Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-10-06
DISCUSSION IN sOUT1 CAROLINA
From the AbbspiUe Runner

7 u
he Temple Of II ah in this District, on Saturday the
9Th inst A large and respectable assembly, say If
u en- nun ifed or Two thousand persons in atien-
dare At an arly hour. The dinner had been gene
rou'ly divided by the ne ghborlood, irrespective of
parry m1ny distinguished en- had been invited to al
tend and discuss the, question ofthe day. viz: the
ioSao erpediencv and proprieig ofthe separate Sc
csss0n of South Carolina from The Onion under eris.
ting Circumstances
About ten O'clock, the meeting was organized, and
alter tervent and appropriate prayer by the Rev
- Rice, the President, A. Giles, Esq introduced
to the meeting our beloved and cherished Senator in
Congress, the Hon. P ButIer who amd.t the
enthusiastic cheers and audits OF his fellow citizens
commenced "tbe great argument"
Our Senator said it afforded him pleasure to address,
so large and respectable audience upon the greatest
question South Carona had ever been called upon 10
decds and Whatever sacrlfces il might require he
le that hecould not and would reject the invita-
ION which had been kindly extended to him He
would not withhold from his fellow citizens the ex-
peSson ct his opinions, which they had right to know
lie opened The argument 10 the most solemn, digmfed
and Impressive manner. There was not one man in
that vast assembly, who did feel and know that he
was deeply In earnest-that he felt every word which
ne uttered nat his he art beat warmly for South
carolina and her honor and welfare, that OF any
man within her limits, and was glowing with all the
spirit and chvalry OF the honored name which he
bears he deprecated divisions in his own South Caro-.
Ilna-he deplored party strife in the State account
OF It's efiec both at home md abroad but whatever
might be the result OF the agitation now going on ill.,
the State, he exclaimed in tones OF burning eouuence.
"'Thou cans not say that | did it." He had been op
posed to committing the State prior to the meeting OF
her Convention, called to consider the question-h
had kept himself oof, and done his utmost TO
that which has occurred, but the time had come ,ohen
every ouer of has country should speak out.
He said the opinions which he now holds are iden-
cay The which he entertained in the fall of last
year before he returned TO the Senate and before our
State Legislature met He had expressed those opin-
ions at that time TO his confidential friends, Col F w.
Pickens and Chan f. Ii Waraw. This he mentioned
as triumphant reutation fthe charge otinconsslen-
cy brought against him which had EN- unluslIy made
huence.
He said he cid approve the compromise measu es
that he had opposed their passage by Congress with all
this powers OF argument aud denunciation-thath he
had done his utmost in battling against them in the
halls OF Congress, where lie was surrounded by enc.
mics and overwhelmed by numbers. That the past az
gressions OF the General Government and more thau
all, the spirit and nature OF fanacism which won Id
inevitably bring upoa us cumulative ,crohgs would JUS.
THY any course which the slaveholding States or
South Carolina alone might choose to take That he
1odS no SubmaSSi0nis-lhat delay was not submission
that our condition and prospects in the Union make
It necessary and proper that The Southern States
should look Out Tor neD safeguards" tor the pur-
pose OF securing their ndep endence safety and pros
perity.
He said the question with us was moi one Of res;s-
lance to the past but OF security and independence
for the future. The past was gone and nothlng that
we could GO would restore what was already lost; the
only lhlng lett Us, was to take Of ourselves in
future. oula the ser ate secession of South Care
lima under existing circumstances ACCOMPLISH thai
end Would II give us government able to secure
orr prosperity, safety and independence He thought
that Southern confederacy was the only safe and
certain means OF securing that end He thought
Southern contederacy was lnevitabe-that dissolu-
ton OF this Union must and will take place With.
IN what tlme he could not say; that was for the I'M
known future, it was Impossible for any one to fix the
time. He would not discuss The right of secession
that was a settled question South Carolina: the
only question the expediency of resortine to if AT
TINS time whenever ne was convinced that it would
accomplish the Desired end he would be for exercs-
ing lt-he would use 1t as any other means of de-
renee, whehevef ne thought we could do efficiently
and successfully; but ne was unwilling to secede,
when he believed 1t would result III failure and dis
aser The right to secede affords no reason why it
should be resorted TO pfematurely or nudciously-
lie would use 1t Ike sword, which We hold sin
terrorem over enr enemies, and still retain grasp
upon Itand not IKE an arrow which escapes the bow,
spends Its strength and is lost forever
Judge Butler classified the immediate secession
lists, and concuslVely answered the arguments OF
e ich separately He SAID there were four subdivl-
slons 10 the party, put bestowed most OF his attention
upon the two largest classes. FIRST, Those who do
not desire cooPeraton out prefer that South CARROLL
ma SHOULD become separate ndt1on Second, Those
aie 3 f & sscessou nor as ah end, de-
sFabe IN Itstll, o9l as means to produce. through
war ana biooushru, aSou'hefn contederacy. In reply
.ais ~ fh liat he separate
sec o. Scum Gafons wGua not force our ss
~, 49, 80, ~ aarti L - Jioiileuefacy WIN
- ~ = liz y IIpip9isIeh was as un,
b n oS nvsson npo Soni Car 'lat mere would
Government and hat cons.ona,i ~ ~ t'le ID
EJe yn,d he f,n,aI ga ~ nv .oouti G con
woud b. left 70 stand alone amon The ma
earII' ua then ,vent into tba ai,; of tie
onestion whether Sontb Carnlioa ood , oi ae
whether !, wnuId nat max onr condia aa ,ieo
Shed what wond he onr cond;f;on e ~, SI
Government should 1--WE no The porfs in the rhnr Of
Charleston. and inherent our commerce mon ,b ua
hioh seas q He exroded The snnno,,g araI,,n M
denouncinu it as a species of nolificaT cosuis,,,
which he could not understand, &C.. &C. But we
find ourselves unable to give sketch of this ad.
mlr@be argument, and Tor fear OF doing the Honora
bic Senator injustice, we Will not atempt to give The