Year: 1860

ercise of their reserved powers, to protect
the rights and liberties of the people, and
to preserve the Federal Union," and for
this purpose she desires the "concvrrent &C.
tion" of the Southern States; but she adds
"that efficient cooperation will be more
safely obtained by such direct Legislative
action of the several States as may be ne
cessary and proper, than through the agen-
cy of an assemblage which can exercise no
Legitimate power except to debate and ad-
wise"


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 efectiug the object 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 redressing wrongs and obtaining
the concurrent action of other States, it fol-
lows that the separate action of each is the
the best method of getting cooperation or
concerted action of the other States in any
movement, and it would therefore be wise
in South Carolina, in imitation of Virginia
to decline representation in "any assem-
blage which can exercise no Legitimate pow
er except to debate and advise" and in no
assemblage whatever, until by the ordi-
nance of her Convention she has seeded
from Union which she once acceded to,
and which has proved curse instead of
blessing.


The effort of South Carolina to assemble
the Southern States, in the hope that the
North might be induced to pause and re-
trace their steps, by an earnest and unaui
nous protest against the course pursued by
them, and notification that unless change
Of policy took place, the South would be
compelled to take the redress of her griev-
ances in her own hands, failed on account
of the refusal of Virginia to join in the
movement; although her borders had been
recently invaded and her citizens murdered
in cold blood bya band of abolitionists iusti-
gated to the deed by the teachings of men
of controlling influence in the North. All
hope, therefore, Of concerted action by a
Southern Convention being lost, there is
but one course left forS. Carolina to pursue,
consistently with her honor, interest and
safety, and that is, to look neither to the
right nor the left, but 60 straight forward
to t, consummation of her purpose.


1t is too late now to receive propositions
for conference; and the State would be
wanting in self-respect, after having delib-
erately decided on her course, to entertain
any proposition looking to continuance in
the present Union. We can get no better
or safer guarantee than the present Consti-
tuition, and that proved irpoteut to protect
US against the fanatlcism of the North
The institution of slavery must be under the
exclusive control of those directly interest
ed in ts preservation, and not left to the
mercy of those that believe it to be their
duty to destroy it.


The tone of the Northern press has great.
ly changed since the unanimous and deter
mined action of South Carolina. Hereto.
fore, it was supposed by our enemies that
we were divided and distracted at home, and
that, in consequence of our divisions, the
scenes of 1851 would be re-enacted, and the
State would finally acquiesce in Black Re-
publican rule, or at best, that something
less than secession would be adopted, and
our energies exhausted in fruitless expe.
dients and uDavailiug threats. Now that
the unwelcome conviction forces itself upon
them that "we have counted the cost, and
find nothing 80 intclerable as voluntary
slavery" and that we are not to be deter
red from the assertion of and maintenance
of our rights by the threats of Federal bay
onets, or the unmeaning and senseless dis
play of Wide Awake professions, formid-
able only to the capitalists and conservatives
of their own section, they begin to change
their tone, and appeal to US, rather as sup
plants than as conquerors, to save the Uni
on from which they have reaped rich
harvest of profit and honor, and which the
South has only known by its exactious


They have been deaf to the voice of res.
son and consauguinity; they have disregard.
, ed the counsels of their wisest and best
, citizens Their Neros, in the person of Sew
ard, Sumner, and others, have been fddling
while the Constitution has been trampled
under foot, and higher law inaugurated
in its stead in accordance with their treas.
enable advice and teaching, and by their
crowning act of electing a Black Republi-
can President to carry out their long cher
ished designs against the peace and pros
perity of the South, they have declared
open war against US.


What course, then, is left for the South.
ern States to pursue for the maintenance of
their rights and the security of their prop
crty, but a separation from such open and
undisguised enemies, and the establishment
of Southern Confederacy, with every ele.
ment of greatness and every means of de-
fence necessary to protect them from any
enemy, and command the respect and ad.
miration of the world ! 1t is gratifying to
know that in the contemplated movement
South Carolina has strong assurances that
she will not stand alone that if the lone
star we must have, it will be but for a
short season. when star after star will be
added, and the Southern banner "present
to the heavens the bright constellation that
adorns it"


There is no reasonable doubt but that
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida,