Newspaper Page Text
fmnMWTO*. B.C. Feb 29iU»*«.
MINUTES OF THE FIRST MEETING 01 I
THE C!O 4 \VENTIU>. i
The Convention of Delegate* from the ,
Slate Right* and Free Trade Associa
tion* of every District in the State (but
one) was -ugiinized at 7 P- -H. th-s eve
ning.
On motion of the Hon. Henry Dean,
hi* Excellency JAMES HAMIE'TUN,
Jitn. was culled to the Chair, mid Mvkr
>l. Coiirm, appointed to net ns Secretary
of the Convention.
His Excellency the Governor, ns Pre
sident of the Convention, opened the bu
siness thereof by the following Address:
GV/tflr-incti—l feet very sen*My the hon
or yon have done me by inviting me to
preside over your deliberations. The
sources olThiM distinction i recognize in
the character of this assembly, end in the
crisis at which wo are convened.
Wo have assembled, gentlemen, as tin-1
Delegates of a patriotic and loyally de- 1
voted people to the Constitution, to de- j
V ise the host means of maintaining the
reserved sovereignly of the Htates, mid
of recovering for the country the 10-t, 1
but inestimable blessings of Free Trade. \
Under ordinary circumstances, such an
assembly could not fail to challenge pub
lic notice; under the exigency in which
Wo are convened, it bus excited intense :
public feeling. The signs of this tiro a I
round us. la (hegu-di of popular enthu- I
siasrn which has tilled (his spacious edi |
lice to overflowing—in the sympathy .
which has come this night to bless us, i
train those who are belter and purer tlttiii
ourselves—from that sex, gentlemen who
are at onee tin morl disemmnaling as
well as indexible judges ofpublic virtue.
Wo have convened under solemn nml
jm posing cimitiistanres.— We have not
conic here to fun tliuiircs of civil discord,
or to impair the just authorities of the
constitutional laws of our emiutry. No.
xve have assembled lor a widely dilferent
purpose—to consider nml m tiure tin
best means ofdiirusing among «air peo
plea just knowledge of tlieir rights -<-( 1
and invigorating an cnlight- I
filed public seutiineat—of offering u;> a
gain our pledges, that if the public traii
• |tiilily is disturbed, it shall not be of our
seeking; and that our only obj -ct with a
preservation ofthv Union ofthere Stales,
is to maintain those very rights and pi t
vilejies which that Union was designed
to rentier perpetual.
With these objects in view, let me in
vite your attention to the necessity of
augmenting our resources for issuing
more extensively publications from our
press, and lor a more prompt nml diffus
ed circulation of them, and likewise to
the expediency of giving to these publi
cations n more popular and less nbstrai t
elmrneter and lore*, that they may lit
brought down to the com a-eh.Mishin ol
e very freeman of the South who is able
to read what it so much behoves them to
learn.
Onr-only battery is n free press, nml in
lilt* light it diffuses we desire to have our
iirineiples, our acts, and oar motives,
scanned with u scrutiny that t.olliing
shall elude.
It may likewise be deemed proper tint
you should again address the good peo
ple of this IStiit#. .Since oar hist meet
ing at t kilumhia. a session of niii-xam
pled interest of the National legislature
has eammeaeed, and is daily developing
fisniU evealw at least of instructive udm /-
nil ion, if not of cheering hope ,\ nr
cumstanee nnpiiralleled in the history ol
nations, is about to signalize oar ana.iis
A public debt, the accumulated obliga
tions ol two successful struggles for free
d-un (the Inst emphatically for Urn-
Trade,) approximates immediately its ti
nul extinguishment.— The pertnmi at pn
licy of the emntry is to he lived perhaps
for generations to come- Through twelve
years of grievous mid unjust luxation, we
havo been ivtl-rrod to this period as a
termination of our pilgrimage and a eon
summation of oar hopes. The crisis has
come. Hat do the omens indicate that
relief is to come ? lias the fell spirit ol
monopoly seemingly relaxed one muscle
of iu rapacious grasp ? There can he
but one answer to this question. The re
flections that obviously belong to this to
pic, I leave to the temper and judgment
with which you will approach its discus
mon.
'The crisis is indeed deeply interesting.
This Ntnte, which lor the lust ten years
has maintained almost rhu'hv 1 *■
the unequal strap--', ' ‘ |V ' 1 la ‘*‘‘ a,l<l
Uoimt;*. • ‘■‘••lei-ty, n " vv presents (be
,-Vefuele oi a people, tin- fervor whose
excitement has subsided in the depth in
winch it has fixed in steadiness and
calmness the public resolution, and in the
Hood of light it has poured on the puhld
mind.
The existence of this assembly is im
pressivoly ilhwirativoof thistrnlli. VVe
are here the delegated exponents of or
gouzed nssoeiations, which have been
established throughout our Stale eh u-g
od with the conservation ofthose p-im i
pies ol civil At political liberty which we
believe to be vitally exposed to peril.—
Dow comes it to pass that these organiz
ed bodies should so suddenly have risen
M!> throughout our laud like camp th-es
striking their I,rami glare agaiasf lie
darkness of the night? Is it to minister to
some miserable purpose offaeti, a, or con
temptible struggle for political power,
that we may rmale to the purple some
r.rtn.iate chief, that he may requite our
sr-varyil.ty per adventure by his own
ingratitude ? Is it that we may u5,,,-,,
fte prerogatives of government uad ex
ert a a energy greater than the law it
f-cin No, we take no part in these phi
iul struggles for power—We Ik-loiit to I
no faction—Wc dictate no measures
even to our own public authorities—we i
have nothing to oiler them hut our ohe i
hence, and 1 trust, if need he, our for
ttinos nml onr liv(*9.
