Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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\ ' #* , THE GREENVILLE ENTERPRISE. ' r..:..-l " T; :.v; y -- - ? ? _ ., Denoted to Hm>s, politics, Enleltigence, on) % Enthronement of li)e Stole onto Coimtrtj. JOHN C. BAILEY, EDITOR k PRO'R. GREENVILLE. SOITH CAROLINA, SEPTEMBER 11 1873. VOLUME X1I-N0. 19. ovsnomrTion awv wimrb per hdduid. ADVattTiMMiNTS inserted at the rates of one dollar per square of twelve Minion lines (this slse I type) or less for the first insertion, fifty sent* eneb for the seoond and third insertions, and twenty-five cents for subsequent insertions. Yearly Contract# will be made. AM advertisements must have the number of insertions marked on them, or they will be Inserted till ordered out, and charged for. Unless ordered otherwise, Advertisements Will invariably ha." displayed." Obituary notices, and all matters inuring to to the benefit of any one. are regarded as Advertisements. REMINISCENCES PUBLIC MEN. HT xtt anvvsnnD n ? [CONTINUED FROM LA8T WEEK.] FRANCIS W. PICKS 8. 1 became acquainted with Governor Pickens early in life. We were born in the same District, Pendleton, now Oconee Cvuuty. lie was the son of Governor Andrew Pickens, and the grandson of Goueral Andrew Pickens, of revolutionary fame, a Stirling patriot and one ot the purest and best of men. Gen. Pickens, in the latter part of his life, retired to the mountains and died, at his residence on Tomas8eo, now owned by Air. Jones. Gov. Andrew Pickens was a Colonel in the Regular Artny during the war of 1812 and 1815. He moved to Alabama in 1819, and I. f . mo ovmi x'i nuctb was ui'Bi gent to Athens College, in Georgia, and afterwards to the South Carolina College, where he graduated with high reputation for talents, honor and energy. Mr. John C. Calhoun, who was his relation, regarded him a* the most promising young man in the State, at that time, lie read law at Edgefield, was admitted to the Bar, and soon afterwards elected a member of the Legislature, lie then succeeded Gov. McDuffie in Congress, where lie established a high character as a statesman and debater. He resigned his seat in Congress and went into the State Senate, where I served with him several sessions, lie was then appointed, by President Buchanan, Minister to Russia, and after his return home, he was elected Governor of South Carolina, just before the breaking out of the civil war. I will not speak in detail ol Governor Pickens' services in the Leg islature, in Congress, at the Court of St. Petersburg, and in the fcx ccutive Chair of the State, as Mr. Yeomons, of Edgefield, has a/ready written a nn-st admirable sketch of his life, character and public services, and to which I refer the reader- My purpose in writing this reminiscence of Gov. Pickens is to publish the letters, or sonic of them, which I had the honor of receiving from him, and which are eminently entitled to public interest. They were written, it is ti tie, as strictly Confidential; but since the death of Gov. Pickens, 1 see no impropriety in publishing them. Indeed one of his letters, from St. Petersburg, relative to the history of his grandfather,Gen. Pickens, is worthy of being embodied in the history ol the country. Whilst Provisional Governor, I urged Gov. Pickens to become a candidate, in Edgefield, for a scat in the State Convention, and told him what President Johnson eaid to me, that he would pardon all whom I wished to be members of that Convention. In consequence of my oarncst intreaties, the Gov ernor was elected, and 6crved in tfye contention. I sent ttio Presi dent a list ot the members to be pardoned. lie 6ent me promptly pardons for all of them, except Gov. Pickens, lie said nothing about him. 1 telegraphed the omission, and received no reply. The Governor became very uneasy,and wrote me several long letters. In one ot these letters ho inclosed a letter to President Johnson. I wrote the President again, and stated what he had said to me, and what I had told Gov. Pickens on liia being a candidate for tlio convention. But President Jo.inson remained silent, and not a word in reply could I get from him. This looked very ominous. Mrs. Pick ens became deeply interested, and came to (volumbia to 6cc mo on the subject. At her instance, I sont ? long telegram to the President once more; out could not draw his fire. Gov. McGrath was, at this time, in one of the Federal prisons, and daily expecting to see Gov. Pickens. But, although no pardon came for Gov. Pickens, ho was not sont to keep Gov. McGrath com pany in his Federal prison. Gov. Pickens was thrice marr'iA/l nn/l nil * ? i.vu, miu an mo wives wero most > beautiful, lovely and accomplished \ ladies. The last one, whom ho mar- i ried on the ore of his setting out ' for Russia, was pre eminent for , her beauty, intelligence and ac- I com pi kilj moot 8. She was, moat deservedly, the belle of the Sonth.? The Governor left children by each j marriage, but no son to inherit his illustrious name, and hand it down j to future ages. This is to be deep- ! ly regretted, for a name so distin i guished in three successive cener stions, should not be lost, but live in posterity. The character of Gov. Pickens was high-toned and honorable. By nature, he was impressive and impetuous, and yet he had a great deal of prudence and cantion in his composition. He was prond of .his ancestry, and j.nstly so; and he was conscious of his own talents and abilities. We differed widely in our politics, but our social re lations were always most cordial and friendly, as will be 6een by his lettere to ine, both at home and abroad. Columbia, Saturday, June 27, 1817. My Duxr Sir In looking over the morning paper, I Me an extract from you speak* Ing kindly ol me in relation to my refusal of the Russian mission. I dartre to state briefly the reasons which induced