Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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DEVOTED TO SOUTHERN RIGHTS, MORALITY, AGRICULTURE, LITERATURE, AND MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. To thine mrnsclf be true; And it must follow as the nifrht the day; Thou const not then be false to any man.—Hamlet. VOL. 1. THE DARLINGTON FLAG, 18 PUBLiaflRBD DARLINGTON C. H., S. C., WEDNESDAY MORNING APRIL 16, 1851. NO. 7 EVEIY WEDNESDAY MINING, AT »AHL#hOTON, C. H., 8. C., BY JtiH* F. DE LOBME. : 'v TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: 5n advance, (per annum,) - - - $2 00 At the expiration of six months - 2 50 At the end of the year 3 00 ADVERTISING : Advertisements, inserted at 75 cents a square (fourteen lines or less,) for the first, and 37$ cts. for each subsequent insertion. Business Cards, not exceeding ten lines, inserted at US, a year. !3F* All business connected with the Flag, will be transacted with the Proprie tor at his Office, one door above the Dar lington Hotel, or with the Editor at his law Office FOUTIGAL. From the Edgefield Advertiser. SOUTH CAROLINA ALONE. We have said that we would take a view of the hopes of South Carolina, in case she is left unaided by a single Southern State. It will be permitted us to premise, that it is with feelings of abhorrence we for a moment, indulge the probability of such an event. So utterly repugnant is it, to all the notions we have, throughout life, entertained of the nobility of the Southern charac ter, that the mere admission, for the sake of argument, is loathsome. But grant it—and what then! Docs it follow that we are to be ru ined ? that our prosperity is to be blight ed and our energies paralysed! that our homes are to be given up to the owls and the bats, and that our impu tation is to rush into strange lands, with the wild and terrified confusion of the condemned in the last great day ?— Does this comport with any one trait in our national character! Is such a consummation consonant with one sin gle item of our past history ? What is required to give even the appearance of plausibility to these deductions f A preexisting conditiou of ]iea#lcssness, cowardice and selfishness, on the part of our peo|»lc‘—an absence of all the high emotions of patriotism, honor and local attachment. Can this be said of us! Is not every true son of Carolina ready to mantain the, reverse of his life blood 1 We bglieve it with a faith, that kiiows no wavering. ' And believing thus, we will never admit that otr State is to be deserted at her hour of need, except by such men, as were bom trai tors. Of these, wc would rejoice to lie ridded. The great mass of our people would but become the more staunch and true, in proportion to the increase of the dangers that threatened “the home of their affections and the land of their allegiance” They would take up the language of David when speaking of Jcsusalem, and say: “ When I for get thee, oh Carolina, may my right hand forget its cunning and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth.” Should we be t«»d that these are mere assertions which may be rebutted by contrary ones, we answer, onrs are assertions based npon a knowledge of what our people have, been and what they stdl are. The contrary opinion, however, confidently declared would be purely prospective and hypothetical.— Should we be pressed still further for the reasons upon which we ground this abiding faith, we wonld bid the sceptic go through the length and breadth of our State, and put the question plainly to ewry individual he might chance to meet, “ will you not desert South Caro lina in her day of trouble i” If he es caped, in the prosecution of this ex|>e- riment, even for a single day, with an unbroken skull, it is more than we would expect- Add to this, that it is the proud boast of those who oppose the action ofSouth Carolina, that, come what will, they will abide her decision and cleave to her with filial devotion to the last, and the conclusion is almost unavaidable that our State will he sus tained “ through evil as well as through good report, in weal and in woe” by the lives and the fortunes of her gallant children. There u nothing then, to warrant the belief that discord, or even discon tent will prevail in our rauks. There is evejy thing to keep alive the joyous expectation, that our people wilt present a solid front in defence of their State, whatever may betide her. This being granted, we are now to examine the ex tent of the evils and difficulties which are likely to arise to test the firmness of eur population and the truth of their canse. And first as to the evils of war. It is said by some of the political ‘Means,* t'yd the Federal Government will ngt think of using coercive measures to wards South Carolina, in the event of her seceding from the Union. Mr. Webster has indicated that the Execu tive department is of a different way of thinking. He has indeed almost declar ed that we will lie dealt with as a re bellious Province, if that branch of the Government is to have the decision of the matter. The question then arises, w ill this dictatorial decision be sustain ed by the National Legislature, in which the sole power of declaring war resides. Even