The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1851-05-10
From the Charleston Mcrcury.]
SPEECH
OF Hon. Il. BarlWell Rhett.

at a meeting Of the Southern fttyhts rs
socidtion.
Fellow CITIZENS: am indebted, pre-
sumo, to the fact that am but lately from
the seat Of Government, for the invitation
have received TO address you this night, and
for the warm reception with which you have
greeted me. You know my opinions, frank
ly expressed, OIL the past state OF our affairs
But you wish to know whether / see any
thing i'll their present condition which has
changed or modified those opinions.
Gentlemen, can teach you nothing, and
l presume you desire to hear nothing. Of
those wrongs, which have aroused within
you the determination to redress yourselves.
South Carolina, in her Legislature, long
since declared that, with respect to them, the
argument WIS exhausted. She will no more
reason with her sister States concerning
them; and we, think, need 10 more reason
concerning them amongst ourselves. Our
understandings are sufficiently informed. All
we want is the will, in the face of acknowl-
edged wrongs, to right ourselves. 1t is on
this point, and this only, the mode Of redress,
that l propose, i'll very simple way, to sub
init to you few brief considerations.
Your last Legislature looked to two expo
dlcnts for redrcss-secession from the Union
III corporation with other Southern States;
and secession by South Carolina alone
With the exception Of less than Il halt dozen
members, all the members Of the Lcgisla-
ture were disunionists Those WHO were in
favor OF disunion in concert with other
Southern States limited their policy to the
call OF Southern Congress. Those who,
despairing OF the corporation Of any other
- State, were in favor OF secession bv Sou,l,
Carolinmalone, supported the call OF a State
Convention. The latter prevailed by n large
majority i'll the Senate, and their bill was
sent down TO the House calling State Con
vention. 1t there failed for the want of !:
f;w votes necessary to give the two-thirtls
majority, required by the Constitution to
call Convention. On the other hand, the
Southern Congress bill failed in the House,
where 1t originated. As all aimed ut the
same end, it was soon agreed to pass both
measures. All desired IL Southern Congress
for redress, it it could be obtained. Time
wonld i'll very few months settle it's practi |
cability: whilst the call Of a State Convcn-
ton would i": it in the power of South Caro-
Ina, IN case her invitation for Il Southern |!
Congress should be decliued by the other
Southern: States, to GO out Of the Union
alone. a bill embodying both these mea-
sures passed both branches of the Lecisia |
tnre by an overwhelming majority-far
more than the two-thrds required by the
Constitution to summon the people in Con-
yention.
My friends, time, resistlrss :ime-the great
d'scloser OF our dcstinies-the iron instru-
ment OF Providence in working his DEGREES
has settled at least one branch Of this policy.
Southern cooperation is at an end. Tic
Governor of your State, in obedience to your
conmahd, has sent to every Southern State
Your invitation to meet you at Montgomery.
IN Alabama, to confer On the wrongs we have
endured, and the dangers which environ the
South. All are silent, save one; but thai
one has spoken for all. Virginia, who first
connseiied us by one Legislature to resist
the Whmot Proviso or any kindred meas
ure, ut all hazards and to the last extremity
virginia, who. at succeeding Legislature
repeated this counsel, and drew after her thu.
"hole South Ill support-now, when the
wrongs and outrages anticipated have been
actually perpetrated. and the South. with
her institution of slavery, is excluded from
every foot OF our Territories acquired from
Mex'co-Virginia succumbs. Nav, more
she not only submits, but brings herself for
ward to obtain the submission of others
South Carolina, ready to follow her first no.
oie lead, adopted her brave resolves word
Tor word. There they stand on tho records
ot the State. No sophistry can expunoe
them. Dislonor even cannot obliteroto tLee,
lhey 1--we. and must live forever bright me-
mofiai OF our consistency and tirmness in
the S'ndieation of our rights, or foul sto;n
on our yet unbiemished fame. and a Gov.
temptbe burlesque on the sovereignty of
the states. Virginia now leads the wsv n
SUBMISSION. Excepting South Carolina M;s.
siss'pp' alone seems capable of ma;ntain;"o
'se, 'ae n'ss h'gi counsels of Virginia. Her
people certainly appear TO he actuated bv a
deep sense Of the wrongs of the South. aud
resoiute will to redress them. '-
g. L'ut mississippi is practically land bound
otate. She has no seaport suitable for tran
atlantic commerce. The depth of water on
her par docs not exceed six feet. For Tho
reason, tor no Other, she cannot secodo
rom the Union without her coterm;nons
ata,es. aIae II she secedes without Louisiana or
naoama' receiving MI her supplies Of for.
e,gn commerce through them, she womld
:nH oe q" the Union, SO far as the taxes s lsv
.sa on her foreign commerce BY the oenar.I
government are concerned. Tbe c;,;,an.
SSasg ssain'pg the goods imported from fi,re;t,n
uaons .h would pay, in their consumnt;on
ne g. axes levied on them in the ports 81 o,h
or States. Bississipui youId s H. " ~ ON
H.. th,.y lnaependent--not independent in
rss,sss ss s.a.ess function Of all government the