Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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iJ.g?!"»«»-■ (From tho Stato-Right» Republican.) IIIEDUTB SECESSIOJ. A groat many of our frieixla are alar- moil at the idea of immediate secession, having been misled by the co-operation newspapers, to imagine that the advo cates of State action are in favor of secession at this time, L e. to-day, or, if not to-day, then next week or next month or some lime that is very near at hand probably before the present crop is harvested and sent to market. When the Southern Standard was started its editor came out with a de claration that he was in favor of resis tance in connection with other States bat w as not in favor of separate State resistance at this time. A grunt many of the co-opcration orators and letter w riters have also taken |>aius to an nounce in their speeches and letters that they are not in favor of secession at this particular time. They do not go for it under existing circumstances i. e. the circumstances that exist to-day. Some of them have denounced the se cession party as hot headed rash and pre cipitate—representing that they advo cate immediate secession—and instant withdrawal from the Union, which will in all probability before our citizens are prepared for the struggle, involve the serious consequences of a war with the the Federal Government This idea studiously circulated, has alarmed some of our fedow-citizcns not a little and has produced very false and erroneus impressions. Influenced by apprehen sions of immediate danger tney have been induced to leave the Htate action party and have gone to the ranks of the watch and wait party of co-opera- tionista. Arguments of this sort, we understand, were used with many in dividuals, to induce them to sign tliu call for the co-operation meeting late ly la-M at Charleston, and contributed largely to swell the list 'Die same kind of representations have been em ployed to make converts in the coun try and not unfrcquently with suc cess. One would really suppose from nil w e hear on this subject, and often from respectable persons that there is really a party in the Statu who advocate has ty measures, and are disposed to in volve our citizens, without a moment’s delay in all the horrors of achil war. It is well that these impressions should be removed, and that the plain truth should he stated. For our own part we do not know and have never heard of any party in this State who go for immediate secession—for secession at this time—or under existing circum stances. The great body of the peo- of the Htate were undoubtedly in favor of secession before the last Legislature convened, and elected candidates with special reference to the call of a Con vention for the purpose. They could not have exacted immediate secession for in the tirst place, the members had to be elected, the Legislature had to meet and provide for the calling of the Convention ; the members of the Con vention bad to be elected, and when elected, they would have to con sult together and discuss the question. Before they should pass the ordinance of secession, a good deal of time would necessarily elapse. The tiling was not to be done sudden imprudently and in a heat of passion when the blood of men was up but the iState was to take its time, (though not too long a time! and to proceed cautiously calmly and w ith a due regard to the consequences. Accordingly when tho Legislature mot the whole session, nearly was de voted to a thorough discussion of the subject Arguments were heard on all sides. A Southern Congress w as agreed upon and a Convention order ed allow ing ample time and opportuni ty for the other States to come into commoa council and co-operate with South Carolina if they should think proper to do so. It was arranged that the Convention might be called by the Governor, if circumstances rendered it impel ative ; but if not called by him, a time was to he fixed for its assem bling by the Legislature at its next session ; and when it met it might con tinue in session an entire year if pro per and necessary. Appropriations w ere made for putting the State in a condition of defence by the purchase of arms, munitions, Ac., should a war ensue. In all this there was no evidence of a determination to hurry matters. If incumlte^ on the State ever to secede froth tho Union, in consequence of the past aggressions of the Government, some steps must necessarily be taken for the purpose. The minds of the people seemed to have been fnlly made up that they could not remain longer in the Union, consistently with Anr dignity and safety that was absoraRfy necessary; but to cut the connection m- stanter, without allowing our citizens to prepare for for so important a change in their governmental affairs, yras never contemplated by the people themselves' or by any party