The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1851-01-16
RESPONSE OF
Col. H.. G. Palmer, Jr.


| perceive that have been nominated
us IL delegate TO represent Fail field Dis
tiict in The Ssa:c Convention. most res.
pcclfully decline the n"minaiion,.-bu
will, nevertheless, chcerlully avail my.
self OF the occasion 10 Indicate my po.
lillcal views.
The Legislature at their last session.
for the sendiHy Of Deputies 20 South
crn Cpnyfess9pand tor the oreaniH 'lion
OF Conyenliod of lhc people Of this
S,atc,ibgfb alsyscIcarly given us ,wo
disti1et ndlidies4dlhc criernai which is
co."perutions2and the internal which is
ccession--ihe Hormer or cooperation,
has TO bcfciitcttd through the agency Of
IL Southern Congress, if this Congress
should meet and recommend secession
as II preliminary step towards either the
preservation OF the constitutional elIsioA
or The formation of Soulhefn lfta2lssls
eracy, woulJ,tiii'1a aleIrghteI Iessnasis
Convention for thdssuli6lativiio of suchiu
measure, bul in caan lhIg nollgrsas never
mccss, or meclin ins1f ssstalse such
rccoun cnduIion, binIsuIt' sbu, cun.
ting, ncy, before !hesiinsti ii5osnmen,
Of said Convention. vote for II secession
ct the State from thus most degrddipy
aud oppressive Union for the purpose OF
defeating II consolidation Of lhc govern:
en-, oi securing The Independence and
sovereignty of S,ulh Carolina, and us
means Ultimately, of uniGing the South.
crn States in case they may have pri.
,na'iIy luied 10 co opcrate with us.
Such, briefly, is my position, aud |
shall now proceed to give The reasons
that have Induced me 10 take this posi-.
lion.
5, S,c"ssion, we ure ull well aware,
lo'niS part Of our vnst federal system.
1t Is nt once the guardian Of the C,nsil
luiion aud the shield ui $ ute sovereign.
". Whenever the C.n,lilution is made
10 >ubsrrve Il different cnd from lha,
Tor " hlcnil WAS designed by its trainers,
or whrurver its iorEs arc observed
merely for the purpose Of violating its
| put 80 Us 10 change the govcrnn chi
tr"m federal rrpubuc into II consolidu.
ted democracy, in each ana both OF
these contingencies thc States arc i'm.
medIalely pluc, d under most inperious
0ahJh! @'EhIgfH4H&d %. g. g. seed .scedr tr"'" III"
ne'n state policy, as il is u mandate
issuing from the fedcralivc cumpnc,. and
the Promplliudc with which Stale pro.
ceeds 10 execute this mandate is the
highest evidence Of it's devotion TO the
Constitution, and of duo appreciation
OF Its own sovelcigu,y-lhis is conce
ded to b. Theoretically true. but we arc
told that M practical point Of view the
question must to some tent resolve il.
sell into one Of political cxpedlcncy,--
tins most empha'icnlly deny. We have
no right to II AXE diplomacyn Substitute for
a hiSh moral and constitutional obliua.
ton. Co.operaIion must uhimaieM yield
10 secession, but this brings us 10 the
consideration Of our external or cosore.
raliVe policy, as to The ends OF this 10.
llcy' the preservation OF The conslilu.
u"nal Union or the formation of q
Southern confedcracy we all agree per.
fcc'Iy upon this subject, we all desire
. 'ulhern Conedeiacy-wc all desire
the preservation OF the constitutional
Union,-they are indeed ends worthy Of
attainment, but they do not form fellow.
cl.iZcns the sole nor the ultimate policy
of South Carolina.
This Stale has been styled in history
The champion Of State. Rig gh,s. Tho mother
of free lrude--which is The ofisprinu OF
those rights. Wo all would hail with
pleasure. tho formation of Southern
Coniederacy, and yet what humiliation
mere Notifying, what depreciation more
calling can wo possibly conceive Of
than loss Of our independence. and
with 1t every thing that is sacred und
deur to us on earth in the too cnger pur.
suit OF Southern Confcdcrncy--which
should ultimately prove deiusipe phan.
tom instead of sublime reality Be.
wuie. and impIore you 10 the name of
The most high God, beware that you do
not in contemplating tho moral gran.
d'ur OF Southern Confederacy, suffer
yourselves 10 be charmed and infatuated
Out OF possession which yonr nnces.
tors, and you yourselves regarded Of
lar moro Importance than Il Southern
Coniederacy.--! mean liberty. and with
your honor, your fortunes, your
firesdes und your halluwed shrincs and
yeb W. w. Boyce, Esq, who is now
before you as Candidate, 10, king tho
highest aud most sacred trust known To
n people their sovereignty, has avowed
lhal It Southern Confrderacy J.. tho
" hope and purpose Of all our political
ACTION" A Southern Conf drracy |
AN wiling 10 admit, is a grand concep.
'ion, but ! viii not concede To il an
undue imporunco--t falls below, far
oefoU he sovereignty Of South Carolina.
but this brings us 10 the consideration
"t he next snljrci,---how are we 10 yet
Southern Cunt drracyl This is to be tho
result OF co>operaiion. How is this most.
IikeIy 1" be secured2 We arc told lha,
III 'ndefmte delay, we have u solution of
'hls greaI political probIem,---a "mus.
!eriy in"clvily" suys Mt. Bo,cc, is the
key that unlocks our destiny" Ben, alh
lh's captivating phrase there lies most
fatai sophisry. We ali know the origin
and application OF this historical phrase.
10 apply il TO Tho Soulh at this jonc,urc
is most Prepostcrous. Tho Soulh il gr,.