I : *ni what cause then have these As
\vt*«: r" S rt r eJ exigence ?-
' ,he ms moral necessity
i irNi a°f K ,< ' a U,L ‘ "mler. of combining i 1
> y runny Had oppression. that, in I
« eoiile loracy like ours, they mnv aid I
through the torce ofp.mlic opinion. ll,ei I
ow r. authorities at aome. which are weak I 1
•f-Moist « vast central power which U
strong, nml which, under the i:, hi. « 9 !‘
fj. ms of a tree goveramem, thr. a ens to
overwhelm the i.herties of„ U r . oun rv -
»ar vocation, genfieme-i. U f II ~sh
or as well asreqaiasihiiit.. | t would be
ua absurd nth-elation to attempt to eon-1
destined / " e e * e ''<dse.«»• I are 1
Mined . exere.se a powerful influence
over public sentiment. |{y the posses-j
sioti of the coßfidcnce and esteem of
largo portion of our fellow cilizcr.s, v
ore invested with a trust, the obligation
of which wh must endeavor to diseliarg
with wisdom, patriotism, firmness at»
moderation.
On this night, consecrated to a nation'
gratitude—on this night, the Ontenni.i
Anniversary of the birth of him whose
name, as it has been beautifully and just
ly said, “ belongs to the civilized world,
and Hie result of his virtues to the whole
human race’ - —we may well assemble
and mingle onr aspirations for our eouu
try. Who shad deny to us the right l->
gather round the sacred altars of his
glory and his name'! Are we infidel
.worshippers? Is not his life our vindi
cation? Was not his Immortality pur
chased by a glorious resistance to in just
land naconslitiitioiiul taxation! If the
1 spirits of the bless ;d are permitted to re
i visit the sphere of their useful less and
I virtues, tuny we not invoke his spirit t->
! hover overhis| once glorious tin I united |
| but our now convulsed and distracted |
country? That if be cannot penetrate the 1
; Iron Is of those who possess its power!
! with a ray of that Ir.'tiignant justice, that j
flowed likesini-hearns from the fountains i
of his own liosom. that he would lill oars j
; with u portion off,is lofty cournge, his se
jrene undismayed equanimity, hismateli
j less constancy, his stern, his heroic, Ids
! invincible spirit of resistance to oppres
| “ion, tlmt we may meet vvithont fulter
j mg, all those duties whiidi it may be
! within the dispen-atian of a wise uad
merciful IVivtdenee to decree.
The President then presented to the
(’onvenli-.il the filmwing letter from
1 Keating .Simons. Esq. the President of
the Charleston Assoi-ialioii:
CM \ll!,l-WiH\, l-Vh 22, T'T2.
His Excel leiiey Guv. Hvviii.to.v
I D'or Sir. — \\ it ti tiiis you will receive
•be answer of the venerable General
'‘■hunter to the letter written to him by the
' ’omniittce of die I'rce Trade and Nlate
I Mights Association. I hod flattered my
i sclfvvillt being able to tleliver the leltei
| »f the venerable ntid inmlteralilc patriot
j in person at the meeting this evening.
. but iialciTiaalely my slate of health will
not permit it. I ihcrcf t-c request of
-. our goodness to perloria the duty for
me. I want words to express my' feel
•tgson the stif'Ject of the meeting Os the
1 oiiveniioii this evening, vvhi -h ! hop.
and (rust is (he comm -m-cinent of me < •
arcs which will open the eyes of mu- op
pressors—illy lienrt. is with (lie meeting
this evening. I inhiheJ the sentiments
of fr.-e.loni in the yenr 177.». and i em
eercly nst they w ill not depart from me
f am now too old to lie active, hat what
ever I can da lam willing to perform. I
will thank yoa to present to the meet in
my most cordial wishes for their dclih'-t
--ntioi-.s in so great a cause.
Will, sentiments ofre-qu ct and esteem
1 remain dear sir, your ft lend nml obedi
ent servant,
KE VTCVfiI s| HONS,
President of a- Association.
'The following eoriespofidelice with
Gen. Titos, ‘‘iiniicr was rend amidstlla
livehest demonstrations of pride and
plea-ati-e:
<f IA HI.ESTO v ., J,m. Mill, HU.
Sir. —We do om-selvcs the honour us
enclosing y ell -i Kcsoialion ndopfc.l by
•he •*'t ties itighls and l-’rco Trade Vts -
elation of lids < ity at their la- t meeting
'ohVtliiig the lioiioi-of your attcadanec . i
the t'oaveiilioa of the Delegates of the
s-'V'cral V ssoei it ions to he lieiil -a t!u- tik'd
i-'-l im ary in this place.