in the Statb. What length of time the State may still wait beforoe it passes its ordinance of se cession it is impossible to say but that it will secede when it is ready to do it we entertain no doubt In the meantime, before the final and irrevocable blow is struck tho State will hope almost against hope that some other Stata entertaining the same views of the wrongs of the South whieh she doer may join her standard and with her. We are as desirouc of co operation as the minority party In the State possibly can be. We wmuld make any sacrifices consistent with honor and which stops short of actual submission to past aggressions and in sults, to secure co-operation. But at present we have little or no reason to anticipate any such reason to antici pate any such co-operation on the part of any State but the contrary. Geor- gia, Alabama, and Mississippi have all of them publicly and unequivacally ex preseed their determinations on this subject They have told us in the plainest terms, that for any past icrongs how ever great—and they acknowledge them to lie great—which the South has sustained tiikv will not keckde; but that for certain future aggressions— which may never take place—they will secede. That the vast majority of the Southern Rights party in these and other States are anxious that South Carolina should strike the blow', we are informed, and that South Carolina will be amply sustained in doing it, we are assured. It remains then for her to pur sue without shrinking the manly and hon orablc course already marked out forher by the State authorities. She w ill gain nothing by waiting, hut the contempt of her sister States and of the w orld.— She is satisfied that she is right, and she has only to maintain the right with yet without success, whethar the speech es spoken of are to come from oho side, or whether the discussion is to be gener al- We hope, however, that the latter plan will be adopted; the cry has been heard from seaboard to mountain top, that the question has not been discussed before the people, and will our friends adopt the plan which they have so vio lently condemned, of taking the vote of the people on ex parte arguments of the question? We cannot think so. We think everv man in the District may con sider himself invited to the meeting, for we presume no one is in favor of seces sion under existing circumstances. We hope our friends will lay down some de finite platform, on which we may all unite. We think opposition to secession under existing circumstances, may be made to mean anything or nothing. "cibT The spirit of resistance and popular indignation which has so long rankled, like a slumbering volcano, in the boeoms tif tho patriots of this lovely Isle, has at length burst forth in open rebellion. The flag of freedom has been unfurled, and thousands of sympathisers from other countries are daily rallying beneath its folds; scarcely a breeze blows from our . own sunny South but wafts “aid and spirit—to advance right on in the path of <• .« . .u j ~ t duty, without looking to the right or ‘o the oppressed Cubans, the hand or to the left and especially without fo ™ of men and “ to u P hold the,r looking behind her, to gecure for her- 1 ri S* lteoU8 ca,| 8 e ‘ This is as it should be; self, and ultimately, for the whole south 11 is a standing maxim of ours that “ those a glorious victory. who would be free themselves must In the meantime, the declarations of strike the blow.” Whenever an oppress- party presses that she intends to secede < d people find it necessary to throw off immediately, must be regarded as one the yoke of their masters, and strike for of those mana-uvres which are often resorted to “by the know ing ones," ' order to catch flats. in Darlington flag, independence, they will find sympathi sers, aidors and abettors in every land where the people have not been so long borne down beneath the iron heel of ty ranny, as to lose the spirit of freemen.— Tell us not that the age of chivalry has passed—that this is essentially an age of dollars and cents—that men have reach ed that stage of civilization when they can fold their arms quietly and see their friends ami fellow citizens trodden down by the power of might against right. If men will leave their homes and firesides to espouse the cause of a foreign people' i speaking a different language, with how nor and stpfae me in the dark. So, sir, he who undertakes to deprive me of my property by open means, is always enti tled to higher rmpect than he who seeks to accomplish the same end by deception and trickery. I hold that whatever oppo sition is due to the Wilmot Proviso, what ever resistance it demands is doubly due to this scheme of smuggling a sovereign State into the Union.” Thus spoke Jeremiah Clemens^ in May, 1850, but as the summer came on and was passing away, the Senator be come as gentle as a