Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-13

asked hv Mr.
agreed to by the Convention and the letter was fe'u y
Trenholm, follows: ,,-.urr,M NAV 1851
-, r. h hasn amounted u Delegate OF the
mg yeaP s s Association Of ST. Philips and ST. MI
chps md also of the Indian Land Assoclaun ~ Man
Dislllc 10 liG n NV wish and intention TO have attend.
cd the Convention in obedience TO hcsc cals o nf i'm,
do without negGcng I'VE deay and which be
well nccompshed without my personal atteh.Jl bn bren
siness however pressing and important SUI believed Ina,
superseded by the public ca could be Of any material
im3,1rnnce but am well satisfied that IL cou'u M w.
neral views of tho grievances OF t STATES are fully known
%, h nlic and will weigh for what they are "o''" do e
GoctnoIv ms II were again to declare therl ~ . l.
ha h;oc, or the Convention, UNDERSTAND " uS " uc
v in The opinion ofthe Convention, SCUM caro-
@ h, n secedc from the Union alone ana wilou le
,5sn, ncou oil any other OF the Southern o'ates NY
on,non nm the proprely of the separate actioh " on
and particularly OF South Carolina, mas oeen long
Known There is no man in the country VINO ees more SEN
siby than do he danger Tue nor enJv convinced
~ M sce thu constitutional right and the political ex
uedcncy of Tic withdrawal of the Southern states from mat
Union by which they ae anu "nd ure dancer
nsson and nfany. am satisfied that history furnishes
No of such dsreputable submission as mat which
they now exhibit The philosophy OF LGel sSs
The nropcr action OF patriotism is the earliest possible ress
lance TO The slightest encroachment on the puoc rsls
The lovers Of liberty snuff the tainted breeze OF tyranny In
the distant gale and do not wait for the overwheng pow
ar of The storm But amey endure the ini blast OF the
Injuries and insults pofusely poured upon u.s. We hug
r c,ns with something approaching 10 f0ndness and SUBJ
% -, he governed by our bitter enemes-and yet only
necessary will it, rend those chains and 10 be redeem
ed regcnerated and disenthralcd.
As a citizen of the South, feel INUNDATED INTO the very
dust Yet am not of opinion that South Carolina should
secedc alune Nor do think this on account OF the dan
gers it may provoke the sacrifices II may require NO
dangers and sacrifices be too great In such cause
Bu one State of the stand alone in the midst
of her sister States These States form one family In inter
est in blood in feeling cndearing social and historical
nd
broken but BY dire necessity South Carona KNOW mas
been grossly sandered and ved for what no
man saw is rash unwisc She has done no than
rocam the Southern wrongs and who deny hem and
to express desire with her sister States IN resisting
them She will be wrong however, IN my poor opinion II
she separate alone from them in her measures OF resistance
But may be said they have not proposed to do what the
honor and interest of all require 10 be done TO redeem the
character and sustain the rights OF The South II is
true and deeply be amcn;cd; but but member
OF this large family, and have right dictate auhora-
ys Ssm the and Ss5 ss 9
language of irritation. We must look with forbeurance
| their hardness:
he to their faults little blind,
lie 10 their virtues very kind,
And pula paduck on the minl,' as 10 the past
The people Of our Southern Sisters are brave people,
whose fathers fought for liberty who themselves born
and nurlurcd in the enjoyment Of it, and who therefore,
know the value OF it, 1t be believed that such
pie will long consent TO be governed otherwise than by
Government in which they shall enjoy equal rights equal
power and equal onors They have been deceived and be-
rayed They and will hearken to other councillors than
those whom they have hitherto listened The South
and will from its sumbers and mainly rely upon the
Democracy of the country. The Democratic party once
already under the guidance OF Jefferson in l79s saved
South from the ambition and tolls Of Federalism. We
contend against the people, but with these differences
The leading Fedcrasts then high honorable able men,
who ambitions govern you, but whose ambition
noble and therefore, crime though dangerous the
principles of Union. These have gone down
10 the grave or have been prescribed and discarded by their
unworthy assocates-men with than their ambition,
but Of their virtues talents The great object OF the
old Fedealsts was strong but honest Government That
Sc
the provisions vi the Constitution for the security OF South
rights and animated by the principles of abolition and the
phcnsy OF aatcism Let the Democratic party then, which
rallied under The wise guidance and foresight Of Jefferson and
saved the South agun put forth its strength II embraces the
great power of the Southern States. Even the Wings OF