me to decline it. I v a n.?i a -? - - 1 ?u?ge Diuiers aeain nas thrown much confusion into tlie Slate, and if I could contribute to placing South Carolina in close communion and intimate councils with her either St aler of the South, I (eel that I would be doing some goo *. It is time (hat she should be raised above the provincial and isolated views of great questions, in which the South have a common intercut and a common destiny. I was in the Senate, from ivigcticld, when I refused the misrion to England, and, if you recollect, the Blufton move was at that lime nude, and I thought from the names connecteJ with it, that it would be far more serious than it was when Gov. Hammond introduced his premature and Ill-judged message, I felt it my duty to introduce resolutions into the Senate repudiating the move, for which I was bitterly denounced, and even MoDnffie wrote a let ter to Colcock, the Speaker of th? House, denouncing my resolutions ; but still 1 passed them by a unanimous vote, on the yeas and nays. I was then peculia* ly situated, for I had attended the great Democratic Convention, 1844, at the urgeul request of Mr. Calhoun, and had a lull and confidential interview with Mr Polk before I would address the convention at Shelbyville. That interview was s itislactory, and 1 wrote Mr. Calhoun frotn Mr. Polk's library, and showed the letter to Mr Polk, and he und Mr. Calhoun thoroughly understood each other, and we weut fully into the canvass The details of this interview, and i the conditions, will make a great point, in the history of parlies, if ever publisued, and they will be. I understand Col. Benlou lias published a part of it, as far as be knew ? Suffice at present to any, (hat it placed ine in h very peculiar position, und my p-ivale nonor, as well its public duty, compelled me to take the cotirae i afterwards di<1, in relation to his address on the Texas ques lion and war, ?fca , die., and 1 thought, loo, it placed Mr. Calhoun in the same position. But I merely allude to it now to let you know that this was the real reason I declined the Federsl office he tendered me. I wished to stand in the State unirawmeled, so aa to be able to indicate truth and prin? ciple, even if I lost position in lite Stale ? The history of public events after that you are acquainted with. Now, as to the presr ?ot mission which I recently refused, I was induced to do so just because I have no taste for Federal office; and secondly, 1 thought I owed it to my friends to stand by Ifiem in the stiuggle lor the Seualorship, which, I fe.t, it was deeply important should be in the hands of a man who would aid in placing the Slaie in her proper relations to Iter sister States of the South, as well as 10 the Constitution aud the uuion under it The final settlement of the slave holding raoe, is the greatest problem to be woi ked out under our complicated system of government. It will rrquire enlarged statesmanship snd high nerve to carry our inatituiions through the conflicts that must arise in the pi ogress ol events W hat we want, at present, is wise consideration and iho otigh knowledge. For the tiist time in thirty years theSouih is united. Uilraism under existing circumstances, would lead to diviviou, aud division will prove our rum We have the Kxeouuve with u?, aud the Senate, and in all probability the H. It., loo Beeiiieo, we have repealed the Missouri Bill, and the Supreme Court, iu a de cision ol great power, has declared it and all kindred measures, on the part of the Federal Government, unconstitutional, null and void, bo, that before our enemies cun re.vhus, they must first I resk down the Supreme Court, change the Senate and Seize tk. L> ......... > L_ ? - - I mo Kiituii?r, ami, oj mi open appeal u> revolution, restoi o the Missouri line, repeal the fuguiive slave law, and change, in (act, i ilia wiiole Government As lung at the Government it on our tide, I am (or sustain- 1 ing it, and using itt power for our benefit, and | placing tbe screws cpon tbe thumba of our uppoueut* to a? to make thein feel. At long as i we are iu the Union, I conscientiously believe i It to be our duty| to discharge faithfully and manfully all our obligations to the Constitution and the Federal Union under it. We owe it to ourselves; we owe }t to posterity ; we owe i it to our power as a great peopia amongst the i nations ot the earth In progressive civilisation, i to save, if possible, the Constitution aud our I institutions, as a oominon blessing to man j kind. These aro, and ever have been, my I firm convictions. If our opponents reverse tbe present eiate of things, seise the power uf Government, ebenge the issues and overthrow the Constitution, tuen I em for wer. At pre- i ent, I am for standing by the Government, i and compelling them to move on the offensive, i Heretofore, we have complained of grievauecs, i and when we moved that was division amongst us, so now, when they complain, and are ooin- i palled to move, they must be divided. In i part, the division now at the North, is deep I end hitter, end it is between capitalists end I laborers, and as population increases, and be- I comes so dense as to press society down into i its different strata, this difference will grow i deeper end wider every year. On tbe contra* I ry, we are forced to union, If we make no illjudgements. And the vast inoraase in price I of all Soulborn productions, together with tbe f great unbounded value of slave property, baa i added immensely to Southern power. The I game Is a delicate one, and tbe stake great, I but with enlarged statesmanship and firmness, I we can pley it, and we can win it. Let us i keen cool and keen united. What we want at i preterit, It trusty aentinela to walk with a ( ateady tread around the battlements ef our ) entrenched eamp ; hut we want no promatare ( opening of any marked battery. If