The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-24
SOUTH CAROLINA AND SECESSION.

There are indications Of wavering among the
Secessionists of South Carolina, but the Press,
with here and there an exception, seems bent
upon the revolutionary measure. Senator Butler
lately made a speech before the Edgeheld South
ern Rights Convention, but, while it breathed
unmitigated hostility to the Federal Government,
1t did not quite come up to the demands Of the
Secession Party. The Judge was rather obscure,
when he came to discuss the remedy for the op-
preston under which the State was grooming.
The EdgefsH Advertiser, presenting brief alb
stract Of his remarks says:
"If there be nothing very definite in this brief
delineation, the fault is not ours We perceived
that the Judge was laboring under some degree
of restraint imposed by his present connection
with the Federal Government. But for this, his
views might have suited a majority of his hearers
much better We are free to declare, as faithful
journalists, that our honorable Senator indicates
temporizing policy as the one towards which he
leans. We Of Edgefeld sincerely respect his
opinions but many, very many of US, were ut
terly unable to reconcile his brilliant eloquence
while depicting our wrongs, and powerful demon
stration while arguing the futility Of hoping for
any good from the Government with the singular
conclusion he deduced therefrom.
"Wemay safely land we hope without thought
Of disrespect to the distinguished Senator) assert
that he left the audience almost precisely where
he found them. Those who had made up their
opinions saw no sufficient reason to modify them.
Those who had not, saw nothing sufficiently ex-
press or definite to induce them to take either
siden
We perceive that Gen. Hamilton has brought
the weight of Mr.. Calhoun's authority to bear
against separate secession. In letter published
in the Charleston Mercury, explaining his reasons
for not delivering, according to request, eulo-
GUM at Button, on the life and character of
that distinguished man, he makes the following
statement;
"IfI had addressed you, as 1t was anticipated,
in discussing the principles and opinions of Mr..
Calhoun az illustrative of his public life should
have felt myself bound to communicate an impor-
tant fact that, up to the period of his death, he
never contemplated the separate and insulated &C
ton of South Carolina, even on an exigency so
vehement and pressing in his opinion as the ad-
mission of California He looked alone to the
united and cooperative action of Virgic;s -ss5 9
majority Of the cotton Ststes He nsper for one
instant cherished The idea of deuotiag South Carolina
10 desolaion, or our people TO slaughter, that Other
States OF the South might BE- dragooned into our sup
port. His whole policy was founded on friendly
and pacific union of the South for the protection
of the South With that sanguine temperament
which belonged to his noble nature, which belongs
to the very constitution of genius, he cherished
this hope to the last. This extinct, he did not
look beyond the great moral lesson which the mot
to impressed on our own Palmetto holds forth for
the instruction of her sons Animis opibusque Pa
rati That these were the opinions Of this great
man, have in my possession the most urefma6le
testimony, which at fitting time shall be made
public, if need be-"
We presume South Carolina will proceed in
pro-slavery politicians will continue to talk ON
inously of her purposes, until they have secured
the organization of the next Congress, and dicta-
ted the Presidential nominations of the old Par
ties.