The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-08-22
Great Public Demonstration

pubic meeting was held1n Charleston,
on Wednesday night last, in obedience TO
the call for meeting of the citizens of
South Carolina, in favor o.. State Rights,
Southern Rights, and opposed to the politi.
cal association, known as the American
Party, or Nothings. The Hon. w
d. Porter acted as Chairman, assisted by a
number Of distinguished gentlemen, as Vice.
Presidents, and four Secretaries.
After appropriate remarks by the Chair.
man, Isaac w. Hayne presented nm Address
and certain Resolutions for the action OF
the meeting, introducing the same by ap.
propriate remarks. Speeches were also
made by Messrs. Magrath and WIN. Z
Martin. The Resolutions were passed with
animated applause. After the adoption of
the Resolutions, letters were read from
those gentlemen who could not make Il
convenient to attend, among others, the Hon.
A. p. Butler, Coils. Keitt and p. s. Brooks.
We have not room for the address, Reso-
luiions, speeches or letters, MS they occupy
very large space, but give our readers the
most important Resolutions, together with
the letter Of Senator Butler:
!. ReSoired, That as citizens of the State
Of South Carolina, we recognise the Ordi-
nance adopted by the people of the State
assembled IN Convention in 1852, as a part
of the fundamental law Of the body polite,
equal in authority, rs u Declaration of Right.
uifh ln Ennafii,,ttnv tf,.tf IL
claim, ns cardinal principle of the present
organization,
THAT South Carolina, in the exercise of
her Sovereign Will as an independent State,
AZ ceded to the Federal Union, known as the
United States Of America; and that, in the
exercise Of the same Sovereign Will, il is
her right, without let, hindrance, or moles-
tation from any power whatsoever, TO Sc
cede from the said Federal Union; and
that, for the suiiciency of the causes which
may impel her TO such separation, she is
responsible alone, under God, to The tribu-
nal Of public opinion among the Nations OF
the EARTH"
We consider the proceedings Of said
Convention, as having authoritatively de-
fined the position of South Carolina and
her relation to the Federal Union. And in
the opinion of this meeting, the Obligation
Of the Third Degree, MS set forth Ia the
Constitution of the National Counc, of the
United States of North America, known rs
the Order of Know-Nothiags, is direct de-
nunciation Of the principles Of this Ordi-
nance, and the position assumed in these
proceedings, and the triumph Of the Order
in this State, would effect political revolu-
within her limits.
2. Resolped, That we protest against the
proposition put forth by the Grand Council
of the Order, in Philadelphia, that " the
maintenance Of the Union Of these States,
is the paramount political good,r--a doe.
trine which assumes that Government is
above the objects for which it was iustitut
ed--strikes ut the very foundation of the
Sovereignty of the States, and under every
violation Of the Constitution, however fla
grant, and under every degree Of oppression
and injury, however destructive, demands OF
the States eternal and unresistiDg snbiec-
tion to the central power: and We disap-
prove, as heretical in principle and eminent
ly dangerous to the South, the idoIatrous
devotion to the Union OF theae States, so
prominently and constantly inculeated BY
the Constitution and Ritual OF the Order,
when contrnsted with their silence ne TO the
necessity Of preserving uujmpaired tbe
rigbts Of the States respectively.
~
s. Rcplsed, That in the opinion Of this
meeting, the existence and progress Of the
organization known rs the Order OF Know.
Nothings. is opposed theoretically and prac-
tiehlly 10 the principles which have hitherto
characterized South Carolina az a State, and
the Southern Rigkts Party every sshere,