You will pardon me, gentlemen, for indulging
in these remarks. am not Ignorant of, and
cannot be insensible to, certain injurious impu-
tations made against me during an unavoidable
and painful absence from the State, and though
entertaining no sentiment of revenge, determined
as am, If possible, to stand aloof from the po-
litical strifes with which we are threatened,
felt it due to myself and thought it might be OF
some advantage to the community, to give some
general view Of the principles and views by
which have regulated my public conduct; and
wherein have been found fault with, have
thought it perfectly fair to scrutinize the i'm
puted merits of that class of politicians who
have been paced in contrast with myself, with
view to nv disparagement But with these
small griefs lam now done, if others are.
To recur, then, to the question--what shall
the convention do? There is no convention ca
pable of acting now. The convention is not
now in session, but is to meet and act hereafter.
The conditions under which it is TO act, are
partly within the womb of time. What they
are to be, none but prophet could foresee.
cannot foresee. The Legislature did not foresee,
nor do the delegates elect to the convention
foresee postponing the meeting Of the con-
vention, the legislature appears to have looked
to the probability of important developments
intervening. Of course it was expected that
such Developments would affect the discretion
and decision of the convention. 1t would be
absurd to suppose the contrary.
Now, what ask on my own behalf is, that
the freedom and indulgence allowed the conven-
ton may be conceded to ne. Icannot foreknow
what it should do. In the day Of its action it
will be entitled to my views, and shall have
them freely and fully. But, gentlemen, there are
some reflections proper to be made before hand,
relative to the course Of action of the conven-
ton, and the principles by which it should be
governed. The convention should be considered
free body. If it met tomorrow, it should
meet with perfect freedom Of will; much more
should it be so, where it is to meet and act
under unforeseen contingencies A legislature
cannot bind convention. Ii can only call
convention when some matter not within its
own jurisdiction is deemed of sufficient import
ance TO be submitted to convention.
The Legislature might entertain an opinion
very confident opinion--that convention
should do thus and thus. But this would not
bind the convention. If it did, why the idle
ceremony of calling one? Why not leave it to
the legislature to act definitely and finally !?
But when say that convention is above the
dctation Of any other body of men, do not
mean that il is supreme over all things. 1t is
not superior to duty. Duty Is greater than any
convention, or any people. And what duty is,
wisdom, supported by courage, is alone compe-
tent to prescribe.
branches of government, il ought to stand su-
perior TO the interests and vanities and passions
Of individuals. That any mans fame or repu-
Ia ion would be marred by this or that course
Of action, would not bind the convention TO ab-
stain from such course. So if a number of
persons have imagined themselves to know be-
fore hand what the convention will do, and have
ventured to bring il under pledges to the world,
these individuals must not hold the convention
under obligations TO save their sensibiliiie,,
however patriotic, at every hazard, to the public
interest Again, some have undertaken to as
sert In the most confident manner what is to
take place with the federal government AMI with
other Southern States, in the event Of separate
State action But il, when the occasion shall be
at hand, the convention, with better opportuni-
ties of judging, should see things in a wholly
different light, and thereupon should deem il
proper for the State to become better assured
Of the condition Of aifIirs within, these persons
must consent to stand convicted of want OF
political forecast, and not claim as matter Of
personal right, TO be condemned only upon ac-
tual experiment. however disastrous the expert
ment might prove 10 the end we all aim at
Nor can / suppose that any member Of the con-
yention will consider that any declaration Of
purpose made by him, beforehand while can
didate, under the competition, excitement and
pressure Of an election, will rest upon him as
paramount rule Of action. / should expect Of
course, that one placed in such situation
would find no dffcalty in conseuting 10 bear
the little personal inconvenience and embarrass.
ment which the highest ends Of patriotism
might require him 10 bear
We all profess 10 desire and to aim at co-ope-
ration most Of US, advocate State action, when
no alternative is left Let the convention, then,
be left free TO conform it's action 10 these prin-
ciples, and LET MS hope and believe that Il will
exhibit that frmness and wisdom which beft so
digni6ed body, charged with an Issue Of such
vast moment, both to our sister States, and 10
our common posteriiy through generations 10
come.
In my opinion, the sooner the convention is
called together the better Let what is 10 be
done, be done "a soon as possible. We say we
are waiting for other States, and yet have held
and still hold convention in terrorem over the
North, 10 restrain them from any incautious act
that might drive other States into cooperation,
and strengthen the hands and embolden the
hearts Of the friends upon whom we rely 10