The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-07
FROM THE SOUTH.
MEETING OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA
LEGISLATURE.
JOE LANE ON THE "oR1s1s.,,
GEORGIA CONVENTION BILL.
PURCHASE OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION
FOR THE SOUTH.
Interesting Letter from Southern
Gentleman.

AAA"SAOSS &NVvs a.
This has been solemn!y quiet day il
Charleston. Business has been suspended
all day, and the streets have been as silen
as we'll kept Sabbath.
1t has been day of fasting and prayer
with the religiousIy inclined, and services
have been held in all the churches not or.
binary fast-day services and sermons. B,
no means. Every minister in Charleston
preached secession sermon to-day.
The southern pulpit is now fairly en-
parked on the troubled sea of politics. A
political sermon six months ago was the
special adherence of all southern minister's
at least, such is the allegation. Now, pol,
itics form the staple Of preaching in Charles
ton.
One is reminded of the days and exploits
of Praise God Barebones, by the events Of
this day. Religious and political enthusi>
asm are getting mingled in right Cromwell
liam fashion. 1t only needs the "trust in
Providence, and keep your powder dry" Of
"the great usurper," to link that age and
this together.
From pulpit to rostrum; Congressman
Kent last night made a fiery speech-one
of those incandescent efforts for which he is
famous, and took occasion to exhume the
name of Preston Brooks, and glorify his at.
fair with Sumner.
His defence of Mr.. Brooks was without
qualification, and elected the EXTREMIST of
South Carolina applause.
So, this afternoon, Mr.. Keitt was pre-
sented with gutta>percha rifle cane, in re.
ward for bis speech of the night before.
He received it gracefully, with a pretty
speech, just pertinent to the occasion, and
of course impromptu.
MIR. Keitt has announced his intention to
resign his seat in Congress before the seces-
sion convention shall meet. He is expected
to 60 into the convention.
One hundred and eighty Storage passen.
gers from the North have been sent back,
and more will follow. The South Carroll.
mans seem determined to carry out this
ancient law, and it is not to be doubted that
any but cabin passengers to Charleston
might as well stay at home.
The intelligence from Charleston, of the
26th inst, is that the city was perfectly
quiet on that day. The members of the
Legislature have nearly all gone to Colum-
bia, the regular session opening on that eve
ming. The Governors message would be
delivered the next day. 1t was rumored
that troops were coming to Fort Moultrie.
No delegates will be sent to the State
Convention unless strongly committed to
secession.
A despatch from Columbia, South Caro-
lima, of the 9th inst, states that in the
Legislature, the bill for arming the State,
and raising 100000 for this purpose, Was
read the first time. Tenders of aid from
other States continue to be received by the
Governor. All affirm that they would soon
er die or see the State subjugatad prov.
ince, than passively to submit to Northern
encroachments. The Governor was to send
his message the next day. He will recon-.
mend the encouragement of direct trade
with Europe, and that the State take upon
itself a part of the losses which will follow
from its establishment. Some of the citi.
zens of Charleston contemplate starting q
line Of steamers from that port to Liver
pool. In the event of traitors arising in
the State, after she shall have asserted her
sovereignty, the Legislature will devise
measures to punish treason.
JOE. LANE ON THE CRISIS"
Gen. Lane has got somebody to write a
letter for him, to the New York Breckin-
ridge Club, in which he says:
In my Judgment, the Northern people are
unjust and unwise in denying to the citizens
of the Southern States the right to emil
crate to and settle 10 the Territories with
their slave property. They are wrong in
holding that no more slave States shall be
admitted into the Union, for it is clearly
the right of the people of a Territory, when
their population entities them to admission
into the Union, to form such government as
may suit them, and, whether slave or free,
it is the duty of Congress to admit them.
And they are wrong in permitting to re-
main upon the statute books laws obstruct-
i've of the faithful execution of the fugitive
slave law. Let them speedily take steps to
correct these wrongs, and maintain good
faith toward all the States, as was main
tanned in the early days of the Republic.
This is in their power, and in no other way
can they avert dissolution; for no one, in
nv opinion, who is at all informed as to the
framework of our Government, can conclude
that the Federal Government has the con-
stitutional power to use force against State
for resuming the powers which it delegated
to the General Government, when its rights
have been infriDged or equality refused or,
if the Government had the power, that it
would be wise or prudent to use it. The
Union was not formed by force, nor can it
be maintained by force. 1t was q volun-
tary Union of sovereign States, and when>
ever the rights Of any Of them shall be in.
fringed, or equality refused, and they find
il necessary and shall desire opart, there is
no power that can keep them together, or
that should attempt it.