Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-12-08

~ i1ooPc, anu IcucclS great creult upon the
architect, the commissioner, and all concern
ed. The only regret is that it may be neces-
'nrY to suspend operations, and husband all
1ur resources for the defence of the State
No one regrets more than | do that such
necessity may arise; but we must make ev-
crything give way to the paramount consid-
Grafton, and reconcile ourselves as best we
can to the delay The Legislature should
not make any large appropriations, except
for arms and material of war, until there is a
full recognition of our rights out of the I'm
ion, and no longer any pressing necessity to
arm. If the work be suspended, it may be
necessary to have some temporary covering,
10 protect it from rain and storms, and es-
pccaIy from being disGgured, and it may bc
necessary to appropriate small amount for
that purpose.
JOHN BRowN's PrKE.--At the request
of distinguished Virgiuan, Edmund Ruiih,
ESD, | herewith present to the Legislature
one of the Pixies intended by John Brown to
be used by the negroes of Virginia upon the
unoffending and pcaceabe inhabitants of that
State. lie requests "that this weapon may
be placed in some conspicuous position in the
State House of South Carolina, there to re-
main, and be preserved as abiding and i'm
prcSsive evidence of the fanatica hatred
borne by the dominant Northern party, to
the institutions and people of the Southern
States, and OF the unscrupulous and atrocious
means rcsortcd to for the expected attainment
OF the objects in view" and | respectfully
recommend that the thanks of the State be
returned to Mr.. Ruifn for this memcrto of
Southern wrongs, toe long and too patiently
borne, and that it be placed in tho House Of
Representatives.
FEDERAL RELATIoNS.-In obedience to
the resolutions passed by the General Assem-
bly, of this State at the last regular session,
expressing the opinion that the slavchoding
States should Immediately meet together to
concert measures for united action, and in.
structlng the Governor to appoint CommiS-
sIoncr to Virginia, " to express to the author
tiles OF that State the cordial sympathy of the
people of South Carolina with the people of
Virginia, and their earnest desire to unite
with them In measures OF common Defence"
and also to transmit to all the Southern States
an invitation to meet in Convention, to con
suit and mature measures for the safety and
security of the South and their institutions
Immediately appointed to that Office the
Hon. {. G. Mcmmingcr, the mover Of the
resolutions, gentleman not only of high
character and literary attainmcnts, but who
i superior Powder, VIZ s-"~-.---
vas sonci "'Iy 'tsardrs5. ng &c exponent OF tho
opinions of the cons'.aHHsc Hs portion of the peo-
pie OF this State. 1t was thought desirable to
send Commissioner who would not only have
the ability to explain our position and place
us in proper light before the Legislature and
people of Virginia, but who would by his an
tccedcnts convince them that our great aim
and object IN asking fora conference with our
Southern sisters was not to plan dissolution
OF the Union, but to save it, if possible, bv
insisting on satisfactory guarantees ,Gom the
North, that we were in future to be uiImolcst
cd In our persons and property, acknowledged
as equals IN carrying our slaves to any terri
rtory belonging to the United States and
having protection by the Federal Government
against any attempt to interfere in any way
with this property. Mr.. Mcmmngcr was
kindly received, Hospitality entertained, and
listened to with much attention, but his mas
tcry and unanswcrabe argument before the
Legislature and people of Virginia failed to
convince them of the necessity of concerted
action on the part of the Southern States in
Convention The State of Virginia thought
proper to decline the proposed conference of
the Southern States, as will be seen by the
resolutions Of her General Assembly herewith
transmitted, and only Mississippi and Ala
bama, of all tic slaveholdng States, acccdcd
to the proposal
No snch meeting Of the States has taken
place, as 1t was thought the number agreeing
to meet was too small to effect the desired OBJ
joct, by producing that moral effect which
would unqucstionably have resulted from
general meeting Of the States interested. One
of the resolutions adopted by Virginia in re-
sfonsc to the invitation of South Carolina and
Mississippi to meet in conference, expresses
the opinion, that " Virginia does not vet dis
trust the capacity of the Southern States, by
a wise and firm exercise of their reserved pow
ers, to protect the rights and liberties of tho
people, and to preserve the Federal Union"
and for this purpose she desires the "concuy-
rent dction p" Of the Southern States; but she
adds " that efficient co operation will be more
safely obtained by such direct Legislative nc.
ton of the Seterdt States as may be necessary
and proper, than through the agency of an
asscmblagc which can exercise no legitimate
power except to debate and advise"
Thus we see that although Virginia had
strong hopes at that time of preserving the
Federal Union, she was unwilling to resort to
any other way of cffccting the ol iect than by
the separate action of each State which
would have the effect of producing the con-
current action of all the States Interested.
If therefore Virginia is right as to the best
mode Of rcdrcssing wrongs and obtaining tho
action of ether States, it follows
that the separate action of each is the best
method of getting cooperation or concerted