The enclosed le.ter from Gavrrnor
!i,t.milt'll to years.-If. snpci-eedes nil ne
cessity J,a- cor making arrang. tiu ,ts !
y-aii-aceommodiil.oii w hil-1 in the tv.or
on (he road, as ho has insist#.), taut ifv-.-n
honor the A-sociotioa hv‘ vtmr ~,.eii
dance, that yon make his house your
home dm ing your stay in 1 'liui leshni, and
h>b pinecd id- h-.-rses and cart iage at ttir
disposal of the Committee.
la discharging (his most gratifying
-I'i.-e, permits ns to assure \ on oj the de
light with which your arrival in t hat h-s
•an " >il he hailed by the Stall- Mights and
Cive'Trade Parly, who ardently desire,
whilst yon yet survive, to honor in your
person lb- se prineiples fa- wltidi yon
•'■tv# (ought and hied At consecrated the
services ol a long and useful life.
\\ e have the honor to remain, vv ith (lie
highest consideration and usti-c* -
aiosl ob'l serv’ls r , ,
••AH ES I i. V Nil i / TON, Sen
K. .1 TEHNIiEEL,
MA I'H'Jj, HEVWARD,
('ll VS. ,|. ( Did OCR,
EM Vs lIDKUV.
Gen. Thonnm Sum!’ !'.
(SOUTH MHUVr. Jan. 1533.
To Keating Simmons, Esq. ( haii taa.i.
tui'l Ins associates of a Committee of
the Stale Eight ami Ere# 'Trade Ass-e
--tion of Charleston, «.Ve. Ac.
(‘■nllanrii. — I l#i;d a solitary life in tin
imlrequeiiled place,nml 1 am often 100
iminti w itli or without the help ofasi r.b
la return answers in due season tolett is
which are oval to ic, nml again. I too
idlea fad to find resolution enough to do
ti vv .ten 2 am otia-rw ist- aide because t
think that my answers will conic too lute,
or that no answer may do belter than
one Unit is out ol'seasoa.
To provide against all (bused liieallies
in this ia stance, I shall try hard u, day
Hading myself tolerably well this moi
niag. t * make such nu answer to yom
letter of the l.'itli of ibis monlb A; the pa
pers it encloses A; refers to as will ( hope
atone in some ineasinx' for some of n'tv
jnisl omissions.—And such a one as I
Irn-t will satisfy, not only you mid the
Association which you represent on this
occasion, but every body bearing nml d. -
servingthe same honored inline, either in
this fc»t;«to op in ilio I nion, liuU I mu u!-
ways willing, when aide to answer to
■any ea<l which they may have to make
on me; and to serve any purpose that I
can s-i ve. f r them or w ith tb -m. vvlach
Will tend tO'thi) good 'ifthoir conntiv. I be- r
ihitl tins day i labor on my jiait, tnnv ho ncco.d
ed bv llis hlato Ulgbts and True T ud« Tarty of
Clmdcston ot the ptest-nl gonermion, not only
as a moot' and pledge of my grautudo lo lln-m
for the serernl niunitbstanons of n piubaUou
with vvliiob my public conduclat various points
of nine in « long series ol yems, lias bem notic
ed and bono e.l at some of tlu.ii i.ilo meetings;
but, also, ns the co dial ackoovvlcdseiuent ofu
so; «. limited smvant and conljolci of tin ir pre
decessors of that parly, to. the southing terms of
personal kindness in which that approbation Iris !
id ways been expressed and convoyed to him. |
| 1 ins is tho more generous on thuir sido, when I
llioy have reason to foresee, perhaps, o at least i
1 10 *" a f* l bit labors ofliis long life niuy, coiuraiy I
I to Uicti expectation, add nolihng atiast to their I
patrimony. If this should be the case, which
may God prevent, then shall 1 have spent in
vain, almost one hundred of the busiest years in
which mankind was ever occupied, and that too,
on the highest matters, save one, which con
cern our race. This is a sad reflection !it arises
from a feeling which the young may imagine,
but which the old alone can explain—us may be
witnessed by two of your Committee whose sig
natur ■« betray them, as my fellow soldiers of an
old dale. But 1 must suppress these reflections,
if I can, or this answer will never be finished.
Well gentlemen, 1 have read again the reso
lution which your letter communicates to me in
behalfof the Association, “inviting me (in a spe
cial and much too fl ittering form of words,) to
attend a Convention in the City of Charleston,
on the 22d February next.”
That is, I think, the hundredth birth day of
our national hero! of tho father of his country I
If he be now conscious of what is passing in bis
country—nay, in the favored spot to which ho
ho ptealhed his name, and which aspiies to the
glory of being the chosen monument of his lame
—he must look with approbation on all the hon
es! me ins and measures which the Slate Bights
and Free Trade Fa:ty a:e using, (for that is the
i only true National Paly, in a country which
j possesses hundreds of acres of uncultivated
ground, for every inhabitant it counts) —to re-
I sto:e the Constitution of this Union, on the pro
j servation of which, great part of his fame as a
statesman, must forever depend, to tho limits
and objects, which he himself assisted in assign
ing toil.—And, to defend Iroifl Consolidation
and destruction, tho .States which gave bring to
that instrument.
This reflection seemed so fit for the occasion,
that I could not resist placing it here, as a tiihnte
to (he memory of a great and good man, who
1 though far my supurioi in every thing else, was
hut little so in age, and no more than my equal
and the equal of thousands of others, in devotion
to the cause of National Independence, and to
that of the rights of the people and of the Slates,
• which wore expected, both by him and them,
to flow from National Independence.
