The southern press., 1851-07-28
Fkom tke CkosJsstoss Nescs.
LctteR froU Hen A. p. Butler.


GEHrLEM1H :--In youx communication Of th&
. I'd instsmt you do me TIE honor to invite me u
meet and address my falow-citizens st Green
ville,C. H. ON the 4th Of July, son the dAngsrl
Of separate State secession" As it will be ou
of my power to accept the invitation, avail my
self Of request to make few remarks on the
great subject that is connected with your meet
ing
! have never thought 80 much, or felt so in.
tensely, on the situation Of our country az al
this time Indeed may say that feel con.
Germ hardly connected with myself The un-
known future will have its history, and an event
fu one it will be. What place South Carolina
may occupy In it, events must tell. pray that
it may be such that wisdom may, in her judg-
ment, approve the dictates of honor.
| Why is it that such deep and solemn tone
pervades the Southern States, and especially
South Carolina at this time? 1t has its origin
in the wrongs that have been inflicted on South
ern institutions, under the power of majority,
and in the deceptive paIiations Of them, that are
to be found in compromises, that were conceived
and consummated to propitiate sectional fana-
tcism. The crisis through which we are pas
sing, will bring to the test of trial very grave
questions
This is confederacy Of equal sovereign
States; or it has become consolidated Union,
indissolube, except by the will of an interested
majority
Should the federal government, practically
assume the latter character, the Southern States
must be doomed to degraded subordination.
Should it maintain the former character, the
parties to the compact have their destiny in
their own hands, in the unqualified right of
secession--a right that never could be exer-
cised except upon very grave occasions, and
on grounds and reasons that would find their
justification before the tribunal Of just his
tory. This, in my opinion, is right that should
never be exercised without consulting the neigh
bors, whose interests are to be affected by its
consequences Where common rights are con-
cerned, justice requires that the means of com
mon redress should be looked to. The South
ern States are no longer blind to the dangers
that beset them. They are becoming reused,
and agitation cannot be hushed. The danger
to the Southern cause, heretofore, has been a
want of union among representatives and public
men of the South. With such union they
could have dictated their terms | qualify this
last remark by saying they could have obtained
oil that they had a right to caim-a security of
their constitutional rights. These divisions in
the representatives in Congress will cease, be-
cause the people .of the Southern States will
not support those who are untrue to their real
interests. When that change shall take place,
a when Southern politicians shall be selected,
as exponents of the popular will, the South
will have potential attitude to do itself justice
in any way that it may determine on.
The opinion which | have expressed, and
WHICH shall not repeat, as to the separate Sc
cession of South Carolina, | still entertain As-
surances of cooperation may be made to her
but until she has such assurances, it is unwise
in South Carolina to advertise her purpose of
what she will or will not do. Let what may be
said of the State, South Carolina has been a
vigilant and rebuking sentinel. | know Of no
State that would sooner make the sacrifice of
Curtis But, in the name of common sense, let
it not be useless sacrifice without fairly look
ing to the consequences of exclusively separate
State secession
am, gentlemen, with great respect,
Your feow-citizen,
A. p. BUTLER.
To Messrs r. B. Duncan, Vardry McBee, B.
Dunham, and others, committee.
SfOneldnd June 98th 1851