The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-11-29
THE SOUTHERN DISuNION MOVEMENT
THE SOUTH CAROLINA MEMBERS
COMING TO CONGRESS-.
The South Carolina Convention,
THE CHARLESTON MERCURY ON COERCION.
PRESIDENT MADISON ON SECESSION.

PRESIDENT MADISON ON SECESSION.
SOUTH CAROLINA MEMBERS OF CONGRESS-
CHARLESTON, Nov. 2S.-The Senators and mem
bers OF the House CT Representatives from this Stat,
have to dav, after consultation, resolved to take
their seats in Congress on Monday next, to remain
until the State withdraws from the Union
THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONVENTION
CHARLESTON, Nov. 28.-The Mechanics Institute
Hall, in which the National Democratic Convention
assembled, has been rendered to the Governor ror
the use of the South Carolina Secession Conven.
tion, which is to assemble on the 10th of December
Several candidates for the South Carolina Con.
vention, over their signatures, repudiate the pro.
ject of permitting any free State to Join the South
Confederacy.
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT MADISON.
The Charleston Rerie,g publishes letter from ev-
President Madison on secession, written bv the
Hon. Alexander Rives, which has never been pub-
lished before. 1t was called forth by communi
cation in The Reoieo, written by Rives under the
signature of ga friend to the Union and State
Rights" 1t is published verbatim from the man.
uscript and bears date, but one in answer to it.
written by Rives, is dated Jan. II, 1928 From
Madison's letter we take the following extract:
" do not consider the proceedings of Virginia in
'9S and '99 as cOuntenancing the doctrine that a
State may at will secede from its constitutional
compact with the other States. A rghtfuI seces-
sion requires the consent of the Others or an abuse
of the compact absolving the seeding party from
the obligations imposed by it. An inference from
the doctrine that single State has right to
secede at will from the rest, is that the rest would
hora srrlf
words, to turn it against its will out of its union
with them. But such a doctrine would not till of
late have been palatabe anywhere and nowhere
less so than there it is now most contended for
COERCION.
The Charleston Mercury of Monday, in reviewing
the reported position of the President says:
We certainly deprecate war with the Northern
people through the General Government; but Mr.
Buchanan may be assured that the first attempt
an any form to coerce South Carolina into submis
sion to Government she has thrown off. will he
considered war. He may call it by what name he
pleases, but the sword will then be the final and
only arbiler between us. All hopes (ifhe has ANY,
OF readJustment OF the relations between the two
sections of the Union under one government will
have ended, and forever. He is totally mistaken in
supposing "that South Carolina wishes to enter
into conflict with him." Not State in tho
Union, we believe, has had more confidence in his
administration than South Carolina. Our peopIe
will reluctantly realize the fact that he will place
his administration in the van of the Abo-
tion party of the North to compel by force
OF arms, submission by the South to their au-
thority. But when they do realize it. they will
also realize how utterly hopeless how desperately
fatal, must be the continuance of any further
union with the people of the North. Nor do the
people of South Carolina DESIRE by the shedding
of blood, "tO drag the other States into the move
ment of dissolution If such was our purpose. we
could enforce it any morning of the week The
forts in bay are within sight of Charleston
chooses he oar Of oJ
ding, we shall not decline it, for we know as well
as he does that it will drag the other States into
the movement of dissolution" Whilst the Banks
of the North are crashing around him. and bank
rupcy sits IN the Capitol, the sword will be fitting
accompaniment to the villainies and tyranpies
which have produced the present calamit0us state
Of things. We are ready.
FORCING THE STATES.
The Charleston Courier, of Monday, under the
above heading, says
We regret to sce in some exchanges expressions
of opinions about ''forcng States" and about the
action OF one State compelling, and Necessarily de-
Gliding the action oc another, or of others
We protest against any such design, temper or
expectation, and only seek and desire that each
State should act for herself in this great emer
gency.
One State cannot defend or vindicate the honor
or represent the voice of another, and far as our
own State is concerned, we know that the desire or
expectation of forcing is not indulged.
THE QUESTIONS TO THE CANDIDATES
The Charleston papers suggest that the candi
dates for the Convention should respond to the fol-
lowing questions
lst. If elected to the Convention, will vou vote
racy of the United as soon as the Ordinaee
of Secession can be framed and adopted?
