The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-26
From the Charleston Mercury.
Southern Rights AsseeiatIen Of 1t. Johns
COlletOn.

| FROM Sne CHOTSeSSOn JueTCury.
Southern Rights Association Of 1t. john
Cellet0n.
The semi-annual meeting Of the association
of ST. Johns, Colleton, convened at Rockville
on Monday the 9Th of January, 1884, the presi
dent, Hon. w. B. Seabrook in the chair.
Mr. X. Burden, jr, offered the following re.
solutions:
RESOLVED, That this association having beer
formed to continue in existence until the wrong.
of the South are redressed, or the State resum,
the powers heretofore delegated to the United
States for special purposes, it is deemed impor
tant that its organization be preserved and con
tinued for the present
hopes of saving the State, and through her actor
the South redeemed from her present degraded
position, and to this end we will direct our bes
efforts, invoking those great principles of State
sovereignty, which have ever been relied on by
all truo States Rights men, as the only palladium
of our safety.
Col +. N. SeabrOok offered the following
resolution as an amendment to the above:
Resolved That as an impression has existed
in the parish, that this association has been
changed from ts original character and purposes
we hereby express our earnest desire to unite
with all the true friends Of Southern rights and
OF Southern institutions, irrespective of the late
party divisions in the State, and invite them to
become members of this association
| lie said that this body by it's constitution was
Southern Rights, and not simply secession
association. II was formed equally by those
who approved, and those who were opposed to
separate State action Us the remedy for past
aggressions During the past contest which
divided the State, a portion of its members with
drew upon the ground that it was in their
judgment, converted into a secession associa-
ton, although retaining its Original name and
constitution. Others, however, who disapproved
of separate action as the remedy, still continued
members upon the official declaration by the
president, at the July meeting, that the society
had not been changed from its original character
and purposes. Now, the people of South Caro-
lima, having decided against separate State ac-
! ton for the present, he proposed, by the resoIu-
ton which no had offered, to correct the i'm
preston as to the character of the association
to which he had alluded, by inviting all the true
friends of Southern Rights and of Southern in
stitutions of the parish, irrespective of the late
party divisions in the State, to unite in promot
ing the common cause. He was opposed to the
resolutions which had been offered, as unneces.
sary, because the association would continue &c
meet under its constitution until dissolved. Tn,
resolutions, in his judgment, only tended t.
confirm the impression as to the exclusive sc
cesson character of the association which hat
repealed portion of the members.
He said that he would not discuss it az mer,
question OF etiquette, for the cause to which tn,
association was dedicated was too far above il
In his Judgment it was the duty of the majorit,
of the association, who were Secessionists, t.
adopt resolution looking to reconciliation, O
the character of that for which he had venturet
to claim the approval of the association. tn,
resolution which he offered, had been prompted
by the spirit of Cancellation, and an unfeienec
desire for harmony; because he believed that tn,
political unity of the State was of the first inn
portance. Upon it depended all successful &C
ton for the future. 1.-THE present party confess
continued, it would be at the sacrifice of The
peace prosperity, and unity of the State, and she
! would be found, in her divisions, should oppor
tunity offer, poweress for effective action Unit
the State was united, she could not take single
forward step in the maintenance and enforce
ment of her rights. Why was it that the
other States Of the South could not be united
| Was it not because of the party divisions which
had always existed within their borders anc
were we to follow in their footsteps? He fell
assured that our people were too wise and pa
tTIOtiC w Do SuICIUdl al error. Tie 00lC
that it was the duty of every man who had {
head to understand, and heart more devoted te
country than party, to labor in promoting the
political unity of the State
| He was unable to see why the true men OF
both parties could not unite upon some policy
| which would save the honor of tte State. and bf
an advance movement in the great cause of South
ern Rights and Of Southern institutions. The
contest which has divided the State has been
/ upon the mode of remedy-the difference bas
been upon policy, and not principle; and both
parties he believed to have been honest and pa.
triotic. And he felt bound to say, that the peo.
pie, in giving the decision which they did, in his
| judgment, were actuated by an honest unwilling.
ness to tear themselves away from the common
family of the South, and against their united
counsels to try separate nationality alone He
could not believe that they were actuated BY love
of the Union, or fear of consequences, or by any
sudden panic or alarms, but by the motive which,
he had stated. And as Carolinian, loving the
reputation and honor of the State, he was COM
PEELED to say 80. He would not have II believed
that any portion of the people of South Caro-.
lima should be considered craven, corrupt false
to their pledges or governed by any sentiment
or influence unworthy brave, constant and
magnanimous people. We were all members OF
common h0uSen0ld, sons OF the same mother,
and we should respect each other, and act az
such, if we would be true to her.
He hoped that the loyal men of both parties
would come together in confidence and friend
ship in maintaining the honor, vindicating the
rights of the State, and preserving the nsttu
tons of the South. He had voted for the meet
ing of the convention in the confident belief that
it would contain wisdom and patriotism enough
to place the country above party. and lay down
policy which would unite the State. He did
not look to it to play the part of mere party
convention, as he had indicated in series OF
resolutions offered at the time of giving his
vote, but to deliberate and act as Carolinians,
having in charge the honor and welfare of the
State, and the security Of our Institutions And
he believed that this body, in full possession OF
| all the facts necessary to wise and enlightened
judgment, the will Of the people of South Caro-.
lima, and the existing condition of the public
sentiment of the South, would be able to come
to such conclusions as would entirely compose
our domestic divisions. vindicate the dignity of
the State. and do something towards promot-
ing the great cause of Southern institutions.