I shall answer separately the letter fiom Gov
ernor 11a ttilion, which you have been so good
as to enclose to me; ami which, let me, say to
yen by the wav, lias most kindly piovided for
i'ulliling in every pa. licular, the fiendly desires
and precautions bolii of the Association and of
the Committee, for my accommodation both on
(lie road and in town, if I should be aide to un
do; take or accomplish so long a journey Hut,
notwithstanding all ihcso delicate attentions on
tho one side, and the many seducing motives
on the other, which conspire to excite mu to
, make the attempt. I must not fl itter myself,
Gentleman, nor you, that I am (it, or altogether
willing, to unde.take or accomplish such an ad
venture at tny lime of life—seeing that no ahso
■ lute duly requires that 1 > Mould put myself to
sin ha tied. Although my health may ho said
to be good, hi many inspects, yet, it is not sulli
ciontly so, in oth os, to authorize mo to go far
from homo. Indeed, tt lion iam otherwise well
enough to go to a considerable distance, I uni lia
ble of late, to become 100 frequently and too
suddenly a ripple in one of my legs, to venture
on a mlc of more than a few miles.
I trust therefore, that a modification of the
same feelings lowu.ds me, which nocu.ed me
this most hloudly invitation, will incline the
friends who gave it, to agree to dispense with
my company on tins occasion. I persuade my
i self (hercl'o.e, that all circumstances being duly
weighed by them, as they have been by me, I
shall stand justified m their eyes, as I do in inv
own, so, not making the attempt to rc-visi'l
< 'har lesion and its inhabitants ; both of which,
nevertheless, have many claims to my remem
brance and parti ihly; mine perhaps, than any
one now living except myself is aware of; for
it was in that place and among its virtuous colo
nists that I first saw and felt the effects of con
certed and orderly associations of men, in resist
ing and restraining usurped power and uncon
stitutional abuses ol’powc.a This was in 1705.
Hull had many occasions ofwiliiessini: the same
eliiicls tho■ o between that date and 177(5, when
the general afnl formal Declaration of Indepen- 1
ih riee chin god the name and mode of the icsis
lance, ami g-,ve me fewer opportunities of bain®
in Charleston than Iliad during the tie. iud refer”
red to.
So yon sec, gentleman, that Charleston, and
| sevoial I’m me. generations ofila hospitable and
patriotic inhabitants were no strangers to me;
nor was I a stranger to them in good or bad
Hates. And, although the city in its present
state, and the existing generation which occu
pies it, would doubtless wear a new face to me,
after an unbroken absence of five and thirty
years; yet, I should not consider myself a stran
ger there, nor would 1 he considered or treated
as as! anger by any of tho native citizens, but,
un the contrary, as un old friend of their fathers.
At present, however, we must ho contented
to take the will for the deed on either side : and
yon, gentlemen of the committee, will do mo
the fnvoi to . ll'ji my reasons and my regrets to
the Asset i ilion which you represent, (amt -
their permission to the iohabo t i-lrailestou
generally) fm •i-eiininfi to accept ol the honor
which jou have purposed doing me there on the
■>o,l of next •nth. And here, again, 1 have to
ain e In y brother sohlieis ofyoHr Associa
te'* (for! hear ol none .ml of it) to bear witness
so; mu, that my reasons lor staying at home me
good ones—and ought to he received as valid
excuses foi that dcteiminalion on the pail of tour
obliged anil obedient servant,
THOMAS SUV-TER.
P. S. On looking over this letter lam shock
ed at having been obliged to say so much of my
self and my infirmities. I am sensible of the.
impropiiety of doing so, but, my inMision on
jour patience has occurred less, 1 hope from a
loquacity ol disposition than Hum an over anxie
ty to convince my too puitiul liiends that they
were misinformed as to my strength and my a
bdi'y to bear tho exercise of travullin>r
*•» " •
1 i' kens Hotter, I'.sq, then Rtlddresscd the
( otiv eiilion, aud oIK-red the follow,ng resolu
tion: °
, lies’ hat the Free Trade Convention of
Ninth Caiiiiina, regards with gratification, and
acknowledges with gratitude, the fi.m, able
and untiring efforts of Henry Lee, of Huston, in
the cause ol tree tiade and constitutional liberty
‘ •' cause in which South Carolina is deeply
and v itally interested, and for the maintenance
ol which she is solemnly pledged by ovuiy prin
ciple o! pali lot ism anil ol sell-preservation.
It was carried nem. con.
The Hon. 11. 1,. I’itmkiiey then addressed the
Convention, mid offered the following resolu
tion : 3
Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention
he, and they aic hereby tendered to (Jen. Sanin
ei Nniih, one ol the bennlois in Con*.*iess from
the Statu of Maryland, for tho enlightened pat
notism, American a, irit, and correct constitu
tional views displayed in Ins I ito Speech in the
r-nate against Mr. Clay’s proposition in lelalion
othe 1 anil and that they assure him of the
high sense enter lamedl by the Stale Rights and
I ron 1 ratio Parly ol this Slate, of his generous
advocacy ot Southern rights ami interests upon
that un, in taut and inteiesting occasion.
This Resolution wasnmiuimonsly adopted.
Dr. Tidymun then submitted the following
Resolution; P
Resolved, That the Members of the Slate
Rights and Free Trade Convention of South
Carolina, now convened in the City of Ohatles- i
ton. do highly appreciate the public set vices of
Chancellor II ir, or, and moreparticularly at this ,
important crisis, when without regard to domes
tic sacrifices, he bus piot-eeded lu the City of
Washington as « Delegate on the pail of the
State to represent to the tederal government the
grievances of Ins fellow vilistens, arising from i
the evils of an unj ist and oppressive Tin iff. i
The .Moinbsia of die State Rights mil ,
Ttiir'e Convention, in consideration of the zeal r
fi lehiy and talent, he has invariably evinced in i
vindicating ibo rights of the people of South Ca
robnn. do ti.erofore, further resolve, to assu'o .