conceding the point that it will be the disposition of a majority of that branch to sustain the Executive, will there not lie moral hinderances to the fulfilmeut of this policy, well calculated to stagger all but those who are labor ing under the blindest fanaticism! Ev idently so. Any act of war against •South Carolina for the causes under consideration, will be a public procla mation that the American people have renounced the strongest feature of their Federal system, the only check upon the aggressions of the Central Govern ment—the hitherto uncompromitted sovreignty of the sejterate members of i the League. It will be canonizing the decress of a majority in Congress, as infallible and supreme. It w ill lie ac knowledging to the world that our boas ted government differs from a despo tism only in name. It will be a retro- gade movement that will call dowm up on the government the ridicule of mon archists—and which will afford them just grounds to boast of the superiority of their long cherished constitutions. It will be perpetrating in the enlighten ed era of 1851, an outrage worthy on ly of medi-icval tyranny. It is no sal- vo to the consciences of those who perpetrate the deed, that it will com mend itself to the support of transatlan tic politicians, as according with the teaching of their schools. They will not regard it in this light alone. Their chief use of it will Ik*, to point to it as a proof of the impotency of our politi cal organization. W hile a deed like this, by the American Congress, w ould impart joy to the hearts of monarchs and despots everywhere, it would arm their parasites with a new and power ful argument against Republican inno vations. It would weaken, perhaps destroy the moral influence of this Western Republic, over the affairs of mankind. Could such men as W r ebster aru’ even Clay, suffer themselves to be hurried by the demented shouts of a reckless party, into a measure that would reflect such disgrace upon the American name! It is scarcely pro bable. Another barrier against the persecu tion ofSouth Carolina by any act of war, will be found in the unprecedent ed strength of her political position.— She stand upon a moral Gibraltar, and from her commanding height, can sur vey the perplexity of her assailants, with a calm confidence in the purity of her cause and an unfaltering trust in Him who has said, that “the battle is not to the strong alone.” Among the revolting elements that may struggle to combine for her destruction, the still naU voice of common sagacity will alw itself heard, however unwelcome its suggestions. It will force our adver saries to see and to admit that they are entering upon a conflict in which the ‘morale* will 1»e altogether against them. The questions will present them- solvcs to the sober, practical farmers of the North—for what purpose is this proceeding against South Carolina in stituted f what injury or in^istice have we ever sustained at her hands! what is to be the cost of this experiment!— when is it to end! if the extirpation of a few savages fram Florida cost us sev eral millions, what sum will be requir- ed to organise and keep up a force suf ficient to subdue a hundred thousand freemen fighting for their very firesides ? Their leaders wonld strive in vain to give satisfactory answers to these puz zling questions. There wonld thus arise distraction and division without end, even among the people of the Free-soil States. Fanaticism wimiH advise to desperate measure*—self-interest would pause to consider the pecuniary advan tages to be gained-justice, through per haps in a sad minority, would condemn the policy—even the violated Constitu tion might call around it a remnant, resolved to restore it to its original pu rity. TYms the very natnre of the case, 1 to say nothing of die lessons of their | past history, will lead us to believe that the Northern States would split into factions and that their action through the National Congress would, as a con sequence, bo vacillating, weak and in efficient We do not speak of our sis ter States of the South, having agreed to admit that they will remain neutral and indifierenf spectator* of this effort to subjugate South Carolina. Should they betaken into the estimate, in mak ing up an opinion of the wrangling and dissension which this measure of oppres sion will produce, the expectation of an armed attempt to force our State into submission, would dwindle down to the barest possibility. But leaving them out of the question, there are many reasons, some of which are indi cated above, to strengthen the belief that no formidable party can l»e long held together for the destruction of our Commonwealth. If South Carolina, as we prayerfully hope she will, remain true to herself—if her people, uninflu enced by slavish fear and unseduced by the devilish misrepresentations of those who paint the “glories of the Union" in such disgustingly false co lors, will stand up boldly to the line already marked out by an enlightened and a patriotic Legislature, we will command the issues of this conflict for peace or for war. We will have tli 5 control ©four own free destiny, with no surveilance but that of the mighty Ruler of Nations. But if they even yield to the suggestions of that