The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1861-02-27
STATE OF THE COUNTRY.
BY J. II. rHoRSwELL, D. D.

Declaration of the Immediate Causes chieh Induce
and Justify The Secession Of South Carolina from
Ms Federal Union and the Ordinance Of Seecs-
sion. Printed by order Of the Convention
Charleston: Evans and Cogswel, Printers to the
Convention; PIP. lS 1850.
The address of the People Of South Carolina, As
sembled in Convention, 10 the People Of he Slaw-
holding States Of The United States Printed by
order of the Convention Charleston; Evans &
Cogswell, Printers to the Convention; pp. l6.
1850.
Report on the address Of portion Of the Members
ofhe General AsscD,blycf Georgia. Printed by
order of the Convention Charleston: Evans
Cogswell, Printers to the Convention; pp. 6.
1860
1t is now universally known that, on the twentieth
day of last December, the people of South Carolina,
in Convention assembled solemnly annulled the or
dinance by which they became members of the Fed
eral Union, entitled the United States of America,
and resumed to themselves the exercise of all the
powers which they had delegated to the Federal Con-
gress. South Carolina has now become separate
and independent State. She takes her place as an
certainly one of the most grave and important events
of modern times II involves the destiny of a CONT
nent and through that continent the fortunes of the
human race As 1t is matter of the utmost mo-
ment that the rest of the world and especially that
the people of the United States, should understand
the causes which have brought about this astounding
result, We PROPOSE in short article, and in candid
and dispassonate spirit to explain them, and to make
an appeal, both to the savcholding and non-slave-
holding States, touching their duty in the new and
extraordinary aspect which affairs have assumed
That there was a cause, and adequate cause,
might be presumed from the character of the Con-
Vention which passed the Ordinance Of Secession,
nnd the perfect unanimity with which it was done.
That Convention was nota collection of demagogucs
and politicians. II was not conclave of defeated
placehunters, who sought to avenge their dsappon-
meht by the ruin of their country. Ii was body OF
sober, grave and venerable men, selected from every
pursuit in life, and distinguished most of them in
their respective spheres by every quality which can
command confidence and respect 1t embraced the
wisdom, moderation and integrity Of the bench, the
learning aud prudence of the bar, and the eloquence
and pety of the pulpit 1t contained retired plant
nrs scholars and gentlemen, who had stood aloof
from the turmoil and ambition of public life, and We're
devoting an elegant leisure-otiam diga,tate-to
the culture Of their minds, and to quiet and unobtn
sive schemes of Christian philanthropy. There were
men in that Convention who were utterly incapable
Of low and selfish schemes who, in the calm serenity
OF their judgments, were as unmoved by the waves
of popular passion and excitement the everlasting
granite by the pillows that roll against it. There
were men there who would have listened to no voice
but what they believed be the voice of reason and
would have bowed to no authority but what they be-
lieved to be the authority Of God There were men
there who would not have been controlled by "uii-
certain opinion" nor betrayed into Sudden coun-
sells" men who could act from nothing in the noble
language of Milton, ''bat from mature wisdom, de-
liberate virtue and dear affection to the public good
That Convention, in the character of its members,
deserves every ssyllAble of the glowing panegyric
which Milton haspronounced upon the immortal Par
lament of England, which taught the nations of the
earth that resistance to tyrans is obedience to God
Were h not invidious, we might single out names
which, wherever they are known are regarded as sy
nOnymous with purity probity, magnanimity and
honor twas noble body, and all their proceeding:
were in harmony with their high character In tn,
midst Of intense agitation and eKceIsent, they wer'
calm, cool, collected and sefpossessed They delib
Grated without passion, and concluded without rash
ness They sat with closed doors, that the tumut o
the populace might not invade the sObriety of the
minds II a stranger could have passed from tn,
stirriug scenes with which the streets Of Charleston
were Ave, into the calm and quiet sanctuary of thi
Eenerable council, he would have been impresse'
with the ave and vens==.inn which subdued the rud
Gau when he first beheld in senatorial dignity tn
COnscript Fathers Of Rome. That, in such body
there not single voice against the Ordinance o.
Secession that there not only no dissent but tha
the assent was cordial and thorOugh-gOng is stron.
pressupdOa that the measure was justified by tn
cle.rest and steruest necessities Of justice and
right That sach an assembly should have inauguIa
ted and completed radical revolution in all the ex
tsrna relations Of the stste in the face Of aeknowl
edged dangers and at the risk of enormous sscrifees
and should have done ii ravey, sObeiy, dispassion
ately, deliberately, and yet have done it WifhOu
cause, transcends all the measures Of probability
Whatever else may be said Of il IL certainly must
admitted that this solemn act Of South Carolina wa
well coasidered
In Der estimate Of tle magnitude Of the danger
she has been seconded BY every other slaveholdin
State While we are writing, the telegraph wire
announce What he previous elections had preparet
us to eHpees-fhsf Florida Alabama and Mississipp
have followed her example. They also have beoOm
separais and independent Stsies Three other State