1 1 him of their entire confidence, and to convey to
i him the expression of their esteem and perfect
i approbation. , , .
This resolution was unanimously adopted.
The Convention then adjou ned to'Salurday
I Evening, seven o’clock. RIVER M. COHEN,
Secretary to the Convention.
THE ADDRESS
, Os the CONVENTION of the STATE RIGHTS
AND FREE TRADE ASSOCIATIONS re
ported by the Committee of that Uody, and
unanimously adopted at their meeting on Sa
turday evening the 251 h Feb.
> The Delegates in Convention of the Slate Rights
' and Free Trade Associations,
r TO THE PEOPLE OF S. CAROLINA.
! FEM.OW-CITiZKNS—
i When vve last addressed you fom tho Con
s vcnliau in Columbia, wo endeavored In impress
.’ tipnii your minds the irnpoi lance of those princi
: plus on which wo are associated ; ami by an
• a peal to your reason ami patriotism, to vindi
i cute our plans and purposes. That address was
J made during a period of faint but fondly chor
i ished ho: c, that the Congress of the U. Slates,
1 just then assembling, would listen to the earnest
• anil solemn appeals made to its justice and wis
dom, anil avail itself of the auspicious juncture
i to a fiord a prompt and ample remedy for our long
t endured grievances. It hail been publicly an.
- nouncud by our Legislature, dial when all hope
i of redress had been extinguished, the State had
> the right, and teould perform the duly of redres
sing herself. South Carolina, under those cir
, ciimstances, had paused to await the d icision of
j the present Congress; and although an alien
> live examination of the principles aud purposes
t of the majority in Congress which had enacted
I and sustained the Tat iff, forbade us to entertain
i very sanguine expectations of relief, yet we
) were unwilling entirely to despair. The Con
, gross of the United States has now been in ses
. sion nearly throe months.
All agree, that as far as the General Govern
• menl is concerned, its final decision is now to be
I made. These circumstances, fellow citizens,
> nulhosize ns to address you on the present occn
• sion. Ron are our brethren—our country is our
> common inheritance—its interest our common
I’ pioperty, and its liberty, happiness and glory,
i the common objects of our guardianship amide
fence. If there are any among you who hate
, the injustice of out oppressors loss than what
i some consider the heresies r f our principles—-if
i there an; any among you who after full delihcra
i lion [iicfer the quiet of a predetermined settled
i submission to injustice and a violation of the
■ Const i it I ion—to the hazard of asserting and
maintaining our rights, wo are willing to confess,
• however painful may ho the recognition of the
i fact that an appeal to such must be hopeless.—
1 No! Wo make no appeal to those who think
- essential principles may he compromised, that
■ public tranquility, even if it bo the stagnation of
I death, cannot he purchased at 100 high a price,
- and who consider that u gainful trullic may he
i driven with oppression if any thing bo left to
i sustain the remnant of a miserable existence.—
Hut to those whose minds may not yet bo final
i ly made up on tire groat question of .Southern
: rights and Southern wrongs, and who mo yet
: hanging with a lingering, though baffled hope,
i that these wrongs will be redressed by the naiu
■ itil and salutary action of the General Govern
ment itself, wo would desire to offer briefly a
[ few reflections. They belong to the crisis—fur
■ there is no device of cunning that can disguise
oven font timidity itself, tho fact that the crisis
is rapidly approaching when tho People of South
Ca olina will have be flue them the issues of lib
erty oi servitude—infamy or honor—resistance
with all its Imzaids, or submission with iinaller
able disgrace. Our ; usilitm is a peculiar one.
We would not say that South Caiulina is com
mitted, heciiuse that would imply that vve have
been led by an intemperate zeal into the uccti-.
palion of an untenable position, to maintain
which, wo have rather now to consult a punctil
ious sense of honor than a rational estimate of
I our essential interest. It so happens (hat thorn
arc no romantic or chivalrous notions of national
pride—that are half equal in their potency to the
common, manifest, and wo might almost say,
eve y day, and vital interest that tiro involved
in the ground wo have assumed—however in
sensibly wo may feel the obligations tbut arc
due to the first class of these considers'ions.
The | cculiarily of our position results from
tho fuel, (whether for good or for evil remains to
ho pioved,) that this Slate, small in its territori
al extent and pci; illation, is in the van in the as
sertion of our rights in the very centre of a geo
graphical division of this Union, having common
interest with ourselves ; and which appears only
to u limited degree, at least to paiticipate in the
intense excitement which has pervaded all class
es among ourselves,— Wo shall not attempt,*-
account for the phenomenon- ' v - are »<<i dis
posed to dis;:ar-o- motives and conductor
oth®'"- wc ,V *H cot however gainsay our own
oiscoriimenl by admitting in spite of this seeming
apathy, that because vve fuel intensely wo catmo”
aet undorslundingly on the subject of our ri'dils
—or that the lire which has been kindled iiTcur
hearts, has not th.own a light elsewhere to irra
diate our path and to guide eur steps.