we do, it ( will only eipoae the division of tbe camp within? *nd invite tbe entrance of the foe . through aome remote gate, or perhaps over an open hreak in the walla. Wa want men in po- ' ition, who heve character enough at home, 1 and flrmnesa enough, to reaiat unwise eouneila and premature movea amongst ouraelvea, t ?? well aa Integrity onough, and lirmneaa I enough, to reaiat aggreceton abroad, too. If i lliere be e nee-aaiiy, and we are deeply and ] permanently wronged, there live* no man f n South Carolina who will go furl her than * I will, or who will risk hit property and life sooner then I will, to vindicate our rights or defend oor honor. But while I feel this, and I trust ray life has shown it. I at the same lime will never bend to the' dictation of any clique at home, or heed ill-judged or premature councils from those who see but one side ol a great qnoation. and do not oare to comprehend the coins 8Healed relation* we bear to our rater tales of the South, as well as our relation^ under the Federal compact, to the States of the North. I trust, too, my course in the 8tale hae shown this, and this is the reason why I have never made myself whet the world ealle popular. 1 scorn to wear the trammels of office, if, si the eame time. I ' have to wear t >e livery of any clique. 1 trust 1 shall never avoid the reaponsil>ili ty of soy duty ; but I vastly prefer the proud consciousness of private independence, to wearing the insignia of power, if conferred by those who elvttto in be my (baste re. '* !.' I think I understand the ioterests of the slave-holding race; it has been mv study for twenty Ave years And yet, I saw today, in a paper handed me, published in An^m.n ? fl~? ?? m r> | v??>vu m?? jl. j ??c v^irvimKiri, b pn*? per I never heard of before in my life, it sta'ed by the editor that I was not to be trusted on the vital question, (meaning slavery.) I did not dream before that any man in South Carolina donbted me on that point. I, born with the institution over me for three generations on both sides, not to be trusted I At ooe time I owned targe* ly over 500 negroes I have two daughs ters married, and sold a place last year, with the negroes on it. and of course my settlements to my daughters, and this sale, have reduced the number much below that now. I onee bought, in 1846. 113 negroes in Alabama, and actually moved 65 of th?*m, in 1859, to South Carolina ; *nd 1 doubt if any other man, in South Carolina, ever did purchase nearoes in the ? est and mova them here. If I had mured to Alabama, as my father once urged oie very much to do. I could have been worth twice at much as 1 am. He died in Mississippi, nd led me a plantation and negroes in that State, and also one on the Alabama river, near Sclma. I sold both plantations and moved every negro to South Carolina And yet, I not true to South Carolina and slavery? The editor aaya, aho, I " desire Federal offices, and let me lake them " I can say proudly, (and I say so,to you alone, not to the pub. lie,) tbal I have refused mors high Federal offices than any man ever did in America I write you Ireely and frankly, as is my habit to those I esteem as gentlemen ; and although we have differed widely in poll'* tic, yet 1 have ever esteemed yon as an in dependent gentleman. I saw what yon had kindly said of me in your paper, and I thought 1 would write you this freely ; of course, intending it to he entirely private betw?e? us; but if you ever choose to use the facts, or if any person feels the slightest interest in uiy principles, you can inform them in the most authentic manner. But as far as I am personally concerned, I desire as little notoriety as is possible. The omnibus ia waiting In very great baste, hut respectfully, and truly yours, F. W. PICKENS. Hon. B. F. PEttnr. Sr Petersburg, April 24, 1859 Dear Sir: you will pardon me for wri ting you on a subject in which I feel a deep interest. I am told it is intended that likenesses. or busts, in some shape or form, are to bo placed in niehes, or places, about our new Capitol, at Columbia, of our distinguished men in the State. If so, and it is intended to placo Sumter and Marion there, as they ought undoubtedly to be, I do hope they will also place .Inn IJi.O.r,. TV.? ? U.-.11.. ? ? ? - ? ?< ??? ?ww. A MVJ W VI W U <IVUU U WUIJ tbo greatest uprtitan Generals erer produced in the United States, considering their moans and the theatre. There has always been an anooeountablo prejudice in the lower country, which has prevented theui always from doing justice to Gen. Pickens. Vou see it in that picture, in the Senate Chamber, of the battle of tbo Eutaws. All the officer* are pointed out, except Gen. Piokena, and yet he and Marion jointly oommauded all the militia of tbo Southern States at that battle; and Gen. Pickens was actually shot from his horse by a musket ball, just at the close of the battle, which struck him right in the breast, and his lite was ouly saved hy the ball being somewhat spent and glancing, hit his sword buckle and dented it into his breast-bone, which ever af ter hurt him through life. He was picked up by the soldiers as dead, but soon recovered.? Yet be is not mentioned in the picture in the Senate by White ; while others, as low as Captains, are conspicuously put forward. True, he was some ten years younger than Marion or Sumter, but if you consult the histories of the day?Ramsay'a, " Lee's Memoirs of the Southern Campaign," or "Judge Johnsou's Life ot Green"?you will toe that he acted more in concert with the authorities of Congress, than either of the others; and whether from accident or otherwise, he was in most all the important battles. Lee and Johnson both give a full and particular account of the siege and capture of Augusta, one of the most important events in the Southern war; and by looking into them, you will see that General