Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-12-09
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From the Charleston News.
SENATOR HAMMoND.-CoLONEL
- MAXEY GREGG.

ENATOd 6Amm ELL
MAxEY GREGG.
It will be remembered that few a week!
since we characterized certain letters from ,
number of gentlemen about Columbia, writ
ten in response to invitations to the Edge
field dinner last summer to General Bonham
as an assault On Senator Hammond, and an
attempt to foiss the slave trade question on
the State Rights party. They were from
Gen. Adams, and fEom,e ,ectpnel~ Gregg, MIR
mayor Tradewell, and COL Allen Gree, o1
Columbia and they were evidently prepsv
ed 10 mutural understanding and Objects -
Last week there appeared in Columbia q
pamphlet embodying these and otherletters,
to which was attached Preface by Colonel
Maxey Gregg. Copies of this pamphlet were
laid on the tables of members Of the Legis.
lature and the Preface alluded to, We sub.
NIT, proves TINT our estimate of the move
ment of these gentlemen was in substance
correct.
We do not propose to make anyissue with
Col. Maxey Gregg on principles or parties
--as to those we entirely agree; nor to i'm
pute to him any improper design, personal
or political. We know and warmly appre-
preciate the stern rectitude and manliness
Of his character, private and public so, al
SO, of the other gentlemen. But we cannot
approve Of the mode in which he has sought
to enforce his views and policy. We cannot
consent to division and distraction Of the
State Rights PARTY, where circumstances do
not Justify it. We cannot accept his esti-
mate of Senator Hammoud's speeches and
objects. We cannot acknowledge his au-
thority, or that of any set of gentlemen, to
ostracize from the State Rights party many
who have been its admitted leaders and faith
full servants, because they do not see treason
or folly in Senator Hammond and We, es-
pecially, discountenonce and resist the at
tempt In allusiou to that statesman's speech
es, he says: "7he States Right party arere
astouadcd." Colonel Maxcy Gregg may have
been astounded; but arc he and his friends
THE PARTY? Did the Hon. Messrs Rhett,
Mcqueen, Boyce, Keitt, Miles and others,
or the Mercury, News and other papers, ex-
press such astonishment? They may have
differed with the Senator on some points, but
they concurred with him on fundamental
principles and leading objects; and even on
policy they were prepared to disapprove his
or suggest another course, however they may
have entertained varying coaectured opin.
ions on either facts or the future. Are these
latter gentlemen ard papers, Of known pub
lie position and service in the State Rights
party, no longer to be regarded as members
of or expopents in it! Have they become
Orr Nationals, or have they ever failed, and
in disregard of party, to raise the voice of
indignation against and Of action upon South
crn wrongs? Colonel Gregg is entitled to
his opinions and to express them, but did
the Craftsmanship of the Central Committee,
to manage the election to a Southern Con.
gress during the days of Secession, entitle
him to read these gentlemen out of the State
Rights party, in whose ranks they were then
leading as we'll as fighting? Who was The
leader-the Hon. R. BarnweA Rhett or
Colonel Gregg? Colonel Gregg sneers at
"moral victories y but in the actual or NOR.
al advancement Of the cause of our slave in
stitution, which did the most service, his
Craftsmanship in 1851 or Hammoud's letters
to Clarkson, the exponent Of Exeter Hall?
Colonel Gregg repudiates all who have gone
with Orr or who approve the States going
into party Conventions; but in his letter on
the occasion of the dinner to Gen. Bonham,
he lauds the latter gentleman for his course,
although he was member of the very Con-
vention held three years ago at Columbia,
which he denounces in his "Preface."
He complains of Senator Hammond For
what? For coalesciug with Col. Orr on
Conventions He intimates it; but the
Senator in his Beech Island Speech directly
counselled that the people Of the State should
not merge themselves in or be trammeled OF.
mislead by party, and not to 90 into party
Conventions. All the reports Of it stated
this fact and opinion, and Col. Gregg him
self heard that speech.
For his letter of thanks for an invitation
to the Orr Craytonville dinner? Yes. That
was short note Of political courtesy, con-
tanning no politics; and surely politician,
however differing with another in opinions,
may be allowed the privilege Of civilty and
compliment to him And, laying aside
Col Orr's preference for Conventions and
his course for party, what have there been
in his votes and speeches in Congress, which
together did not constitute fair 'political
conduct" and which Senator Hammond
could not approve?
Allusion is made to the influence upon
Senator Hammond Of the "atmosphere Of
Washington" This is 80 ungeuerous, it
may pass for what it is worth.
The Senator is assailed for the declaration
of his belief that Southern politicians gene
rally would not 60 for a severance of the
Union, in the event Of the election to the
Presidency of Black Republican. But he
did not say that he himself aeould not co.
He alluded to the probability of their course,
as one of the difficulties with which State
Rights statesman, like himself, would have
to contend and as he himself would not like
to advise Or attempt Secession, until four or
FIVE of the Southern States were ready to
move with South Carolina. And did he not
advise that South Carolina should be always