The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-09-23

call, we intend no disrespect to that gen.
tleman; for, though we regret to see him
in tho position he occupies, we entertain
for him personally no sentiment but that OF
respect and esteem.
The readers Of this paper who are Co
operatonists and who ere members Of tho
Southern Rights Association of Claremont
IAN Association formed for tho purpose Of
uniting the South, and in no aspect favoring
the separate secession of South Carolina
have the right we conceive, to have the
following questions answered, and we
know of no one whose duty it is TO anawer
them except the President of the Associa-
ton -
Why has the Southern Rights Associa.
tion Of Claremont not been called together
since May last? Has it not been because
the separate secessionists-wilinga and do.
string that It should be taken for granted
that they were in the ,najority-were afraid
Of Free Discussion ? Have not letters,
circulars. or other documcnts-marked, or
not marked. prirate and confidential, al,--com-
ing from persons styling themselves the
Central Committee Of tho Southern Rights
Associations Of South Carolina, or other
persons acting or protesting TO act for the
separate secessionists Of the whole Stale,
| been addressed 10 and received by persons
| III this District, the object and design OF
wh'ch was TO STIFLE THE VOICE OF TIE
pEofLE and prevent FREE Discussion o.
| Has not the President of the Association
for Claremont received one or more Of
| those documents, and has he not acted upon
the suggestions they conlained7 Has il
not been 1.-The secret policy Of the separate
scressionists since May last to discourage
Free Discussion, and why has this change
so suddenly come over the spirit Of their
dream?
These questions are not founded upon
matters within our own knowledge, but
upon ruiiors that have reached us from
various quarters and upon mferenccs drawn
from the conduct Of the separate secession
lists
| Ard when the questions we have put
shall have been answered fully and with
out evasion--when all The secret letters,
circulars and other documents shall have
been made pubIic-and the conduct of
the separate secessionists explained, SO
that we shall gee that the runors we have
heard, and the infcrences we have drawn
arc without foundation, we shall then, bui
mol till then, be willing 10 meet the sepa-
rnte sccession:sts in Free Discussion We
cannot consent TO meet party in free
discussion. who when in (supposcd) ma
jori'y did every thing they could to discour-
age and prevent free discnssio,,-who really
and truly are niraid 10 see the people en-
| iuhf ,bn ~, l(,,o
madly into separate secession, hoping that
ter the deed is done they will stand by it,
We ask in all candor, ii the belief under
which we act is true how can the Separate
secessionists expect US to meet them in
discussion before the people! We will agree
TO meet no opponent, under such circum-
stances, whosn objectis bamboozle and not
TO ei'iiEhtoh: and II she policy OF The Sepa-
rate secessinn!sts up To this tilne-a policy
persued inthc dark with secret circulars,
letters g. documents-has been to keep the
} public mind i'll darkness--liow can we con-
tidc IL their assurances that, they now de-
sire 10 enlighten it-,hat they really want
fic,, fair, honest dircussion.
FREE Discussion is new born idea
with tho Separate secessionists. II they
wanted free discussion, why did they not
postpone the election Of delegates 10 the
Convention until October, the usual time
) for holding elections in South Carolina.
Reflect, citizens of Claremon,, when the
fact, that the election was held in Fcbrua.
ry--in less than two months from the time
the Act was passed.
10 the Co.operationists Of this District we
are bound to say, have nothing 10 do with
the meeting of the 23d inst 1t is not :,
meeting for free discussion--we are at
least bound SO TO conclude until the secret
documents are published or until we are
assured by honorable men that no such do
cumcnis exist. Ills meeting Of the Se-
parate seccssionists and knowing that their
party is in small minority, they hope by
calling tncir meeting masa meeting and
a free discussion meeting to get Co.opera.
tionists TO attend who as soon as they Ell
ter will be counted as one Of their party.
OF course then the news papers will close
with the account of tremendous dc.
monstration in Old Sumter.
We saySto the Separate Secessionists
If you truly and in good ia III want us Ia
meet you in Free Discussion, but satisfy
us upon the subject of those secret docu-
mcn,s. Il such things are in existence
or have been in existence send us copies OF
them all for publication, il we choose to
publish them--keep none back let us have
them all-and then, if we are satisfied up
OH reading them, that your party has pursu-
cd no such policy as the above questions
Indicate we vii meet you in free discus
sion on any day you may fix.
We would add as n further and obvious
reason why we should meet the Separate
Secessionists, they are no: sincere when
they say they desire it. II they really de.
sire it why did they not consult with us
before hand! Why is it that the frs, no.
tice We had of their proposed mass meeting
was through the columns Of the |Va,chman!
And again we would ask why is it ,ha,
Messrs. CHEvEs BARNwELL, and WrrH.
ERs, are the only persons named as invited
and expected 10 address their mee,ins1
Was il not well known that these gen
tleinen would not attend, and were no,
their names inserted as mere blind?---
The disguise is too transparent.
Every signer OF that Free Discussion
call is a violent secessionist.
p. S.--The above was written for the
last number.