Pickens acted bis part nobly, and the oity surrendered to his command, after t had been for two years io possession of the British and Tories. And when Col. Brown was captured there, it was Gen. Piukons who saved him from the fury of the Georgia militia, under Clark, and others, who would bsvs murdered him for his brutalities practiced on the Geor irians. Gen. Piokena nlaucd him in n hmit under tho guard of fifteen urined men detached, and tent biai to Savannah, under bit special protection, wbioh saved him; and yet, a Tory and British writer accused bitn of inhumanity, Ac. lie (ought often before the Star Redoubt, at "VA," and had a brother, Captain of a company, shot down before that Fort, and another nrother captured by the British, who delivered him over to the Tories, who actually went with him into Colmn'da county (ieon- I gin, and then gave him to the tadians, who | bad t>een to Augusta, and they all actually tied liiin on a pile ol ligbtwood, and burnt him. He manoeuvered between Col. Boyd and Maj. Hamilton, and prevented their junction at VI sna, on Savannah River; and after Boyd crossed at the Cherokee Ford, about 17 miles above Petersburg, he too crossed at Viona, and joined Col Darby and Col. Clark, of Ueorgia, with their forces, and they immediately voted him commander of all the forces j and he pursued Boyd, and fought that glorious battle of Kettle Creek, whiob bad auoh an i important bearing in breaking up the Tories in ibe upper part of South Carolina. He commanded at the Cowpens, as you are well aware, , and Morgan would not have fought then but ( Tor hia eounael and aid, as you will see from | Lee's memoirs, confirmed by Col. Hund's aotes. I cneiose you an aeootint of that bat- 1 lie, extracted from Lee, Ramsay and Johnson, and ypu will see what part he acted, given by those who wrote at the time. You there aee that a whole battalion of British surrendered ' to him personally. Col. Johnson, who was his 1 kid, afterwards Governor of Oooigia, s?ys < they refused to surrender lo any But. him ' 3onere*s \nted him a sword whi?l> I )lf?, Ac. Yet, when they celebrated the aula, year or ao ago, they acarcelv mentioned hia name; and, I underatand, .hat when the monument waa erected, I heteve by the Waehington Ooropewy, from Jharleeton, acme ohjeoted to having hia nnn^ioac'lbed upon lite monument. I'leaae keep thia account of the battle I tow encloee bom I.ee, Rameay and Johnion, and tf I return ever, pleaee encloee It lack to ma, or give it to Mr Jnmea N. Liipaooinb, now at ChnppelV Depot., to keep or ine. Geo. Pickene, after the battle, reut with Morgan to join Green, who w?* retreating before Onwallie, and owing to soma interruption, or dispute. left, unJer anotion of Gor. Ruiedge. to tome back to Sou>h Carolina, to ni-e the eountry, as lb had been overrun foi three years before.? It was then he, wlt| bis command, fall in with Cot. Prle'spittq, on Hew River, N. C., in the nighi, anl cut 300 of them to pieces, whil** they wets crying, " God save the King.** as they roposeed Gea. P. toreee were Col. Tarlton's. Twhon, in bis aeoonnt of the Southern Camp inn. says the most murderous flic he ever oeonnttred wasthefi>e of the militia node Col. Pickens, at tha Cow pens Gov. Swiio, bow President of Chappt-ll Hill Uoiveaitir, wrote me he had found out thit whet Gen, Davidson died, that the Btigada he aoinfoanded, from the Meelenbutg seolictt, eieel*-d Gen. Piekene a General over thun to eonmand, and be was actually a Geterrl in both States. This ... uvun wciiue01 ineir I'rwbjtcriiD (U I taehrtieut to Gen. Woken*, I oppose. I will | here state retmikable laet, that Geo. Pickens never receded a cent of pay from ihe Slate or. Coogea* for any aervice aa Captain, Major, CoTmel or General through Ihe whole war. Yo|ng Mr. Black, whom your Legislature appointed agent tor Revolutionary claims, at Washington, was the first to inform me of Ihe fact, nod has examined the records at Colombia fully, and certified the fact; and it it also a fact, that he Is the only officer, cl any grade, who did not receive any p>.y whatever. There are hundreds of certificates of his on record upon whioh other officers received their pay. but there is n<> evidence whatever of his ever having taken a cent himself. If you see him. you can know the full facts, and if to, it is a very remarkable fact. You are aware that he was the first man who con quered tire Cherokee Indiana, the most pows erful of all Southern tribes. He fought them willi mounted meo, and eutla?ses made in the country by common blacksmiths, and I then he held the Treaty of Hopewell, the 31 article of which fix?s the ooundary of Ihe nation according to his own will, without their consent. By that Treaty, the Western part of Sosth Carolina was obtained, An A n-1 S? I. ?*- ? m - - ?. _.. ui'uu turn lroaij III a I l no Georgian* claimed their right to the eminent domain, allowing the Indian* only the right of temporary possession, denying them independent sovereignty 4c., Ac. He was offered a commission, by Washington, in the Northwesten army, rained for a general war against the Indian* ; but be refused it at that tim?. Jefferson appointed him a Commissioner, to run the line between Georgia and Tennessee, and he actually, with other*, did run it. And I furnished Gov. Swain, when Governor of North Carolina, the original commission, on parch* ment, and his note*; and he wrote me that it saved to North Carolina possessions worth $700,000 He wai one of lit* Commissioners to run and settle tha line between Geor gia and South Carolina lie held tha Treaty ol Milledgevi.le, by which large territories beyond the Oehmulgee were ced*d to Georgia. He held the Treaty of Huntsvilla, also with lite Indians; and also the Treaty of Natehes, in Mississippi; and also went down tha Cumberland liver. Louisiana, before any white man, and wai often shot