The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1851-05-17
. SPEECH OF
JOHN A. CALHOUN,

lI0VhN he VhAhVON9
Delivered before the Convention of Southern
Rights Associations inthe city of Charleston, on
the 9th Of Mny, 1851, in support of the Major
ity Report Of the Committee Of Twenty -one.
(Mr. CALHOUN read tho call under which this
Convention convened9
Mr.. President-The call of this Conven-
ton emanated from the Southern Rights
Associations Of st. Philips and ST. Micliaels,
and was, as expressed in the call, to consider.
the evils Of which we complain, against the
General Government; and to determine ti,e7
mode and manner of redress. The com.
plant, therefore that itwoull be improp forj
this Convention to express it's opinion, aato
the mode and manner of redress, because
notcontemplated 10 the call, ,isswitiout fonn.
dation and this complaint comes with an
especial bad grace from our. southern rights
friends in this city Butif the call thad been
silent as to- the oBject for which, tliis Con.
yention was convened, ;itsneyerth eless, does
appear to me, to be ton plain proposition
TO admit of a.doult, tItat H. Convention as
sembled from the people, knowing their wish-sl
es and feelings, has the rigl q not only t0e ex-
press their opinions, as ID Eiie evils of which
they complain, aud Of tlis mode and marls
ner of redress, but upon any other matter
relating to the question under consideration.
" | lam happy to find We have been able 10
come so near together. Our differences are
NOW 30 slight, that 1 see no reason for our
separation. The Report of the majority,
embraces the idea, That our wrongs are too
great to be borhe-etbat we must either sep-
arately, or conjointIy with our southern sister
States, resist the wrongs that have been per-
petrnted against us in the measures 81 the mis-
called com promise and that in oursopinion
it is the duty Of the State Convention, when
it convenes. either TO. procure asredress Of
our wrongs, or to takelus out of the Union
The minority Report acknowledgment the
fullest extent our wrongs, aud the necessity
for resistance to these wrongs; and dapledge
themselves to sustain the; State in resistance,
either with or without cooperation of our
southern sister States but doubt the pro-
priety of indicating to our State Convention
the course Of policy which it should adopt.
What, then, is the difference between us
cannot find any, other essential difference
than. this Whilst those of us who advo-
cate the majority Report, insist that the
honor and safety Of the State demands that
the State should take immediate position,
indicating what we will ultimately do, in the
event that cooperation should fail us--our
friends who advocate the minority Report,
insist, that it would be impolitic, for South
Carolina to pledge herself to ultimate sepa-
rate State secession; although they do pledge
themselves, to sustain the action of our Slate
Convention. whether it should resist by CO.
operation or separately. ..,.. =,
Under this shade of difference between
US, the question Of policy has been raised, as
10 the effect which decisive course OH the
part of South Carolina would have in de-
feating OF promoting cooperation. We all
admit, that cooperation is matter much To
be desired, and that TO attain it, many sauri-
fees should be made; BIZ. we I'll admit tlI:.:
if our efforts to procure cooperation should
lead to submission, the idea should not be
entertained. ], sir, do not hesitate to as
sumo the position, that bold and decisive
course on the part OF South Carolina, is the
only course now left us to procure co-opera.
ton; aud that vascilln,ing and indecisive
course on our part, will lead to universal
submission on the part Of the South. To
make this position manifest, we have only te
make few plain inquiries: lst, What arc
the evils of which we complaint I'd, If We
have just cause of complaint, why have ou
southern sister States not joined with us il
resistance9 Sd, If we now acqmesce witt
the other southern States, and hope for 9th
D er new aggressions, to procure resistance
, what is the foundation of this hopea
D AS to the wrongs of which we complain
= I shall not insult this Convention by under
i, taking to discuss this question. On tli
y point, thank God, we arc all agreed. If
a were discussing this question in other lati
t tudes, feel well persuaded that could full
s ly sustain the position in which we are al
y agreed: that our wrongs are sufficient t.
I justify any measure of redress we may deem
expedient. Suffice it to say, this Govern
!. ment has become q Free-soil Government
:. notwithstanding the guarante of the con
stitution in favor of our institutions; an.
that the territory which we have acquire,
. from Mexico, as we'll as that which we ma,
acquire in future, no matter at what cost o
. blood or treasure, is not only to be takel
y from us, but is to be turned into element
; TO- war against us, and PROSTATE our sinstitu
:. tions and destroy our race, or drive US from
u our beloved sunny south. we therefor
boldly assume,-that if we submit to wha
= has been done, under the insidious garb q
;j compromise, we loose all that constitute
free people, our. equality in the Union, an,
the protection Of our lives and property b
the laws under which we live This bring
US 70 the consideration Of tba second inquj
ry; Why have not our southern bsethre
AZ