For ten years, precisely flio period which elap
sed between the Stamp Act of 17tio and the
night when Samuel Adams and John Hancock
caused the Tea to ho tin own overboard in the
ha.hor ot Boston,) the public mind ofSutilb Car
olina lias vigilantly watched the proginss which
the Government of the Union was makiii® to
wards the point which it has at last reached; a
consolidation in the hands of an irresponsible
majority, of almost every essential attribute of
sovereignty which the Slates vainly supposed
they hid reserved to themselves. \Vo be grin
by humble petitions, argumentative expositions,
deferential remonstrances, terminating, after
travelling through evory sign of the political zo- ,
diac which inaiks a j our dependence upon a
great and imperial central head in Protests
which we had the folly to think would at least bo
read by our oppressors, although they wore in
capable of answering the argument on which
they rested.
Isa redress ofonr wrongs was postpnnod vve
were always told that when the Public Debt
was paid a reduction would be made in the
amount of tho t. dm to which wo paid, and which
fo.ined a principal item in the aggregate of our
g lev antes. I hat event has,for all financial pur- r
l oses, taken place, and we seo it accompanied j
by the tokens, that the will of the majority is ,
substituted tor the Constitution, and not a rey
of hope beams upon ns, to tell us, that vve are (
to expect even a Imre and scanty justice. Thu 1
Secretary of the Treasury, aud the great cham
ptou ot the American System, in dispite of their '
angry contests lor power, have both presented *
identical propositions for what they aro pleased
to call modifications of the TaritV. |
The scheme, fellow citizens, of the reduction l
thus offered is a gross insult to your understand- ,
mgs, and an unwarrantable piracy un your pock- „
i ts. Il ls, indeed, noliiing -hurt of an o.xpcdi- .
dient in keep the entire pressure of the rest' ic
ti\ es: stem on the articles of foreign production
\\ Inch j.'drchasu our staples, and to remove its *
bn cen l orn all those articles which enter into
the consumption of the manufacturing Stales,
without entering into a competition with theii
pioduus. In one word, it decrees that there ,
sim.l he, m effect, a steady discriminating duly
utility per centum on Southern, mid bounty of
Mi> per peniu.il on Northern industry. Dis
gmse, it as you may, this modification makes the
frouthet n Slates Colonics. 1
Now, in ail | ossible calmness and solemnity f
wc will ask whether wo have delegated tins ’
power! Is it exorcised as a substantive power I
to protect manufactures? Is llicie one word on I
this subject in the Constitution? And is it not \
t.eruetl by an impl.cation which is ultotly repu
diated by a decision of the very question at issue ..
in the Convention which formed that instrument. «
Hut we do not propose to moot constitutional *
questions. The aigutnsot Ims been exhausted,
We desire to give a more practical scope to our
reflections.
It may be asked, what are we to doT mo
answer is at hand —Why resist. What, bv po
pular tumult, and revolutionary violence! No—-
wo are yet a sovereign party to lire compact, and
our Stale lias nothing to do but to say, on tiro
high authority of ber sovereignty, that her cili- 1
zena shall not pay this Tribute, and it will nut
bo paid.
Fellow-citizens should Congress rivet this sya
tern upon us we-do not see how the constituted
authorities of our Slate can refrain from pin
pointing to yon in sovereign capacity the alter
native of Resistance or Submission ! We are ,
free to confess that om associations (without ar
rogating to ourselves even the privilege of ad
vising our public functionaries as to the course
they should pursue,) are distinctly and unalter
ably in favor of the former, because wo believe ,
that submission would cover with dissolution as
well as ehaine, that section of the country which
would ho literally placed under tho ban of the
Empire, because we believe w ith our prosperity,
tho spirit of freedom so essential to the preser
vation of free institutions would depart forever —
Because we could not live under the burning
shame of being recreant to the precepts ami ex
amples of that ancestry from whom wo indeed
derived a noble heritage.
But thanks be to the wisdom which framed
the Constitution, we have something higher and
better than the servile right to rebel; and that in
the confederate form of our Government, in the
reservation to the States of all rights not dele
gated—the sovereign authority of a State is am
ply competent without commotion or bloodshed,
to shield its citizens from tyranny and oppres
sion. When our Slate shall determine to inter
pose its sovereign authority, we fuel a confi
dence which no distrust shall impair, that those
differences which after ail have resulted rather
from abstract refinements of constitutional law,
than from any other cause, will he buried in tho
ramparts wo will llnow around our country,
that her peiil will bo the cement of our Union—
hor honor—her success and her glory, the com
mon objects of our joint and undying tli'oils.—
The Press, which is the peaceful engine of this
Association, shall continue its challenges on the
watch-tower. We call t'troii those who think
and feel wilhutfto be Urn., consistent, tranquil,
and patiently to await tho decision of Congioss.
Our Representatives are struggling for us and
for the Constitution, with u zeal worthy of their
great cause, and with an ability which wins ap
plause even from their adversaries. 1 hough
■lea; ending, their exertions are nut remitted, —
Their past conduct— thoii high character—their
known patrioliim, entitles thorn to our highest
confidence. They will not give up tho cause of
their country until a relentless majority close the
discussion and toll them to despair. When that
discussion is closed, and we are repulsed from
tho doors of Congress, shall wo obey them when
they tell us to despair l No! God so. bid I
No. Tho libcities of South Carolina ate not
held at the pleasure of a majority in Congress,
but by the tenure ofher own courage. She is a
free, sovereign and independent Stale, and while
Iter citizens are true to themselves, she will con
tinue to be a free, sovereign and independent
Stale.