at from tha ba.ik*, by Indian* ; and he examined all of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, when all was an Indian country ; and I have notes, *f three volumes, in hi* own hand writing, a* to the whole country. You know that part of hie lifa when, with old Col. Cleveland, of Greenville, he exercised unbounded authorilv over the iionAr country of South Caroline, administering justice, law, and everything else. He ut id lite first County Court ever held at the old Black house, near Abbeville Court House. And my father, a child, drew l\t? first jury that ever was impanneled in AS be*ilie District, afur Independence. He was elected to Congress 1793, and went to Congress 1794, when lie resigned his office of Major Ueneral, held from South Carolina, from the Revolution until then; and in his letter of resignation to the Legislature, he recommended that they ahould appoint Capt. Wot. Butler his successor, and they aolually did so, which is the reason Judge Butler was named after him, as lie was horn soon alter that event. You are aware that the lest vote on the Constitution of the United Stales was taken in the Legislature of South Carolina, on the question as to the call of a convention, and it paeaed by but ons majority, I think. He was in (hat Legislature, and often a member; and was sleeted again, without hi kuowledge, in 1812, and, at great age, took his part for the war; and was otlered, or rather requested to become Governor, but lie declined upon the averred ground, that the struggle should he left to younger and more active men. I mention these general outlines of Ids life, because I really think they ara not generallv known, and as far as the lower country is concerned, never have been appreciated ; and 1 do really think it will be cruel injustice in them, if they refuse him a place in the new /Stale House, and place auinier and Marion there. I write you tins fre>-ly, because 1 have entire confidence in the purity and integr ty of your character, and because I know you feel a deep aud proper interest in all that interests the honor or the rights of tiie upper country. It is riaiural that they should feel great animosity to tne, for I have ever so?rned 10 take coous-l from the cliques aud cluba who have, of la'e years, governed our Stale; but I think it hard they should visit it upon one who served his oouniry and periled his life in her cauae, through the Revolution, and never asked or received a single cent for his services as au officer, at any lime, and is the only oftioer who did not lake his pay Out of our Siate, in the general history of the country. his name, and Marion's and Sumter's, are entwined together as the great partizao ottioeraof that day, and they ought to go together id our Slate. 1 trust i am not trespassing too uiuvh on your kiudue*s to call your earliest attention to this sui jeet, for our low country irieuda will not together, in advance, and fix upon the names to go into that Slate House, before you in the upper country think of if. The historical papers of our section were not properly attended to. My ather, who was named Andrew, too, early in life accepted the commission of Colonel, of the 10th Regiment, in the Regular army, and,, w in iuui? severe campaigns on the UtfMI da frontier, in iha war ot 1812; and M*. loru the eloae, you know, waa called home by being eleoted Colonel in the state Brig* ade, S. O , raised lor her own defence, and Judge Huger waa elected its General, and UrayloD the Lit utenaul-Colonel ; and (.hen, 1817, waa sleeted Governor, and immedi* ateiy alter ward# settled his estates In Ala* tiaina, 1818 and 1319. Ho, lis waa called ;>fT, and my graodiather'a pap era were entirely neglected, being ielt et hie death, 18>7, io poMraeioo of hit youngeat ?on Jo teph, who look no intereat in auch mattcra He too went off to Alabama, in 1818, and 1 I found the pepera, accidentally, in 1880, 1 titer they had been lying iu a looae trunk, u Grtahain'a store, In i'eudleton, all aoatler* , d and lost. Whether you approve or disapprove of anything I have suggested, I optt K will all be atrietly oonfbleotisl, eo 1 ai aa my name la eonoerned Your uub urm kindness and disinteri-ated support of ne have filled my breast with a gratelul renembranee I shall oarry witli me to my 1 ;rave. You will reeolleet that I was the 1 iret and only Kepreseotatlvo from So> ih I Carolina, who, at the extra evasion of 1899, supported the Independent TVownrr and n poke for it, Geo. Thompson ean tell eon fc all about it, I wae then denounoed aa hers >og gone over to the general Democratic party, under Yan Boren, and deeerltmr Booth Carolina, by thoee who have ever aeeOcned to themselves the excloeiye guardianehlp of the honor and rights of our State. So, too. when I waa obairmgn of the n committee on Porelgn Affairs, 1889,1 made l> a report indicating the honor and righto of ? onr common country, upon the bnming of * the Caroline and the McLeoud affair, and n the eastern boundary, Ac ; and again tha ? Mercury and Carolinian, than under Perm * berlon, both were out upon me because I y wae national, and looked to Federal power. ? When I introduced and passed n y renolip V tiona in our State Senate,against Hammond's ' meeaage, and Blufton ultralsm, you reeol- h lect bow I vii ihuwd again by the Mme ti parly. Than, again, njua l thought it dua, S to our honor wa should anataln Polk and r tha war with Meste?, I wa* denounced a* *' an aoarov to Mr. Calhoun, and devoted to the to national Democraey, Ac , dee. 80, again, in 1 1846. when I openly auatained Ca?a against i; Taylor, after Mr. Calhoun and the whole *" delegation In Congress had written home to 11 urge the 8tale to go for Taylor, I was put ? down as a 7Vuitor to the Stale. And in t( 1856, at our State Convention, to send del ? egatee to Cinetnnati, you recolleut how I j was abu'ed by the eama desperate faction, b I only mention these facts or points to show * the cause of the deep opposition to me?it i< Is hecau e I have ever been in their way.? And although the State has ever turned the I back of her hand to me, yet I feel a proud a satisfaction in knowing th it she has ever 0 sustained, in ths end, exactly the position I ' assumed, and for which I was at first do* nounced. Even in the late defeat of my- < self, the very men who were put up to put |j me down, have occupied ex?ctlv the same j, conservative grounds that 1 stood upon, and ? if anything, go li rther than I ever did. I t _ il. 1 V.I_ I . 