I'd. After South Carolina is withdrawn, will YOU
oppose her being reunited with any non slave
holding State under any form of government what
ever?
MYSTERIOUS MEETING IN PHILADELPHIA.
Yesterday afternoon, says the Philadelphia H-
q""er OF Wednesday, meeting of prominent
merchants, manufacturers, attorneys and polit-
clans, was held in one of the rooms of the Girard
House. On the strength of invitation such as
was extended to all present, reporter proceeded
to the place, but informed that the representa-
tives OF the press were not to be present and that
the meeting was strictly private and confidential
We are unable to state from what source our in
vitation came, but we learned that great many
others were in the same biSsfu ignorance Yet
entrance was denied to none those who were
to give it a real Importance. The following is the
mysterious invitation:
[Privatel
PHILADELPHIA Nov. %, 1850.
Dear Sir The imminent peril of the existence of the
government, and the probability that may soon be
plunged in civil war calls immediate action in the
State of Pennsylvania.
meeting of gentlemen will be held on Tuesday after
noon 9th inst, at O'Clock, at the Girard House.
suit upon the eXgences of the crisis and agree upon
some plan Of action.
Your attendance is most earnestly requested.
What the results of this meeting will be, or
what its influence upon our destiny, it is impOs-
sible to tell.
THE VIEWS OF SENATOR MASON.
Senator James NJ. Mason, whose fidelity to Vir-
ginia and the South no dispute, in recent
speech, referring to the contingency of Lncoln's
election, declared that she should take his seat as
Senator to support and defend the Constitution,
the rights and integrity of the State, and when
they could be no longer maintained, he should rem
der back to her the high trust reposed in him by
Virginia, trusting to her wisdom and patriotism in
that eXigency TO do the best"
THE GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA.
Gov. Perry, of Florida, has written letter IA
voring separate State action, which means imme-
diate secession from the Union His term of office
is about expiring, but his successor, just elected.
Gov. John Milton, is of the same opinion.
Ex GOVERNOR FITZPATRICK, OF ALABAMA.
ExGov. Fitzpatrick, United States Senator from
Alabama, the same gentleman who originally
nominated for the Vice Presidency with Mr.. Dou-
glas, at Baltimore, and has been esteemed to be
one of the most conservative public men of that
State has written letter in favor ct secession and
the formation of Southern Confederacy, but not
for the separate secession of Alabama. He is for
free and full consultation with the fourteen States
which have the same institutions to protect Ala
bama-'for the benefit as well as the safety of
ALL" In the event of dissolution, he prefers that
all the Southern States should 90 together but if
unanimity cannot be obtained, ga sufficient num-
ueT snuulu 90 out LOSetDer TO insure a new cOnfed
eracy, able to give protection against aggression,
come from what quarter it may
CARD FROM GOVERNOR AIKEN.
The following card is published in the Charleston
NercWY of Monday:
To my FeHo,0 Citizens My name has been an
nOunced, among others, for a seat in the Conven-
tion, through the partiaty of kind friends. Feel
ing and apprecating most sensibly the high honor
proposed to be conferred and thanking those who
have shown so frequently their kindness towards
me, upon many occasions, must ask the favor to
be allowed to decline being candidate for the Con
vention. Circumstances of delicate nature COM
pei me to take such a course.
With heart full of love for nv native State,
and Il destiny linked to hers, whether for veal or
for woe, am, as ever, your faithful servant,
WILLIAM AIKEN
A soUTHRoN VISITS MR.. LINCOLN.
The only article of a conservative character we
have observed in the Charleston journals within the
last two three weeks is the following, which we
find in the Charleston Courier of Saturday last
credited to Tennessee paper. Is it true?
4 Southern Planter Visits Lincola-L Ltncola's Pol.
icy Defined by HimseLE-A wealthy planter of
Mississippi, native of Maury county, Tenn, and a
breckenridge Democrat, passed through this city
on Saturday last, and related to a gentleman of one
OF the upper counties, whom we know to be entirely
reliable, the following. We take the liberty of
giving the facts elected publicity because of their
Importance.
This planter desired to purchase an additional