The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-04-02
VIRGINIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
FROM THE RICHMOND TINES or MARCH %.
HE TRUE POSITION OF SOUTH CARO-.

South Carolina to persuade the people of that
State TO follow their rash oounsels, consists
in representations that she Is scoffad al. tidi. /
culed, aud threatened with demolition by all
Who do not approve Of the disunion project.
With the boundess freedom which is allow. /
ed to the press ia this country, it is impossi. I.
bic 10 say what extravaganza of expression
may not have been employed in some papers;
but according TO our observation, the causes
Of complaint just referred do not exist to an
extent worthy Of serious notice. True. the
hulhy deeiamaiions OF such men as Rbe,t
have elected much causric commentary. and
the various violent propositions which lnd,v,. !
dual leaders have pu, forth have been cri,i. /
eIzed with unsParlng severity, but We. are
not uware that the people of South Carolina
have been treated with dsrespec,. Least
Of all IS there just ground for the assertion
that the Slate has been Extensively threaten.
ed. Arguments have undoubtedly been used
BY advocates Of the Union TO show tina, no
State can expect TO Withdraw from the Con.
federacy without, mourning the inconv eniences
Of war; but such reasoning was inse pa ra BILE
from the nature Of the subject. So far as
the National Administration is concerned, sll
must admit tina: It's course has been marked
BY singular c,rcumspec,ion and forbeatance.
The President has frequently said, with i'm
mediate reference to violations of laws. IN
the observance of which the Southern States
are particularly interested, that he would use
all his authority 10 execute The laws. But. IN
regard to the position Of South Carolina. no,
word has escaped him which would author.
We her most sensitive citizen 10 take UNI
bfage. And, IN truth, II seems to be The
general tone Of public sentiment in those
States which are most opposed to a dissolu.
ton Of the Union, If South Carolina should
determine TO secede, To waive the question
whether she may properly be restrained by
force, and TO permit her pesceably 10 learn
by experience the folly OF her course.
For our own part, We have not the slight.
est Opposition, or do We ihlrk there Is any
'ch disposition on The part Of Union men Of
Virgins, composing ninety nine hundfedlhs
Of her ci''zrns. 10 spenk or ,hink oflensl,eIy
Of South Csfoiina. We confess We have no
great respect for South Carolina leaders and
speech makers, but the people of South Car.
olna are undoubtedly brave people and an
In'elligen. people and &c their presses aud
public men would sliow a fair discussion Of
the Union issue, we have no doub, he decision
Of hat people wouldlbe correct. Iis nov
due 10 them 10 say thai their attitude appears
IN come degree, to be misunderstood. The
State Is commonly said TO be pledged to Sc.
eesslon. and very broad statement to this
effect By a paper called The Souhron," pub.
lshed al Charlotte North Carolina, has IN.
taced striking aud significant explanation
IN the Charleston Mercury, from q writer
sHing himself AN OLD NuLLIrIuR.
The - pughrop" had asserted that, " South
Carona dad not secete, sho would become
teprosch, the Palmetto a DEVICE upon the
shield OF co~sfdce, the Safe the Fal-iaf
among The 5 ales,' &c. The winter Ia the
Mercury asserts, "~tthout the fear of cen.
irad'c'ion, that the Legislature of South
Carolina hes never, By any law, manifesto
teiouiton, or act, or deed whaisoeser taken
any such position or proud stand" lie
proceeds 10 say
"She began her opposition 10 f. dersl ag.
gfesstons BY declaring chat she would not
auogale 10 herself the position Of leader 10
measures OF resistance. She followed the
lead, IN adopting the resolutions of Virginia,
proposing Convention OF the Southern States.
She las sen, delegates 10 such convention.
She has counselied with other States, and IS
still pursuing measures to hold further eoun.
sci With them. She has, by her acts. caused
It 10 be understood that she IL ready for Sc.
cesslon, or for any other measure Of resjs.
tance, IN which her sister States OF tn South
shall sgree 10 CO operate. Bot she has yet
adopted no measure, put forth no declaration
to indicate that she viii &C, Independently Of
'heIr counsels or CO operation. On the con
'fafy, at The very last session Of her Legtsla.
lure she invited the other Southern States TO
NEE, her for further Iolnt dellbera,lon and
appolnt delegates to a Convention to be call.
ed iof this purpose. She simultaneously pass.
Ell law calling a Convention Of the people
OF her own State, for the purpose, IN tho
hist place, OF taking into consideration the |
proceedings and Recommendations of Con /
gross Of the slaveholding States, if the same
shall meet ard he hid, aud for the further /
purpose Of taking inio consideration thu gan
eral welfare OF tais State, IN view OF ter re.
lailons to the laws and Government of tho
United States. and thereupon 10 take care
that the Commonwealth OF South Carolina .
shall suffer no deirlmenl; and IN this very
law she declares, IN relation to her delegates
To tho Southern Convention, tina, they are
entrusted with full power and authority TO
deliberate I'm conference with other Sta,es)
with the view and intention Of arres,ing fur
Their aggressiens, and, Il possible, of restoring
the constitutional rights Of the South; and,
II not, 10 recommend due provision for their
lulure safety aud independence.
at needs no argument to show that by
the above enact,nenls our State stands pledg.
ed TO hold conference in the first instance