Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-10
SOUTH CAROLINA.


| Our readers generally but perhaps not all, are
aware that the STATE CONVENTION Of the State Of
South CAROLINA, chosen more than year ago, in
the midst Of popular excitement, which has in the
pean time very much subsidized, is to meet on Mon
nv, the 10th Of the present month Of April We
ad supposed from the tone, for the last SIX months,
T those journalists and writers who had heretofore
dvocated the proposed secession of the State from
Ae Union, either singy or in company with any
ope or more States, was entirely abandoned We
SILL hope SO. There is something however, in the
tqne OF the following specuIatons on the subject,
which we find in one of the latest papers from the
Interior OF the State, which, uncontradicted senough
u excite uneasness in the minds Of the best friends
q the State. We give it place here, that our
RAIDERS may not be taken by surprise should this
Convention turn out to be any thing more than an
ABORTION. We talicise one or two passages in the
fticle, to direct the reader attention to Them:
RON THE SOUTHERN RIGHTS ADVOCATE, PUBLISHED AT
ANDERSON G. H., MARCH 81
STATE CoSyEsTIoS.-The fourth Monday in next month
the time liked for the meeting of this body; the
rs Of which were elected than oneyear ago. The
Question Of separate State secession had been made
TIP time Of the election, and consequently the Convention
elicit cannot be considered representing the views of
majority Of those who then voted. The members were
eefed by about one-fourth Of the legal votes in the
STAB short time after the election political aspirants
presented immediate State secession the appropriate
remedy for the then existing evils, and
taned that majority Of he delegates in favor Of the
The people became alarmed at the prospect
for the adoption Of rash and nconsiderate measures
measures which would separate the State from her allies
those who we're bound to her by interests and
reoklessy plunge her upon of vicssitudes the re-
suit Of which her most gifted statesmen could form
the most remote conception Separate State secession
submitted to the people and made the test question
in the election Of delegates to Southern Congress
During this canvass Mr. RHETT and his party supported
by the State Government urged the people to secede
all hazards eopardize their lives and property rather
than submit the assaults of the Federal Government
upon their rights and honor If had not been for the
warning voice of the venerable CHEvEs and BUTLER and
the consdate counsels Of ORR and BARNwELL, the
cession politicians would have had the State before this
time emhoiled in a political revolution which could
have resulted only in the disaster and ruin Of all her
great enterprises The People however spoke in their
majesty the ballot-box, and, by overwhelming
jory sad they would not tear themselves away from the
other Southern States but would stand ready
rate with them in redressing their wrongs The
secession COMPOUNDED at theresut of the election
and wer forced to admit that the people condemned their
measure 1t evident that the secession members elect
fourth the voters of the State, and yet Le
gaturecas this body together to legislate for the people
of the State. We say to igsat for cannot suppose
they wotd have been called together great expense
do nodng. The time for the meeting Of the Conven-
ton nearly arrived and the leaders and press Of the
party they do not apparently bestow much
passing thought upon this Conventionthe creature Of
their own hands, What does this silence betoken? Is it
the slene Of the grave indicative Of the entombment of
their rash counsels and inconsdere measures or is it
calm acch often orebods desolatng conflict Of elements
When think of their secret committees and secret cir
cuars cannot regard all safe They have the majo-
ty in the Convention the best interests Of the State
at their dhpesa and still they the
they design to pursue. They the members of the Con-
venton) it to the people, whose representatives they
are to lie, them know what they design doing and il
would be the fragrant abuse of delegated the
Convention plunge the State without the appro
baton of the people 1t must assemble, for the law Of
the land requires it. 1t present do nothing with
Federal relations which would conduce the genera
interests of the State. Let it, them assembling
solve nasmuch it represents only one-fourth of tn
voters Of the State, to adjourn sine die.
! In reference to this very serious matter, W
have read with pleasure an exceedingly well-time
Letter from gentleman whose Positions Re
preventative in Congress, and one of the Southern
Rights party in South Carolina-and whose known
intelligence and gravity of character unite to Civ
great weight to the advice which he offers to hi
fellow-citizens Coming from gentleman occupy
ing such position, his advice cannot but be inAu
entail and, we may trust will be listened to with
the respect which it deserves This Letter we have
pleasure in presenting to our readers as follows:
LETTER FROM Mn. WOODWARD.
PROM THE wISsBono' Is. Co. REGISTER.
WASHINGTON, MARCH l6, 1882.
My DEAR srn have been much gratifed at the re-
cept Of your letter. but regret that you de-
c;ded in your repugnance to the idea of prohibiting the
election Of United States Senators and Representative.
and thus deachng the State from the legislative branch
Of the Federal Government while she win still remain in
the Union with the other States and equally with them be
subject TO all the laws and regulations Of the Union
Now IL the State about to secede from the Union
resolution recalling your Senators and Representatives
though not legally binding until after the act Of secession
would meet my appreciation There would be an obvious
propriey and decorum in the act and it would relieve the
delegation Of an embarrassing situation But to make
such measure the thing in chief and the mere con-
sequence Of decisive purpose to rely upon it
the substance Of remedy the protective effort Of in
yoked sovereignty, would be strange indeed As to the
effect of the measure 1t would be most perncious and in
point Of consuonaity IL would be utterly ndefensible
First let us consider II in constitutional point Of view
II Is conceded that Convention is sovereign according
the doctrines Of South Carolina and that there no au
thorty capable Of rghtfully controlling its action. But
Il must be remembered that sovereign can by compact
Mace himself under obligations and disabilities of which
he cannot relieve himself except upon violation Of the
terms Of the compact and then only by repudatng the
.0oct iteelf All that cnn no legally done nv State