sucking dove. His resemblance to the valiant Douglas was no longer perceptible, but he gradually adopted the policy of another distinguish ed character in Henry the Fourth, whose cardinal principle was that “ discretion is the better part of valor.” In what stri king contrast to the above appears his speech at Huntsville. In attempting to justify his serpentine course, he says: “When violent speeches could do any good, I was ready enough to make them; when harsh language could by possibility effect anything for the South, I did not hesitate to employ it. But a different state of things now exists. After a long and bitter contest, a settlement has been made. Good men everywhere are sigh ing for repose, and the question for us to determine is, whether there is anything in the circumstances around us to forbid a return to the usual quiet avocations of life.” Verily, if bullying and bravado could accomplish anything, the South would lie safe, for she has others besides Mr. Clemens wlio are adepts in high sounding language. But a very different slate of things now exists. Yes, indeed, in the Senator’s own language, everything has been conceded to the North. The very measure which he denounced as worse than the Wilmot Proviso has pass ed Congress; and yet the Senator is for submission, for he says elsewhere in his Huntsville speech, that “ Between seces sion and acquiescenee in the measures passed by Congress, there is no medium ground.” The Patriot says Colonel Cle mens “ was the commander of a regi ment in Mexico, and is as bold and fear less a man as ever drew the breath of life/’ Well, he may be brave, but we arc hood do not believe as. lie does on the questioqg|f separate secession, and from t a emri much greater alacrity will they flock to 1 SOrry ,hath ' 8 b ™ e >7 heretofore has only when it is invaded ' baW ' man ' ft ’ ,,,ed h X “ violent speeches” and “harsh language.” the soil of Carolina ^ by the hostile tread DARLINGTON, S. C. J. H. NORWOOD, Editor. THIRSDAV MORNING, AUGUST 11,1^1. AGENTS FOR THE DARLINGTON FLAG. S. D. Halleord, - Camden, S. C. Charles DeLorme, Sumterville, S. C. TO Olf READERS. We expect to bo absent from our post for a few brief weeks, in search of health and recreation, but chiefly the latter. A friend haa kindly consented to play scis sors for us in our absence, and should anything worthy of interest present it self to us our readers shall be duly in formed. RUTLEDGE. Wo commence to-day the publication of a series of articles originally published in the Edgefield Advertiser, on the subject of separate State secession. The arti cles need no comment from us—they speak for themselves. The dollar and cent view of the question is considered at length. TO CORRESPONDENTS. We have unwisely suffered our paper to become the medium of a controversy between two of our friends, on a subject which cannot, by any possibility result in good. It has been permitted solely from from a desire to clear our skirts from the charge partiality. They have both had an Opportunity to let off steam, and we must insist that with this number it must close so far as our paper is con cerned. AGRICULTURAiTMEETING. The District Agricultural Society held its annivorsary meeting on the 1-Jth inst., at the Mineral .Spring. An address was delivered by Capt R. G. Edwards, of Society Hill, on the Treatment of Slaves, after which a number of gentlemen gave their views and experience on various branches of Agriculture. A sumptuous barbacue was provided as usual, to which the company did complete justice. A more pleasant way of spending a day cannot well be conceived of, and a more pleasant place than the Mineral Spring for such a purpose, could not be selected. mreting oiTnexTrale day. It will be seen elsewhere to-day that a call is made by a number of our friends, for those opposed to the separate seces sion of South Carolina under existing circumstances, to meet at this place on next sale day. Speeches, it ia said, will be delivered, and resolutions adopted, ex- preaaive of the senae of the meeting.— We have endeavored to find oot, but aa of a mercenary foe. Doubting souls have faith ; mathenntica! certainty cannot be attained with regard to the future; faith alone can penetrate its dark veil. Ask yourselves the ques tion, How would you act under similar cir cumstances? How would you have act ed if the Government had carried into effect the threat against Texas ? SENATOR *CLE ME NS. This redoubtable champion of submis sion has delivered a speech in Huntsville, Ala., which appears in the Southern Pat riot, and a sufficient condemnation of which is the fact that it receives the un qualified approval of that organ of Un ionism and Consolidation. This is the gentleman, it will be recollected, who in the early part of his Senatorial career was one of the most clamorous advocates of Southern Rights; he made