1 .1 I . iiw| v uicj limy ur nuio HSiig W cumrui (lie ( Stale, and give a more eommonssense and ? dignified course to South Carolina than ahe t has pursued lor years paxt Of one thing I t feel proudly conscious, that, at no period of 0 my life, have I ever, for a single moment, J" felt one passing emotion separate from her v hono< and her rights. 1 have no complaints to make, and have not a single unkind feel- 0 ing towards any human being who has ev- s er wronged me in public matters. t I do not know what plan will he adopt- , e?l by the Legislature as to the matter of i placing likenesses of her distinguished meo I in the new State House, but if any like- s ness should be wanted, I have one at E-lge- i field, painted by Sully, in the Revolution* v ary uniform exact. * I have found Europe much aa I expected ?their magnificent public buildings and r palaces, their superb gardens and parks. u their gorgeous churches and display of , wealth and power, are all such as one might G exi oct, from powerful and despotic gov- c ernments Ou the surface, to a stranger, g everything appears very captivating; but ( when 1 turn from these things, and think of t the degradation and helplessness of the ? great masses, my heart sickens Their vast i standing armies, their hereditary nobility, 1 their established churches and priviledged T priesthood?all fasteu themselves upon the 5 body politic, and, like great vampires, fan, { while they aock the lifeblood of their writh ing victims. Since ( have looked more in- j to the interns! workings of European gov- p ernments, my feelings turn with fonder and t firouder affection for my own home and be- a oved couutry than they ever have done, e before through life. True, we may have t! heavy and grievous evils, but all govern- t oient is evil, and the only reason we submit g to it is tha*. it prevents a greater evil, * which is anarchy ; and, at last, government v is but a choice of evils You may prove R any government full of wrong, but then r there lies behind that a far greater ques- ? lion, and that is, what kind of governm-nt ^ have you to put into its plaee, and you must e demonstrate that it is belter than the one ( you have. I see Seward, in one of his a speeches, triumphantly holds up France and b Germany as illustrating the progress that A had been made under governments resting ii upon what he calls a " free labor basis."? h Would to God that lie, and all such, could 0 he made to feel the blessings, practically, of e French fraternity and French equality, un- * der the moat guiding government that God jj ever cursed the human family with. And if thesa visionary fanatics, who are now ^ willing (o drive our government to dis?nlo- c tion and ruin, under the vain theory of ? ideal equality, could be made to live for a ti few years t nder German senlimentabtv, a and their schools of empty ideality, it would fi cool their ardor, and they would he ready n to exclaim, "God save us from that progress P which is developed under governments rest- f' log upon a free labor basis.' " t( 1 seo there appears to be much confusion in our politics, both National and State. I trust that all factious divisions will vet be ri healed, and that Providence will guide *nd Cl direct us, as He had done heretofore, and jj save the institutions of our country, as a a e< mnmo blessing for mankind. f< I see Cot. Oir is freely spoken of as Pres- a ident. Judging from what I saw at the Cincinnati convention, I am satisfied no man a South had such popularity in the Governs " ment Northwest; and if they could carry ilia election, it would go very far to heal " ovor all bitter feelings, and restore confidence and repose to the Sooth, I do trust that our friends will take the earliest and m?st decided steps in South Carolina for a lull and able representation at Charleston, ? in 1860 I have no doubt, that many who before opposed going inio con venlion, ?ill X now make a merit of sustaining this, but our friends, who bore the odium of the for- c mer convention, ought to move in advance, kSO as to claim it as their own move I think I I would g<? so far as to propose early, that each battalion, in every regiment, shall, nt the battalion musters, ballot and elect four 8 delegate*, to meet in a Congressional Dies u tricl Convention, and there nominate dele- ^ gates to a general State Convention, at Cos lumbia, for the purpose of being effectively a represented, and making it eminently a JJ popular move amongst the great masses of p CM* people; and in oonveallon at Columbia, t Rdttly appoint yoar ablest men to go to risston, but make a liberal and hand- v arrangement to receive the delegates y io 1Mb, from all tbs State* in the Union, s; in the finest and most cordial manner.? This, too, would enable us to discuss the v propriety of giving the election to the peo- f< pie in our Stele, at elsewhere, and bring it ^ prominently op all over the State, ana it would give us men in a?oh battalion who '* would take an active part in ths practical |i government of lh* Stats Upon popular prin K cipb-SL I wrote my friend, Judgs McOrath, of Charleston, very folly, and enoloeed * what I had written as far back as 23d Oo- 8 lobar last, on politics generally ; and if you ^ see biro, you ara at liberty to raad it if you deaire any auoh tiling, aa a friand of mine. l)f eoorae, I write yon confidentially. ^ We have bean received with graat kindneaa by the Court and society here, and the " Ruaaiana are eery friendly to our country and 0 people. Aa to war in Europe, ] do not feel ? authorized to aay much, but there ia a ( itrong probability of war at present It ia ll hard to avoid it. II Will you b? to kind as lo prevent me, | ioet respectfully, to Mm Perry, nod eoeept , ?r youraelf the regard and eateem of Youra, eery truly, P. W. PICKEN8. 