prudential patriotism, which claims for itself a spirit of determined resistance, while saying that “ the time and the occa sion” for beginning the all-important movement, “have not yet been, are not now,” while, in effect, disclaiming the action of our Representatives ta ken at the last session, then we much fear that the “die is cast” and that the fates are against us. Then do we seriously apprehend that “ a tale of sub mission” will liegin to be unfolded, the hist chapter of which will present a pic ture, more appalling than British eman cipation ever stamped upon the unfor tunate island of St. Domingo. Patriots of Soutli Carolina ! dampen not, with these temporising counsels, the enthu siasm of those, waose mhole souls and fortunes stand pledged to the unflinch ing prosecution of the course, plainly marked out by our Legislature and joy fully recognized by our true sympathi zers throughout the South ! You may thus deal a death-blow to the great cause in whicli we are all engaged—a cause which must triumph, if guided by the spirit of *76. We have much ground to hope that this triumph will be achieved without the necessity of war; and to this view we have confined ourselves in the above. At another time, we will consider the probability of tha) triumph, should a resort to arms be necessary to secure it. Court in a full suit of twilled homespun. ! States! Of the prices of produce in Unex|>ectedly to himself he was called market! Of the progress of religion upon to address the jury in a case of and civilization! Of wars, families, or some importance. His home was some |>estiience! Of improvements in the miles distant, and he had neglected to arts and the sciences! Of railroads bring with him the black gown and coat which in those days seemed snu m The following scene in a South Ca rolina Court Room, is said to have oc- cured on the Pee Dee circuit The Telegraph credits it to the Yankee Blade, but our neighbor the Black Ri ver Watchman, says it was written and published inrSouth Carolina. We think the latter is correct We recollect to have heard some such tradition years ago. The memory of lawyer F., is still green with some of our old men. Here is the story: Many years since, when Judge B— was one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, he was not unfrequent- ly thrown into collision with Mr. F— one of the most able and talanted of the bar. The rivalry between them was no doubt heightened by the fact, that his Honor was a native of the Green Isle of Erin, while lus equally able opiHment claimed his paternity from the “ land of the brown hearth and shaggy wood/ with the natural prejudices of which, it is unnecessary to say, that he was 4eep ly imbued. Judge B , true to his national proclivity, hourly laid himself liable to die keen retorts and biting re partees of our worthy advocate F— who never allowed an opportunity to escape him of exciting a laugh against i the Judge B——. Often when Judge B thought that he had fairly turned the tables against his rival, in a twinkling came a keen and killing retort from the invul nerable Scotchman, completely turning the fortune of the day; apd it was in- I deed amusing to hear in Kow peculiar- i ly broad a Scotch accent F indul ged on such occasions, as though anx- ions to pique the national vanity of his j antagonist, ami gratify his own, by bringing forward into public gaze every 1 peculiarity that pointed to tlieir nation al characteristics. F felt the tri umph, not for himself, but for Scotland. Judge B patiently “bided his ; time,” and at length F seemed to him fairly caught and left without the hope of escape. During the session of the Court at Chesterfield Court House, F , after a ride over his plantation, alighted at the door of the Court House, and made' 1 Ids appearance before the as necessary an appendage to a lawyer as its shell to an oyster. The occasion was urgent, and forgetful or heedless of his plight, he rose to address the jury. Judge B promptly and pointedly reminded him that it was necessary for him to don the black gown, As our readers are well aware the order of a South Carolina Judge in open Court is almost as absolute as that of the Czar of Russia. It is a part of our system of Democracy. It is the self-respect of the people exhibited in the praiseworthy deference which they yield to the guar dians of the law who act in their behalf. With a deferential bow to the presid ing Judge, our worthy Scotchman turn ed to a brother lawyer and borrowed from him the prescribed garment, which in a moment he drew around his manly fonn. “Mr. F ,” said Judge B , with the tone and air of a man who in tends to lie very precise and particular, “you will oblige me by a complete compliance w ith the rules and regula tions of the Court The regulations, sir, prescribe ‘a black gown and coat’ You have but partially complied with the regulations.” “Your Honor will permit me,’’repli ed F , in the broadest Scotch he could command, “ to doot the correct ness of your honor’s decision about the coat and— “To doubt it, Mr. F !” exclaim ed Judge B , with an incredulous smile. “ Mr. Clerk, y ou w ill please read for Mr. F ’s benefit, the regu lation prescribing the dress for members of the bar.” In a voice half choked w ith laughter, the