The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-04-20
OFFICIAL,
From the Southern S,andard.l
l' The Convention.

From the Southern Standard
q The Convention.
The election for members to
. a Southern Congress-, held in Oc.
eober last, called to tho polls evcrv
freeman of South Carolina, who was
entitled to exercise that constitution.
9 privilege. They we're tod that
the occasion was lnomentous in the
highest degree, not for the reason
that the judgment Of voters was to
be taxed in the choice of a particular
candidate, lat because the election
involved a principle, that mighty
crisis was impending over the State,
demanding the application of the
sovereign remedy OF separate Scccs-
sion and to decide this grave oues.
tlon the frccmen of South Carolina
were called upon to cast their
votes for, or against the candidates
who advocated the policy of that
measure. It will long be remember
ed what stirring appeals were made
TO their rassions-what arguments
were addressed to their understand
ings what indefatisablc activity
was displayed to win them over as
converts to the doctrine of immediate
action. All this will be remembered
ny, young and old as long as memory
lasts, and there is no good citizen
who does not sincerely hope, that he
may never again be called upon to
participate in similar scenes. But
the issue was made and soas tuirly
decided, and the voice of the State
ssgs SSseas declared against the expediency
M sSsSsate State action.
sstanding this solemn
5Ssss1 81 SEsts trom the editorial
G'ssssagrd, in recent
colu lii'tf ssSSss ocate Of
issue, that some ba5sss,F ay5A,F tss,SSsI
Secession yet thinks it would be
proper for the Convention to pass an
ordinance Of Secession, and then
submit that ordinance again to the
decision Of the people. This is
trifiing with solemn things, and
an attempt to carry up all appeal
from an appellate tribunal Of the
highest order. If this course of
proceeding is to be resortcd to, it
may be we'll asked, how much more
weight will the second verdict be
be entitled to than the first, and
whether or not, by the same rule of
proceeding, q third verdict may not
he demanded? And, in case they
should conflict with each other,
whether or not a fourth might not
be necessary, in order to solve any
doubts about the weight and mean
ing of those preceding? and so on
ad infnitun. And why shall this
be? Why should any one call i'll
question either the sanity or pat
riotism Of the people in making the
solemn declaration they have already
made9 What more can they do than
they hare done? Are they entitled
to no respect, because they have
not thought upon given subject in
the way and manner a minority
wished them to do? 1t is to be
hoped that there is no one prepared
to put this low estimate upon the
Intelligence or patriotism of 80 large
aportion of the people of South.
Carolina. The decision they have
made was not made hastily and
without consideration, but after ma.
ture reflection, and, upon every
principle of pure republicanism, it
is entitled to be respected. And
there is no reasonable doubt that it
a0ill be. The members of the Con.
vention will be true to the will of
the people, as already expressed,
and carry it out fully; or, if they
desire to throw off from themselves
that responsibility, they will, at
least, allow others to assume it WHO
can believe that there is no danger
or dishonor in being the equals of
their fellow.citizens of the other
Southern States, and remaining with
them as such. Or, there may be
found in that body some high.toncd
patriot, who, calling to mind how
unnecessary it was to bring into
existence Convention only ncces-
sary for tile purposes of Secession,
when the people had declared against
it, may announce to the world, that,
as tho voice Of the people is the
law of the Convention, it is due to
them that such Convention should
adjourn sine die. Such man the
State will long remember, and
the world will admire.
But it is well known that the
advocates Of separate Secession have
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