1 Bon. B. P. P?utr, Greene ilia, & O. St ParxasBuao, Ifoe. 21, 1869. My Dear Sir: I wrote you a long letter i inny months since, Intended to be entirely rlvate. 1 hare naeer heard If yon retired It or not, and 1 fear it. was so long it 'as an intrusion upon yoor time ; but your i niforro kindneaa and generous rapport of ie, on Tsrinus occasions, prompted ma to rrtte fully, as I felt eordiaHy thankful to on for many acta whieh I had no right to xpeet from yon. The enclosure I made ou. relating to the battle of the rn?n?? desire you to k-ep fur roc, or to eoolnee to l*j. J. N. Lipscomb, Ok?|>p?U'( Depot P. O., ImiTille R. R- 1 rejetee to ee# in oar tete more reasonable and wiser counsels revailing then for JtwrV. When, as preIdlog officer of the cooven'ien In Colum >ia, to send delegates to Cioeinnati, I first nok moderate grounds, bee us- the greet isues In the country bad changed, I was faiou sly denounced, and afterwards defeated on be grounds of my conservatism and supposed onneetion with tbe national Democracy; bat now see those out Bute has put in power iking precisely the same position for which I ras repudiated. Bo It was on the Indepenent Treasury, in 1837. I Was the only mem* er from Soath Carolina who voted for it, and ras denounced ior it; and so, too, in the Men* cau war, and support of Polk, Ac. The recent terrible outbreak at Harper's 'erry, and its far more terrible disclosures nd ramifications, arc enough to fill the breasts f all good men with forebodings as to tbe fuure. If, after what has been developed, the lorthorn peoplo do not rise up and rebuke rith condemnation tbe vile and base dema;ogues who have, by their infamous counten.noe, led the eountry to the brink of ruin, then deed will the South be forced to protect herelt. If, howover, the Conservative men of he North do their duty promptly, it may be he means of confirming the confidence of tbe louth in their integrity and ability. But if hey fail to do their duty now, thoo it is idle o deny the fact?we aro on the eve of great vents, and the deepest responsibility will est upon us all in the South. We must honesty endeavor to save the Constitution ai>d the Federal Union, if it can be done with safety; nd if not, then we must, in any event, save urselves and our homes. I see many Northrn papers and politicians urge the most externa measures, but we must be guarded in eceiving their advice, for they only look on t to be used as the menns of triumphing over heir local opponents and parties, and care not is to the real wisdom of Southern moves, or ts effects upon our interests. We cannot look ipon it in the light of mere partisan warfare ; re must treat it as involving our peace and Inai destiny ; and in this point of view, it will squire profound statesmanship. We must aake it the basis of systematic and concerted ooves to secure permanent and fixed guaranecs for the foture, if the Union is to be pernancutly saved. Our people have been eduntod to compaets and chartered rights, as a ubstitute for revolution and the sword. We nust have some additional covenant- Our siser border States of tbe North must not bo iscd as places or nurseries to organite systenotic plans of fierce and bloody invasion, and o keep the Southern States in constant trepidation and aggravation. It must be made heir duty to enforce a police in their own orders against border invasions of their siser States. We will have to demand a concntion or the States, under the Constitution, f the Northern peoplo now refnse to act irotcptiy, and to put down, by decided moves, ucir desperate leaders and their counsels; nd propose a new covenant or league, to cov-' r and protect our peace and safety. And if his be denied us, then we can stand before he world, and posterity justified in this last reat appeal. I merely throw out these hints, s ihe subject is just now before me, from re iewing the papers yesterday, which have iven me the full details of tho llarpor's Fery affair?that has taken me entirely by surrise. I am lost in astonishment at its ramications. I trust, however, Providence, who as so often heretofore taken care of us iu ventful periods, will guide and direct events 0 as to bring order out of apparent confusion, nd finally preserve our beloved country as a lessiog for many generations yet to come.? ifter viewing mora closely tho dreadful evils acident to all European governments, my cart turns with fonder attachmeut to my wn country and her institutions than it hai ver before felt. And while I feel the deepest take that the honor and the peace of the iouth shall be preserved, and will, without lesitation, risk my life and my fortune for it, 'et I also feel a deep desire to preserve our reat compact of Union, and tho common ountry, which our common forefathers made t a momentous period in human affairs. I rust it can be done, but it is lor tho North to ct now, and to do their part; and if they til, it will be then our duty to act. Pardon le for intruding any opinions, but deeply im* ressed as I ain with the critical state of af" lira in our country, from the circumstances 1 which I have alluded, I could not help peaking freely. I have written Gen. Cass I cannot remain t-re longer than next Summer. I would have (turned this winter, but for the extremely unsrtain state of things in Europe, anh 1 did not ko to appear even indifferent to eients that light happen, in which my country would sel a great stake ; I did not desire to follow ny one personal interest or indulgence. Everything is sti'l very doubtful in Europe, nd the Congress will not make it more aotled, I fear. Jf you hare leisure, I should be happy to ear from you, at any time. Yours, very truly and sincerely. F. W. PICKENS. lion. B. F. Pttaar. [CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.] ???