Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-02
FROM CHARLESTON.
Meeting of the Southern seceders.

Meeting of the Southern seceders.
CHARLESTON, May 1.-St. Andrews Hal
was densely thronged last night.
Mr.. Smith, of Ala, proposed an adjourn
ment TO the open air--the Hall being toe
small.
Mr. Iancey rose, and was greeted by deaf.
ening applause. He said this was great
crisis, and should be inaugurated with calm
ness and deliberation. He proposed that all
should retire from the hall, and allow the
delegates to organize with due deliberation,
and that they will then meet them in front
Of the City Hall and address them on the
momensous questions at issue.
Mr. Johnson, OF KY, came here to deliber-
ate with seeding delegates from slave States,
and thought that business could not be done
as meeting. They had most important
business to transact, and it should be atten-
ded to Immediately, and before the last fatal
act was consumaLed
Mr.. Yancey, ofAla., moved that Mr. Bay
ard, of Del, take the Chair, but that gentle
man excused himself ON account of physical
inability.
Mr.. John c. Preston, Of S. c., was then
called to the chair, and addressed the meet
ing, returning his thanks for the honor thus
conferred upon him. He considered this Il
great Occaslon-a movement OF constitutions
al lovers of this Republic. We only know
the imperiled institutions OF our country.
We are here to preserve our rights and redress
our wrongs Il we had submitted, we would
have done that which would have driven us
from the land which our foreiathcrs gave US,
- Inn, ol fjn hoy
fought for, and would have ultimately driv-
ell us from the spot i'll which their sacred
ashes repose. lie spoke at considerable
length.
MIR. Yancey took the floor, and stated his
view of the position occupied by southern
delegates. We appear here simply as citl-
zens of the States in which we live. We
were sent to the National Democratic Con-
yention rs delegates, but our mission has
been fulfilled, and we retire us mere citizens
from the late National Convention, for 1t is
now a mere sectional gathering. few
southern delegates still remain there, but II
is in the hope Of being able 10 induce the
majority to iorego their Black Republican
purpose. 1t is proposed that we should take no
action, but remain here to watch the pro
ceilings of the body of which we were re-
Gently members; and, should they nominate
Douglas, it will then become our duty to
present or recommend to the people Of the
United States candidates for the President
and Vice President, on a national, constitu-
al basis, and theretorea southern basis. No
action should be taken by the seeding dele
gates until the proper time.
Mr.. Bayard, Of Delaware, did not regard
the influence that overruied principle IN the
National Convention, so much The spirit OF
Black kepublcanism. rs Tor power and PUN
der-the corruption and bargains OF gene
raj scramble Tor Office. lie was severe on
the New York delegation, who came here, he
said, protesting to desire to Join i'll such 4
nomination as would suit the South; but SO
soon as they were given their seats, they have
turned their backs on the South. lie trust
ed that other States would withdraw from
that Convention, and that 1t would BE- utterl J
dissolved He did not consider that the St
ccders mad power TO make regular nomina-
tons, but he would recommend, if it should
be found necessary, that they should join III
the recommendation of some suitable cand!-
dates, with written address to their const:-
tuents.
Mr.. Matthews, Of La, IN behalf of his de-
legation, asked that no action be taken by
this body until we see whether if instead Of
eight States, we do not tomorrow to-day
number fifteen, and perhaps seventeen States.
We should wait and see what IS done Oh
Tuesday, and we should do nothing hastily,
until we hear from those States who asked
for an adjournment this (Monday) evening,
in order to have an opportunity of consult
ing as to the course they should pursue.
The States were then called. When New
York was reached, DR.. Skinner, of the Wood
delegation, responded. lie said they came
here to attend a National Convention, and
had been sitting out in the cold for eight
days, having been oustcd from their seats By
fraud. lie was a Hard, and the difference
between q Hard and Il Soft was that the
former sacrificed place for principle, and
the latter principle for place. lie had no
doubt Mayor Wood would have been here It
he had k;uwn Of the meeting.
Delaware was then called, and Mr.. Bay
ard and one other delegate came forward.
Maryland made no response.
Virginia was responded to by Mr.. Fisher,
who said there would be more from that
State here. He stated that he had sent al
invitation to Mayor Wood to be here.
South Carolina was called, and Mr.. Reed,
of that Stale, said that he was one Of the
three whose name was not signed to the pro-
test He had hestated about leaving the
Convention in the hope of securing harmony,
but wherever Alabama goes, there the Caro-,
linas will go also. He was satisfied that
Georgia would be with US before tomorrow
night, and he hoped every Southern State
also.
Georgia was called, and Mr.. Lamar respon-
dcd as delegate from that State. lie said
he believed that large majority of his dele
CATION, before tomorrow morning, will en-
rol their names
The call for Florida was responded to by
the entire delegation. Rev. Mr.. Owen of that
State, and all the seeding delegates OF the 9th
er seeding States, now came up and signed,
and the meeting adjourned to meet at such
time tomorrow DIS the Chairman may call
them together. The delegates then went
en- nsusse to the City Hall, where Mr. Yam
cey maize IA stirring speech.
The Secedcrs appointed a Committee on
Organization, and will meet at noon to-mor-
row, when their organization will be per-
fcc.ed.
The Douglas men appeared to be perfectly
satisfied with the result declaring that tie
Seceders DO not represent the popular fee
ing OF the respective States.