the South Democrats, though in falsc position, in
which accident has placed them and freed of THAT they will
appear under their old flag The Wing party is now no lon
ger that Of which they members II party foun
ded the details of the politics of the day. the compa
atvcy small measures OF the moment and upon the cand
dates for Federal Offices. The present moment is one OF life
death 10 the South and that party s not now conendng
for these old Objects but conquer the South and abo
sh her most important and valuable institutions. II there
Wings the South who will still adhere TO them they
are and be spared We shall be strong enough, if
true ourselves without then 1t is only necessary that
the Democratic party vigorously, zeaousy, and perse
vcngy and the principles OF the South will be triumphant
Ii we have souls in our bosoms, il be otherwise
The contamination so dcvouty wished may not be &C
compsed in day year; but let the party of the South
pesevere and the result is inevitable This will be true OF
Virginia and Georgia. ms well as oil other States Let no
believe that the recent acts Of these States truly express
the will and determination Of the people of these Saies-
They will take counsel and finally be governed by heir
old principles Let the question be distinctly put the
polls the people, whether they will submit 10 the present
subverson of their rights and the present degradation Of
the Southern people, and think the result is not question
able The question really between the South and the
North and whether shall be governed absolutely and
forever by people whose avowed objects are to annhate
us?
have finally my dear Sir ask the favor of you
munca,e this letter to the Convention if you be member
of It, which believe you are or if not, engage
otha hind N In " ia
pointed me- that their delegate though unable personally TO
attend the Convention has not Been wholly unmndlu of
am my dear sir, with great respect and esteem. your
obeden servant, LANGDON CdE'ES.
G. A. TRENHOLM, Esq, Charleston S. c.
P S.-Since writing the above have seen 1t minated
that this Convention will be called upon act much more
largely than first suggested the difficult ques-
tons between the South and the general Government If 1t
shall do So have doubt the action will be unfortunate
will among other evils, divide the people OF the State In
to parties, instead of presenting that unanimy which now
does so much credit and will probably under future con-
,ngencies give it much strength The great activity and
zeal Of South Carolina have destroyed her moral and pot-
cal influence That zeal and activity not condemnabe
in themselves but, under actual circumstances npo
lc. 1t slanderously called ambition and desire 10
dictate and excited the jealousy of other States. Measures,
right and proper and patriotic, were condemned simply be-
cause they from South Carolina and every bastard
has justified his recreancy under this peudced and SANDER
Gus condemnation. If South Carolina be wise she will wait
upon her sister States long while Let her be prepared
10 act but leave other Suites time deliberate and deter
mine for themselves Great changes take place the
sentiments of the Southern people, history is fiction,
and the Of has changed Let South Carolina be
prepared to join other States but she cannot go foremost
without iniuring her and the common cause.
There has been, think error in the management
Of great controversy mot peculiar to S. Carona) We
have had too many conventions. Such assembages
per- and only proper great occasions when the OF
the people is doubtful In all, if ALL other
sions the organized power of the is the safest
ground Of reliance Ii is particularly this case which
is of usupaton and tyranny the part OF the &C.
neral Government and our wise ancestors with great eal-
ousy reserved and secured the Independence Of the States
proper power control the ambition of the Federal CO.
when il might arises and great error and mis-
fortune has been, that have allowed the State Govern
ments TO be virtually nuhed by calling them early and
vigorously into action between the State Govern
ments is the great want OF The South this tme and this
great object will hes, be attained by the Legislative and Exc
cutivc unctionaries of their respective Governments.
! The letter then ordered To lie on the table.
Mr. Gregg from the select committee twenty one sub
mited the following resolutions expressive OF the sen
ments of the convention, and address the Southern
Rights Associations OF the Southern States.
i RESOLUTIONS.
l. Resolved That in the opinion of this meeting the State
of South Carolina submit the wrongs and agrees
sions which have been perpetraed by the Federal Govern
ment and the Northern States without dishonor and ruin
whether