-fc?? ^atform of the "True" Republicans. The True Rakuihlican imrt? of , ? I I? loutli Carolina enunciate the folowing platform : Whereas, gross and flagrant abu ea in the administration of afFairs f the State of South Carolina lave grown up in the executive ,nd legislative departments of its government, and liave become an ntolerable burden on the Repub ican party and the State ; and diereas the State Republican Con cutiou has put in nomination for Governor Franklin J. Moses, Jr., irho is responsible, with others, ;>r many of the abuses, and who, 8 Speaker of the House of Repcsentatives, fraudulently issued ay certificates for an immense um, has received large sums from he "armed force" tund, when no ucb force was in existence, and as corruptly controlled much of he legislation of the State; and rhereas the Republicans of the , tate have generally demanded hat those who have been guilty f corrupt practices shall be eject d from office; and whereas the < Convention, instead of making an I onewt and true Republican nomi- I ation, has by its action shown < that the corruption and incompetency wbicb bare characterized tbe present administration are to be |>erpetuated; and whereas we, a portion of tbo genera} Convention, have felt that, in view of this condition of affairs, and of this breach of trust on the part of the Convention, it is our dnty to withdraw ourselves therefrom, and by the selection of a ticket thoroughly Republican and honest, to go before tbe masses of the party for cue justification of oar course; therefore, be it Resolved^ 1. That we declare onr cordial acceptance of the platform ot the Philadelphia Convention, and pledge ourselves to the earnest support of its standardbearers, Gen. Grant and Honorable Henry Wilson. 2. That inasmuch as the notoriously corrupt and imbecile character of the present State administration has brought disgrace upon Republicanism evervwlmrft. and ie now a heavy bnrden npon the National party, impeding, if not endangering, its success, therelore, the Republicans of South Carolina owe it to themselves to elect such officers as will insuro an honest administration of gov* eminent, and thus assure their brethren all over the land that the disgrace which attaches to the party in the State shall be removed. 3. That we pledge the honor of the State to the payment of all debts which have been legally and honestly contracted; but that we will not hesitate to repudiate that portion ol it which is illegal, and, therefore, null and void. 4. That we pledge ourselves to inaugurate and carry out an honest administration of the affairs of the State, and to resist the payment. of all fraudulent pay certificates and warrants npon tko Treasury. 5. That we pledge ourselves, so far as in onr power lies, to an immediate reduction of the enormous taxes under which the people are groaning, and that we believe that this can be most speedily accomplished by introducing honesty anrl onAi.Amn ??u wuiiumj iiiiw me management of the various departments of the State government. 6. That the pledgee made by the Convention nominating Franks lm J. Moses, Jr., niu6t be judged of in the light of his record, and of those who sustain him, and th-t when thus viewed, fho people of the State will not hesitate to say that pledges from 6uch a source have no value, but are simply intended to blind the eyes of the people to the true purposes of those men, which purpose must be in the future, as in the past, the accomplishment of purely selfish ends, regardless of the welfare of the State. 7. That, in our judgment, the best safeguard to the public treasury is the election of honest and faithful officers to the various departments of government ; and that the history of the present administration 6hows that no statutory safeguaid will protect the treasury with Franklin J. Moses, Jr., at the head of the government and his willing tools in the other office?. 8. That under our constitution, we believe any other than an ad valorem system of taxation to bo ?..n i ...:J ? - nun nuu vuiu, miu nence mat tuo general license law, passed at the last session of the General Assembly, was in violation of the constitution and of the rights of the people, and could only have originated in a desire to extort from the people of the State 6till larger suing of money, to be corruptly need by the men who controlled the government. 9. That we blush for our party when we remember that under this administration, the education of the people has been so shamefully neglected, in consequence of 0 the failure of the government to pay promptly and faithfully the appropriations made by the legislature ; and that we pledgo ourselves to apply a remedy for this crowning disgrace in the future. 10. That every encouragement which can legitimately be gircn i 1?oca j 1 w mxoc UIIUCIITUI IIIJT lO UCVC1U)> the natural resources of the State should be extended, and that the interests of the laboring men in the State concur with the interests of capital in the demand for an earnest effort to develop new and varied industries within our borders. This we regard as tho means of improving the condition and increasing the wages of those who form the bone and sinew of the State. , - - The University of Nebraska, lo cated at Lincoln, the capital of tha State, has an endowment in lands that will soou be worth a million of dollars.