The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-08-31


her Sovereign Will as an independent State,
acccded TO the Federal Union, known as the
United States OF America: and that, in the
exercise Of the same Sovereign Will, it is
her right, without let, hindrancc, or molcst-
alton from any power, whatsoever, to seccdc
from the said Federal Union: and that. for
the suflicicnrv OF the causes which may i'm
pei her TO such separation, she is rrspon-
s;hlc alone. under God, to the tribunal of
puh'c opinion among the Nations of the
Earth"
We consider the proceedings Of said Con-
vrntlon MS having anihoritalivclv defined
the position of South Carolina and her re-
lal"n to tn" Federal Union. And in the
opinion Of this meeting, the Obligation of
iil" Third Degree, rs set forth in the Con~,i-
tuition OF the National Council of the nj
t"d states OF North America, known as the
Order Of the Know Nol!ino>, is direct de
n"nr!'tion of the principles of this Orli-
nance, ami the position assumed in these
proceedings, and the triumph of the Order
IN this STATE, would effect ii Political rcvolu-
ton within her limits.
>. HC$oircd, That We protest arains, the
proposition put forth hy the Grand Council
OF the Order, in PHILADELPHIA, that ",hc
maintenance OF the lnion Of these States.
Is tie pnn"mouW political good"----a
doctrine which assumes that Government is
above the objects for which it WAS instituted
--strkcs at the very foundation Of the Sovcr-
Hlgnty OF the States, and under every viola.
tl"n ot the Constitution, however tlayrant,
ana under every degree Of oppression and
INJURY, however destructive, demands OF the
S'a'cs eternal and unrcsiStils suhirction to
t he ccntr:'! power; ana We disapprovc, as
h"ic'!ca! III principle and enlincntIv .lanrer-
Gus to :iic South, the iLcl;ltrnlls devotion 10
the un'on OF these States, 50 prominently
and constantly inculcatcI hy the Consti,u,
ton and Ritual Of the Order, when con
lrastcd with their silence as to the necessity
Of preserving unimpai-cl tie rights OF IT,.
States respectively.
3. ErSotrcd, That we hail will, unfvigncl
salts faction, the recognition bv the DcAuo-
cr"tsc Pd|;tcS ot GEORGIA. and I,uIslAxA.
OF the resolution adopted by the PEopLE of
Georgia assembled iM Conr,afion in 1881.
and, as we believe South Carolina. too. "wi!l,
anl ought 10 resist, even {:,S L last rcsosl(
to a disruption Of every tic which binds her
to the Union, any action of Congress upon
the subject oi slavery in the District nf Co
innlb:;', or in places subject to the juris.l;c
ton OF Congress, Incompatible with the
safety. domestic tranquility, the rinl,s and
honor Of the s!:vchnIliny >talcs, or any act
>nrprcss'ns the slave trade between tie
aavcll"!dng States; or any rcci.>al to ;u!
INIT rs STATE any Territory hereafter ap
plying, because Of the existence of slavery
therein; or any act prohibiting the intro
ducllon of slaves into the Territories Of Utah
AMI New Mexico; or any act repeating or
materially modifying the laws in force for
the recovery of fugitive Slaves"
4. Rc$oI"1d, That We sympal,;zc with
the friends Of the slavery cause in Kansas.
III their manly efforts TO maintain their
rights, and the rights and interests Of the
Southern people, aud tlatwc ,cjvice at their
recent victories over the paid adventures
and fanatical h"nlcs Of Northern Abolition
ism. That the deep interest felt and taken
by the people OF Missouri in the settle
lnent Of Kansas, and the decision of the
slavery question in it, is both natural and
proper; and that it is their right and duty
to extend to their Southern brethren in that
Territory every legitimate and honorable
sympathy and support.
5. Rcsofpca, That in the opinion of this
meeting, the existence and progress of the
known as the Order of Know
Nothings, is opposed theoretically and prac,
tically to the principles Which have hitherto
characterized South Carolina as II State, and
the Southern Rights Party every where, and
render rally and reorganization of that
party i'll South Carolina a matter of inner
atiye duty with those WHO remain stcailast
in the faith.
Z. Pesolrcd, That this meeting disap-
proves utterly and entirely of the intrduc
ton OF religious tests into the politics of the
country, and believes such connexion Oh
posed to the Constitution of this State, to
the Constitution Of the United States. and
antl-Amer'c"n in spirit and policy.
8. Resolred, That while we regard the
facility with Which foreigners of ali kinds
are admitted to the rights of citizenship,
and the abuses practised under the existing
naturalization laws, as proper subjects Of
Legislative reform, We unhesitatingly and un-
compromisingly reject, as remedy, the for.
NATION of secret affiliated political associa-
tons, possessed Of powers so novel and de-
spotic as those Of the order of Know No
things; and we utterly rcpudiate c.indis-
cr'm'nate condemnation, . and unqualified
exclusion from the privileges of citizeusbip,
OF all foreigners wlatsoeyer,s which is the
Practical result Of the triumph of the Order,
as Sliiloerai, unjust, unwise, and peculiarly
anti-American. s. r
q n rp,