Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-14
THE MARCH OF EVENTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

The object of the Convention of Delegates from
Southern Rights Associations" lately held in
Charleston, it must be borne in mind, was to force
an earlier issue than that already authorized by
the Legislative Acts of the State, between the Dis
unionists Supposed to be in majority in South
Carolina and the sovereignty of the United States.
Delegates had indeed been before chosen, by such
authority the State Legislature could exercise,
to Convention of the Southern States, with a
view to forming Southern Confederation but it
had been already ascertained that the proposed
Southern Convention would be failure, because
no other Southern State, however disposed, was
those who procured the assembly of this estate
Rights Convention, therefore, was, by effect
ing, if possible, separate I" secession of the
State of South Carolina TO bring her at least into
conflict with the General Government, with the hope
besides, of coercing other States finally to unite
with South Carolina in the Revolution by which
lis Union was to be broken 10 pieces.
The machinery Of the State Rights Convention
worked according to the design and the wishes Of
1t, projectors. The Delegates, being chosen by
Associations whose leading principle is hostility 10
the General Government, nearly all personally re-
presented that feeling. A few (bus very few grave
and wise citizens, it is true resisted the proposed
" secession but Resolutions declaring it to be the
only remedy for alleged grievances of the States
were carried by acclamation-thed issentents being
represented not to exceed FIVE votes out of some
four hundred Delegates. The supposed unanimi-
ty was of course no test of the actual of the
Convention. more members having spoken against
the resolutions than uoted against them But it
exhibited, in the general result, such body of
opinion in favor Of the desperate alternative resolved
upon, as to inspire with fresh confidence the Dis
unionists, and to seriously alarm those who though
with them in spirit, had discernment and discretion
enough to know that action of such consequence as
dismembering Commonwealth, undertaken with
out due elaboration and caution, would be mere
madness. 1t was likely also to have the effect of
rousing up the masses of the People, and to direct
their serious and earnest attention to what was pass
ing-that is to say, to the fact that, without the
which they had in life was about being placed in
imminent jeopardy, if not subjected to certain
destruction. .....
What was deemed probable has actually come to
pass. The contest among the People, between the
Revolutioniss and the opponents of separate I" Sc
cession" of the State, as we'll as those who see no
sufficient cause for war of any sort against the
Union-including many who have only now begm,
to feel through added State taxation and derange-
ment of trade, that they have any interest worth
caring for in the questlon-is becoming lively and
of course highly interesting. The Speech o
Senator BUTLER, the Letters of Mr.. BURT, Mr.
BoYcE, and other gentlemen of emnence and cha
racter, could not fail have an effect, now visible
not only upon the cultivated intelligence, but on thu
common sense of the inhabitants of the State. The
restraints with which the Press has been hitherto
shackled are giving way. The Charleston News, .
heretofore Revolutionary in its course, having pass
ed into new hands, has come to the rescue Of the
State from impending ruin the Charleston Courier
is open to free discussion; and even the Mercury
not in itself faltering in its immediate Revolutionary
purposes, yet admits arguments against such pur
poses from those who have claims upon its CO.
lumns. Every mail brings us fresh evidences o
this reused spirit Of inquiry; of these appeals by
the leaders Of the malcontents themselves to the in
sehiSence vi VIC eopic dgdinst tHe ioLy anu TIT
wickedness of those who relying in par. upon for
eign aid and protection, are ready TO plunge into
war with their own countrymen and kinsmen, on
of which, if they with life, they can hardly d
so without loss Of property and an abridgment Q
the Liberties they now enjoy.
By our extracts from the South Carolina paper
our readers have been already put in possession Q
the views of Mr.. BUTLER, Mr.. BURT, and other
who object only to the proposed form of what the,
continue to consider meritorious resistance TO al
legged continued aggression by the General Gov
eminent, as well as of the sentiments of Mr.. Pom
sErT and others who protest against all unconstu
tional means Of redressing any wrongs of the Stat
that have real existence. Our purpose to-day
it will be in future papers under the same head
to add to what has been already published on thi
subject such further extracts, as we here subioii
from South Carolina papers, may serve to kee]
our readers advised Of the actual condition o
things in that State in regard to what is there term
ed its Federal Relations
OPPOSITION TO estate SECESSION BY PER.
SONS DISCONTINUED WITH THE UNION.
AT large and respectable Public Meeting, he'll
at Hamburg South Carolina) on the 3lst day @
May, IN pursuance of "a call by over four hundre
citizens OF Edgehed district to take into consider
alton the alarming position which South Carolin
is made to occupy by the recent Convention whic