Clerk, who now considered F fairly stumped, read aloud a regulation most clearly prescribing that any law- yer addressing tlie Judge or jury, should wear “ a black gown and coat” “Thatis sufficientlv explicit, I should think, Mr. F .” “ True you honor,” replied F , “ a black gown and coat; 1 have on the black gown, and I have a coat; but I altogether deny, your honor, that the term black has any reference to the coat. I will put a case to your honor: it is expressly declared that the Sheriff shall wear a cocked hat and sword; and does your honor say that he shall wear a cocked hat and a cocked sword ?” The judge was stmek dumb, and ef fectually silenced. Before the explo sion of laughter which followed his re tort was silenced, F turned to the jury, and in a bold md manly tone launched out into an argunu ut of the merits of his case, leaving his discomfit- ted antagonist no time to pass sentence in the case of black gowns and coats versus cocked hats and swords. I “ Well, so 1 meant; but 1 was inter- i rupted,” she replied. “Mrs. Ulain came in to-day, and Mrs. Strong yes terday, and to-day I had not time.— And now I must wash, for neither the and telegraphs! How many of the i children nor you have a clean thing to tiiousand things we have learned, which, put on; and for that matter, neither taken together, maka up the sum of our have I.” information—how many of these things “So it would appear,” said Gale, have we learned from the newspaper ! \ glancing at the dark tint of her natu- To lie entirely without this great instru- rally light gown, ment—this medium of intelligence— “ So it would appear indeed!” she would really seem like going back to cried angrily. “ I suppose you expect semi-civilization. A well-conducted to see me as clean and neat, and evorv- newspaper, advocating the right sort of thing as well done as if I were a lady principles, is the hook for the people, and kept a couple of servants!” The freedom of the press is the terror ! “ No, Mary,” said her husband, of despots and tyrants. It is a great 1 gravely. “ 1 form no such extrava- right arm of power. It is said that Na- gant expectations; all 1 ask is, that tho poleon Bonaparte, when iie aspired to hours 1 am working hard to earn our he Emperor of France, and to govern daily bread might be spent by you in that nation by no other law than that some occupation more profitable than of his own will, once remarked to a gossipping, and so let me find a quiet friend, he “dreaded one editor of a and orderly house on my return, and a companion such as you used to l>e in tho earlier days of our wedded life.” But the affectionate tone of the last words exercised no softening influence on the aroused spirit of the indignant wife, and a quarrel ensued, and it end ed, as it had often done before, in Gale taking his hat, and finding at the pub lic house the comfort he could not find in his own. Meanwhile, Draper paamd through ids trim little garden, entered nis pretty cottage home, ami sitting down his basket, seated himself wearily by the window. Oh, Draper, I am sure you never wiped your shoes when you came in!” was tho wile's salutation as siie enter ed tho room. “ Well, my dear, and if I did not, there could be no mud on them this weather,” he replied. “ No; but I’ll be bound there was plenty of dust on them,” she retorted crossly, “and you know how I hate dust. And here—1 declare if here is not your dirty basket set down on tho clean wax cloth.” “ I was very tired, Susan, or 1 would not have done it,” said her husband apologetically. “ And do you think I am never tired,” she demanded, “ working about all day as I do, and then sitting down to make and mend for the children ! for I take pride in seeing all my chil dren neat and clean.” “ You are, indeed, a most industri ous wife, Susan,” said her husband in all sincerity; yet he sighed, for his home, though pleasant to look at, was very uncomfortable. “I am glad you admit that,” she said, shortly, “ come, now, supper is ready.” WiiF.m shall wk Place Him!— The Yan! tee Blade tells a queer incident which once came otf at a church in Boston. A clergyman was pronoun cing a grandiloquent eulogium upon Howard, the philanthropist, comparing him with all the world’s benefactors since Noah’s day, and declaring that he could find no place honorable for him on the roll of those who brought bless ings to their race, while ever and anon his paragraphs were wound off with the exclamation, “Where shall we place this great philanthropist!” Just as he had reiterated the interro gatory for the dozenth time, a chap with a “ brick in his hat,” who had stag gered in rose up, and steadying himself by clutching the pew railing with vice- like grasp, cried out, “ 8-s-since you are so—ss—h-b-blamable puzzled, Mis ter, he he he can have a se-sc-seat here tn th-th-this pew. There's plenty of room /” It would require a Cruiksbank pencil to depict the scene that ensued. Suffice it to say, our bibulous friend was continently shown that there was room neither in the pew nor in the entire house for him. VALUE OF NEWSPAPERS. The department of newgpajier litera ture has acquired a distinctness, a form and a moral influence, equal, if Hot superior to any other class of literature. And unless we take time to reflect upon the subject, we cannot at once under stand or appreciate the importance and value of a newspaper. Let us suppose that there were not a single newspa|ier published in the United States. What one newspaper in Paris more than ten thou sand bayonets!” Well he might! He | dreaded him who had the means to in form the people of their rights, and to [ arouse them in their power and majesty ; to rally to their defence and preserva tion.