It is our duly, Fellow-Citizens, to warn you
to bo prepared to support the lights of your
State. We do not doubt that you have the con
stitutional right to determine on the mode and
measure of redress upon such an event as wo
are contemplating; and still leas do wo ijunstion
your determination to preserve your lilaalies at
ail hazards; and when it is at length determin
ed that you are to bo perpetually subjected to a
system clrnracterizud by every tiling that can de- !
line a tyranny the most odious, we will join in [
one common dibit fur tho liberty and honor of|
tho Slate, for we will not behove that thcie can \
beany divisions among us. To those of our Pel- j
low Citizens who may entei lain honest dillbr-I
enees of opinion with ns, we would say, look at !
our country!—now much more uio you willing; |
she should boar ! Do you desire that her sub-{
mission should he protracted until resistance !
would terminate in weakness and disgrace ! I
Tho Slate calls upon her Sons to defend her |
r ghttt; and m whatever form slm may chouse,
proclaims her purpose TO RESIST.
J. COEGOCK, Chairman,
EDW. FISHER, v
N.M'll'E. HEYWARD. 1 I
U lEMA.M C. PRESTON, j
EVAN BENBOW, I 3
BENJAMIN F ELMORE, I 3 i
SAMUEL PRIOEKAU, / £
WADHV THOMPSON, Jr. I ?
WILLIAM A. BULL, I ?
A. P. BUTLER, 1
THOMSON T. PLAYER, /
JOHN K. CliAJii-ijS, '
«•*
BY AUTHORITY.
LAWS O!’ Tll’v r\ITT.I' STATUS PASTSKJ) at thk
riUST 3KSBIQ.N OK THIS TWIS.Vi'V-BKCOM)
t'UMiltl&S.
[S’rm.tt \o. o.]
, AX .\< "F to prmide for payment of ar
i eat'ages in the iittval service, chargea
l»l»> ti» il*o enumerated contingent prior
to (ire I t day of.lananry, one thousand
right hundred nod thirty two.
Hr il cm/rial hi/ ll,c Senate and House, of
Represent,/lives oj the. I 'itilcd. Stales i.f.hnen.
\cu-io Congressassen.bl.d, That the sum of'
eighty thousand dollars be, and the same
is hereby, nppropt inter!, to lie applied,
•aider the dim lion of the {Secretary of
tho Navy, in the payment f ,f nrreainires
connected with tho naval ftorviee, and
eburgeubie to the contingent enumerated :
prior to .Imtunry the first, one thousand
eight hundred and thirty-two. mid-which 1
.m vo been or may be approved and pars
ed by the proper ucouming ofrir eis.
Approved, Ft binary 2-1, ls&». j,
fPt’nue Xo. 7.] 11
A\ ACT making appropriations for the • 1
revolutionary ntid other pensioners of i
th> Failed SJlutes, for the year IS?’ '
Be. it au/ch'd bp the Ren,He and House of
Representatives of the ('/died States o/Jneri- 1
cn. in Congress assembled, That the follow t
tug sums l»r appropriated for the pension
ers of the I nited Mutes, for tho year '
one thousand eight hundred and thirty- 1
two. J ,
!■ c/the revolutionary'pensioners, nine 6
hum re. not eighty seven thousand live '
Hundred and (our dollars
For the invalid pensioners, in addition <■
to the sum of one hundred and forty '
thousand live hundred and thirty-two '
dollars in the i reasury, one hundred ar.d 1
sixty live t.iousand and thirty-nine del
hit's. J s
For pensions to widows and C ;phans !
three thousand dollars. t
Approved, February 2-1, In)2.
i
[Ffiatc \o. S ]
,n, »kiag appropriations (br for ; 1
titlea.ions for the ymrone thousandi
eight-hundred and thirty (wo. ■ f.
lie d enacted by Ihc Suia'lt and House of !
Representatives of the United Slates c' . h i
ut tn Congress assembled, 'I hat (lie follow- *
niff sums be, and they are hereby: appro- j
pi luted ior fortifications (br (he vein* one /
I liousand eight hundred and thin ,* two. I
viz. ' ' | ( ,
For the preservation ofCastle Islnr.,l. i i
end repair of Fort Independence. twenty i s
thousand dollars. | j
For the preservnton of George's Is!-1 s
and nine thousand dollars.
For Fort Adams, Newport Harbor
one hundred thousand dollars.
For the completion of Fort Hamilton I
New York ten thousand dollats. ' ®
For repairing Fort Columbus and Cas. ■*
lie Williams, Xow York liliy thousand
dollars.
For arrearages incurred in the preaep.
valinn oftiie Pea Patch Island, two thou- <
sand dollars.
For Fort Monroe, Virginia seventy I
two thousand dollars. J
For Fort Calhoun, Virginia, eighty
thousand dollars. J
For the completion of Port Macor 1
North Carolina, thirty thousand dollars!' i
For the completion of the Fortou o,,J c '
Island, North Carolina, seven thousand
dollars.
For the Fort on Cockspur Island
Georgia, forty-six thousand dollars. 1
For fortifications at Charleston, thirty
thousand dollars.
For fortilleali ins at Pensacola, oae
hundred thousand dollars.
For Fort at Alobile Point, eighty. se\cti
thousand two hundred dollars.
