Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-29
VIRGINIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
rRon THE aIcaaosD rrars or MARCH 4. ca %.

ihE - UE POSITION OF SOUTH CAR0LINA.-WI
have reason 10 believe that one of the chief arpu
ments used by the Disunionists Of South Carolin,
to persuade the people Of that State to follow the
rash counsels consists in representations that sh,
is scoffed at, rdculed and threatened with demoIi
lion by all who do not approve Of the disunior
project. With the boundless freedom which is al
lowed to the press in this country, II is impossible
to say what extravaganza of expression may moi
have been employed in some papers but, accord.
ing to our observation, the causes of complaint lust
referred do not exist to an extent worthy of serious
notice. True, the frothy declarations of such men
as Rhett have elected much caustic commentary,
and the various violent propositions which indivi-
dual leaders have put forth have been criticized with
unsparing severity, but we are not aware that the
people OF South Carolina have been treated with
disrespect. Least of all is there just ground for
the assertion that the State has been Extensively
threatened. Arguments have undoubtedly been
used by advocates of the Union TO show that no
State can expect to withdraw from the Confederacy
without mourning the inconvenience of war; but
such reasoning was inseparable from the nature Of
the subject. So far as the National Administration
is concerned all must admit that its course has been
marked by. singular circumspecton and forbear-
ance. The President has frequently said, with inn
mediate reference to violations Of laws, in the OBJ
servance of which the Southern States are particu-
larly interested that he would all his authority
to execute the laws. But in regard to the position
Of South Carolina. not word has escaped him
which would authorize her most sensitive citizen
TO take umbrage. And, in truth, it seems to be the
general tone of public sentiment in those States
which are most opposed to dissolution of the
Union, if South Carolina should determine to Sc
cede, to waive the question whether she may pro-
perly be restrained by force, and to permit her
pesceably to learn by experience the folly Of her
course.
For our own part, we have not the slightest dis
position, nor do think there is any such dispo-
stion on the part Of the Union men of Virginia,
composing ninety-nine hundredths of her citizens,
to speak or think Extensively of South Carolina.
We confess we have no great respect for South
Carolina leaders and speech-makers, but the people
Of South Carolina are undoubtedly brave people
and an intelligent people; and if their presses and
public men would allow fair discussion Of the
Union issue, we have no doubt the decision Of that
people would be correct. It's now due to them to
say that their attitude appears, in some degree, to
be misunderstood. The State is commonly said 10,
be pledged to secession, and very broad statement
to this effect by paper called the "Southron,"
published at Charlotte, North Carolina, has induced
striking and significant explanation in the Charles
ton Mercury, from writer styling himself g An
OLD NULLIFIER.'' The Southron T" had assert
ed that if South Carolina did not secede, she would
become reproach, the Palmetto device upon the
shield of cowardice, the State the Falstaff among
the States," &c. The writer in the Mercury as
serts, without the fear Of contradiction, that the
Legislature of South Carolina has never, by any
law, manifesto, resolution or act, or deed whatso-
ever, taken any such "position or "proud
stand" He proceeds to say
She bsgan her opposition Federal aggressions by de-
cang that she would not arrogae herself the position of
leader in measures Of resistance She followed the lead
adopting the resolutions Of Virginia, proposing Convention
Of the Southern States She has sent delegates to such
convention She has counEeed with other Staes, and Is
still pursuing hold further counsel with them.
She has by her caused to be understood that she Is
ready for SECESSION any other of resistance in
which her sister States Of the South shall agree operate
But she has yet adopted measure put forth declaration
to indicate that she will act independently Of their counses
cooperation On the contay at the very last session OF her
Legislature she invited the other Southern States to meet her
for further joint deberaon and appoint delegates Con-
venon 10 be called for this purpose. She simultaneously
passed law calling Convention Of the people Of her own
State. or the purpose, in the first place, Of taking into con-
sderation the proceedings and recommendations Of Con-
gess Of the savehoding States if the shall meet and
be held and for the further purpose Of taking into considers
ton the general welfare of this State, in view OF her relations
the laws and Government of the United States and there
upon take that the Commonwealth of South Carolina
shall suffer detrment and in this very law she declares,
in relation to her delegates to the Southern Convention that
they entrusted with full power and authority deber
ate Gin conference with the other States with the view and
intention Of arrestng further aggressions and if possible Of
restoring the constitutional rights Of the South and not
to recommend due provision for their future safety and indie
pendence.'
"It needs argument to show that by the above enact
State stands pledged to hold conference in the first
instance with the other savehoding States and that the
first end object of this conference is TO deliberate with
view further aggressons and 10 the const
tuona rights Of the South, the rights Of the South under
the Constitution and in the Union If this cannot be done,
then other measures are to be devised for security but
what they be State has never announced and to
pursue any other specific measure she therefore, does not
stand lodged 1t is true has been enormously supposed
that the calling Of Convention Of the people Of this State
done with view TO her immediate secession from the
Union but have shown that this not the FACT This
measure, well that Of armng the State, proper
put this State position to carry into effect the result of
the joint deliberations of the slave States for other pur
pose. Should they resolve secede South Carolina is will
ling and through her Convention, is ready to dose
and not prepared say that ip event will she
secee alone do desire that she should to
such determination But do say that she does not stand
pledged 60 out of this Union by herself and think that
adopt any such pledge this time would be unwse
Associated she is with other Sates equally aggreved and
equally brave, shall she disregard their csunse
and precpiatey pursue which may foil the very
ends she may aim She has been counseed by the mea-
Of her Southern allies wait yet longer Shall she
venture to presume that by dsegadng this COUNSEL she
will gain their sympsbies," a
IN We think g An Old Nullifer" has fairly made
out his case, and that South Carolina is not com.
mit.ed in honor to what her politicians call sepa-
rate State action" Some hot-headed gentlemen in
IL -.