—Spartan. HONES AND HUSBANDS. The sultry summer day was past, and the cool air of evening was mur muring among the green leaves, and bending the tender stalks of the flow ers as it swept onward to Ian the heat ed brow of the husbandmen, who had toiled tliroughout the long day beneath the glowing sky. But to none among the band of homeward bound laborers did the even ing breeze seem more refreshing than to two, whose baskets of tools borne over their shoulders, denoted them car penters. They had, in truth, passed the whole of the day on the top of a lofty house, preparing it for slates, and had Buffered not a little the from intense heat; and now, with wearied frames, they were pursuing tlieir way home. At the entrance to the village where they lived, Draper and Gale separated, each to seek his own dwelling. There was not a neater or cleaner abode in the village than that awaitiug the reception of Draper. Not a speck of dust dimmed the brilliancy of tho windows, around which fluttered cur tains as white as snow; every article of furniture was polished till it shone like a mirror; fresh flowers breathed forth their fragrance from the chimney piece, a spotless cloth covered the little supper table, and Mrs. Draper and her children were as neat as (tossihle to be. Far different the scene whicli await ed Gale: his house was in disorder, his children untidy, and his wife absent. The last named evil, however, was soon remedied, for one of the children des patched in quest of the mother, soon returned with her. “ You are here already, Tom,” she exclaimed, rushing in breathlessly, in a gown that certainly had seen quite a week’s hard service. “ I had no thought it was so late. But supper will soon be ready. Light the fire, that’s a good fellow, while 1 cut a rasher and wash the lettuce, and we'll soon have supper.” “I am so tired, Mary, that I would rather do without supper than light the fire,” said Gale, throwing himself on a seat “Are yt>u! Well, then, don’t; I’ll soon get it ready myself,” said the wife, ADVERTISING. He is a shrewd man who advertises. This is proverbial, the world over. It is simply putting your goods wares mer its, plans, suggestions, bargains &e., in to the eyes of the universal public. Every body reads the newspapers now - a-days. A good advertisement is like taking every man and woman in socie ty by the vest, button-hole or arm, and privately w hispering to them imports ut matters. Who are they that succeed in busi ness ! The one who stirs up the public or those who make no more noise than a church mouse! Of course the for mer. The man of enterprise and intel ligence always puts himself and his mer- body. beginning to hustle about ; in the course 1 ! to straight before the pubhc eve, and of which she broke more than one ar- kt ' e » >8 U ‘ eni U,ere - II 8 the only way to tide of crockery, put for the time in ™ke money, get reputatom or beany- unsuitable places. “ Where were you, Mary! ” in quired Gale, after a pause. Hanging.—A Scotch parson, in his I had just step|>ed out to see how prayer, said—^ Lord bless the great Blain’s baby was ; poor little Council, the Parliament, and grant they may all hang together.” A country fellow standing by, re plied,—'“Yea, with all my heart, and the sooner the better. I’m sure it is the prayer of all good people.” “ '3ut friends,” said tho paraon, “I doci mean as that fellow does, but pray sp -aker’s ears j they may all hang together in accord and concord.” gone child, ever aince a boy six Mrs. dear.” “ Mother has been tea,” said tha eldest years old. “ You abominable little story tolier, how can you say so! I w»o gone uo time at all!” exclaimed the mother, ir ritated into boxing the for his interference. The child ran away cry ing, and Mrs. ; “ No matter what cord,” replied tho Gale went on preparing her husband’s other, M so ’tis a strong cord." supper; more industriously than rapid- ^ ^ ly, since she had to clean most of the . . ... » _ n articles die required ere she could use ^ A ?. Y . " j*. U,o„,. Thou, bv that timp, th. Huldn'n t- stLts: i w-rrr.Ti ; hu J rj i , , . . i that he “ met a lady a few days since, was at length ready, die had to go up * “ - •* . . J • staiis to put them to bed; then return- " ° mg, she swallowed her own meal has tily, and putting aside the dirty plates. had a form on each Wrist, a four hoase around her neck, and at know of the commerce of i declared site must go and wash. • . m i la MVfl a. A ««r 1 •«* 1 • J at 1 1 ..I I Story ■ I least six life-memberships to Society attached to each ear? Bible and the world! What know of the affairs of gov- What of the proceedings of Of the Ls^idatnre of the Waeh!” exclaimed the husband, in astonishment. “ I thought you were to hav* washed she day before yester- dav.” “ My wit most even ta She is mad id a NL-