For contingencies of fur mirations, ( etj
thousand dollars.
Approved, February 21. IM 2.
[Punic Xo If]
AX ACT making appriatious fur the na
vnl service for the year one thousand 3
eight hundred and thirty two.
lie it enacted bp the Semite and House ,f M
Rent e, eidativcsoj the United States Jfr
ea i:i Uungess. assembled, That the follow- I
ing sums ire appropriated for the naval I
serv ice (bribe year one thousand tight
hundred and thirty-two, viz:
For pay and substance of the otlleers
olThenavy. and the pay of seamen, out* j
million four hundred and nine thousand f
nine hundred and twenty-seven dollars.
For pay o;’ supcrhitcndaiits, naval cou- |
struetors, and nil the civil establishments j
at Hie several yards, liliy eight thousand |1
live hundred and thirty dollars.
For provisions, four hundred nml I
twenty-nine tlionsand one hundred and ;
seventy-live dollars.
For repairs of vessels in ordinary, nml tjl
the repairs and wear and lent* of vessels
in commission, live hundred mid thirty
thousand six bund ed and eighty-tire
dollars.
For medicines and surgical instru
meats, hospital stores, and other expen- -1
seson account of the sick twenty live
tiiousund dollars.
For improvements and necessary re
pairs of navy yards, viz:
For the navy yard at Portsmouth for- |
ty-cne thousand one hundred aim thirty- ■
lour dollars.
For the navy find at Hoston, eighty- j
live thousand dollars.
For the navy yard at New York, sev
euty-Uvo thotisund dollars.
For tin* navy yard at Philadelphia, ten i
tlionsand six lumdred and eighty-eight
dollars.
For the navy yard at Washing ton, fur
i ty-t wo thousand dollars.
| For the navy yard at Norfolk, one him
1 tired and twenty thousand nine hundred
; and twenty-three dollars,
j For the navy yard at Pensaei In, tvven
j tv live thousand eight mm died and liliy
j dollars.
I For ordnnnec and ordnastee stores, ten
I thousand dollars.
For defray ing expenses that may nr- ,
j eriK! fra* the following purpose's, viz: |
i For freight anil IrMitspoitnlion of nude I
1 rials and stores us every di se t iptieii; It)
| vv hat logo and doeiaigr, slen.ge unit ren*,
1 travelling expenses • fi<iiieers. and trniis*
1 imitation ofseiunei;. Imuse rent, clam'
her money, iinil fuel and candle- tooth
i cers other tlntn those atlaclicd to imvy
| yards and stations, and for officers in
sick tpnutiTS, w here lliere is no ho“|d
till, atul for fnr.eral cxpcnscff ; for c» «' I
f ll is—l l. us, e*er h. tore, and i»li re rei I, sir- J
fionnry, mid fuel to navy agents; forptC'
iniunis and incidental ex;-east's of re
cruiting; I'r apprehending deserters;
for eompensation to jndgvr advocates;
lor per diem allowances tin' pci'sons nt
tending courts martial nail courts of in I
rjiiirv , and for c.rtir-err. engaged in extra I
service beyond the limits ofilicil*sta
(ions; for priiiting nod stationary of eve
ry description, and for books, n np»,
charts, and iiiiitheiinilh ul and nni.'ti ■«!
iiistruineiils, chronometers, models, mid
drawings; ibr purchase and repair o»
steam ami lire engines, an.d for tnaehin
ery ; for pureliaso and inuinteniince ol
oxen mid imrses, unit for carts, limber
wheels, and workmen's tools of every
• description; for postage of letters on
public service; for pilotage; lor cabin
Mirnilure of vessels in commission, ami
lor Limit m e of dimers’ houses nt navy
yards; for luxes on navy yards and pub
lic properly ; Ibr assistant e rendered to
ve.-sels in distress; for incidental labor
sit navy yards, not applicable to any nth
< r appropriation : for coal and other fuel
for forges, Ibundcries, and aleutii engines;
for candle?, oil, and fuel, for vessels In
commission and inordinary; for repairs
an;! building of magazines mid powder
houses; Ibr preparing utouids for ships
to he built, and for no oilier objev i or pur
|K»so whatsoever, two hundred and-Lilly
thousand dollars.
For contingent expenses for objects
not hereinbefore enumerated, live thou
sand dollars.
For lire pay of tlie ollieers and non
cotnmissioiied ollieers and privates, atiii
for subsistence of the ollieers of the ma
rine corps, oue hundred and eleven diet; |
snml live hundred ami sixty-three dol
lars.
For subsistence for non-commissioned
cllicers. musicians, and privates, and
washer-women serving on shore, eigli
teen thousand four hundred and thirl) •
nine dollars.
For clothing, twenty-eight thousand
seven hundred and sixty-live dollars.
For fuel, nine thousand und ninety
eight dollars.
For contingent expenses, fourteen
thousand dollnr-o
For military slores, two thousand dol
lars.
5 or medicines, hospital stores, and stir
gic.al instruments, two thousand tlnvo
hundred and sixty nine dollars.
r[ _cove,! February 21. !M2.
i'ij:,sfS his professional services to
’SJr the citizens of Augusta and its vi
cinity. He enn he found at nil times nt
the Globe Hotel, or in un o!:;ce be will
soon n, cn, na the iioor, in the v ng ol
Urc- same tenement, fronting Jackson
street.
march :1 2t 42