The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-17

spect his opinions but many, very many, of as
were utterly unable TO reconcile his brilliant elo-
quence, while depicting our wrongs and power
full demonstration while arguing the futilty OF
hoping for any good from the government, with
the singular conclusion be de0uced theretrom
We may safely (and we hope without a
thought OF disrespectto the distinguished SEN
ator) assert that be left the audience almost pro
ciseIy where he found them. Those who had
made up their opinions saw RIO sufficient reason
to modify them. Those who have not, saw
nothing sufficiently express or definite to induce
them to take either side.
There are two facts that we adduce from the
occasion. One is that the speech Of Judge But
Ter was in the main the best effort we have ever
heard from him. The other s that the secession
party of Edgefeld are more determined than
ever.
STATE AcTIoN-OUR SENAroRs.--W give in
another column brief account from tho Edge
field Advertiser, of Senator Buffers speech on
Monday last 1t will be seen that, as the result
Of his best observation in Washington, he is con-
WINGED there will b. no attempt to coerco South
Carolina; that the act of secession does not in
volve the danger of civil war. In this he pre-
cisey agrees with Mr. Rhett, who, on the same
day in Charleston, very clearly and strongly sus-
tanned the same conclusion. Our senators also
fully agree in another very important conclusion,
that an attempt on the part of the general gov
eminent to maintain its authority over South
Carolina by force, would certainly and ineviia-
bly, result in Southern confederacy
At this point they seem TO divide For the
very reason that South Carolina would be suf-
fered to 60 peaceably out of the Union, Judge
Butler somewhat shrinks from it. He supposes
that it would be the policy Of the federal gov
eminent to draw as broad lines d. possible be-
tween us and our neighbor States, and by every
means to fix upon US the character of Il foreign
nation. Mr. Rhett admits that the federal gov
eminent would have no good will to US, but
maintains that they would have but very lin
tied power over our relations with our sister
States, and he looks with the utmost confidence
to the ability of South Carolina to support her
sovereignty with honor, and her industrial pur-
suits in prosperity. He is willing to trust South
Carolina alone, to maintain, on her own resour-
ces, the character of an independent State.
For our irt, we agree with Mr.. Rhett We
know well that in contest of force, South
Carolina could be borne down by the other
States united. But they never can Be united for
such purpose, and any serious attempt to COM
bine their power for the object of subjugating
one, will speedily end in sundering the con-
iederacy. Aud what the rect attempt would
effect speedily, the indirect attempt, whether by
blockade, by collecting duties off our harbors,
or by any system of harassng hostility on our
borders, would effect in no long time. The
federafgovernment will have greater interest
in keeping the peace, and observing scrupu-
lously all the laws Of good neighborhood with
US, than We with them
Within ourselves, then, have we any reason
to fear the results of an independent govern
ment! We answer, decidedly not South
Carolina is larger than all those Grecian States
combined, which filed their own and all after
time with the gloSy of their achievements in war
and peace. South Carolina is nearly third
larger than the entire Swiss confederation,
which for more than four centuries has ,nain-
tanned its republican institutions and sturdy in
dependence against the assaults of the powerful
military governments that hem it in on every
side. South Carolina is larger than Belgium
and Holland united,-two kingdoms that main
tain respectable place in the politics of Europe
|. We do not fear the consequences of indie
pendence. South Carolina has foreign COM
.merce, greater in proportion to her population
than any people in the world, apd in the condi-
ton Of her industry, and the variety of her pro-
auctions, has substantial foundation for indie.
pendence Let it come, them We do not fear
the result Of the trial