the Senate Chamber resound and re-echo with his valiant words; he,in connection with the little Pacificator, Henry Stuart Foote, surnamed The Traitor, at one time had earned the appellations of the Douglas and the Hotspur of the South. But alas! for poor human nature, Foote could not withstand the smiles and blandishments of Henry Clay, who held up to his am bitious fancy the prospect of national popularity and national renown. As our mother Eve, in the garden of Eden, yielded to the seductive arts of the ser pent, so did Foote to the generalship of this political magician. Foote abandon ed the proud position he had assumed, and received from the gentleman whose name heads this article, a most scathing rebuke. From a speech of his delivered in May, 16 and 20, 1850, we make the following extract: “Not long since, Mr. President, the Senator from Mississippi and myself were pulling side by side in I found him so fiery a yoke-fellow, I was nearly broken down in trying to keep up with him. Now we are as widflNtpart as the poles. I presume he will not take it unkind in me if I undertake to trace up the course of each, and ascertain which has abandoned his former position.” The Senator then goes on to quote from an other speech of his, which he says was fully endorsed by Foote. Here is the ex tract: “I answer that everything is con. ceded by the admission of California. The whole matter in controversy termi nates at once. The North gets all she has ever asked, gets it by the action of Congress, and in direct violation of the great legal principle that the wrong-doer shall not profit by his own wrong.” A- gain he says: “ Sir, I prefer the Wilmot Proviso direct. I prefer it because it is bolder, plainer, and more manly. The robber who meets me on the highway and demands the surrender of my prop erty, leaves me at least the option of a contest, and is entitled to far mors respect than the assassin who lurks behind a cor- COMMOTICATIOHS. [FOR THE DARLINGTON FLAG.] “HEAR ME FOR MY CAUSE.” Mr. Editor: I see in the Flag of the 6th inst., a reply to my communication in the Charleston Evening News of July 5th, by Mr. Jonathan Wright. When I wrote for the News, I did not know that my letter would be published, much less expected to be imortalized by keeping up a newspaper controversy with my friend Wright. I will reply briefly to his assertions; first,he says that he was born and raised in the District and never resided any where else, and goes on to tell a few post offices where he is well acquainted, &c.; all of this I will admit 2ndly. He said I called him a quiet far mer, which is only true in part, as he is a farmer and merchant. As to the word farmer, or quiet farmer, I claim myself, and am proud that I was raised a farmer, and 1 expect to live a farmer, and die a farmer. As to his being a merchant; I plead ignorance on that point. I knew Mr. Wright had peddled in this District, 1 also knew that a new store had been opened in Mr. W.’s neighborhood, but was informed it was Dr. Flinn’s store. But I now admit that Mr. Wright is a farmer and a merchant But what has this to do with separate secession. I have, says Mr. W., endeavored to in form myself as well as I possibly couldi in regard to the sentiments of the Dis trict and from all the information I can gain I do firmly believe the majority are in favor of separate State action. This I do not admit; but this is quite different from his first communication, which said he knew of but two or three that was op- the same traces. I must add also, that posed to separate State action; now he fells us about a majority, die. Oh! con sistency, thou art a jewel. 3dly. As to the gentleman who had bu siness with almost every man in the District, I'presume he alludes to our es teemed Tax Collector, who also told me he ouly asked a few persons at each tax paying place, who he supposed to know, and on what they told him that three- fourths were in favor of separate secess ion, dtc.; and this was in the spring; and was the gentleman correct, even then? 4thly. Mr. W. remarks, were it not for his professions! character he would scarcely be known in the upeer part of the District; he, Mr. Wright, has been asked who Mr. J. E. Byrd was, &c. I thank Mr. W. for informing the people of Darlington where I was raised, and who I was. ffthly. He says there is a true secession ist of high character in my neighborhood, who does not believe as I do on the ques- tion; this I also admit, and for the infor mation of my friend Wright, will admit that some two hundred ia this neighbor- what a correspondent in the Charleston papers .tells us, writing from Mb Eton, that out of 800 votes generally polled at Mu Elon, not 30 could be polled for sepa rate State action, and he is also a man of high character, Ac. 6thly. As to the voice, he has answered for himself. He say s he has been to Geor gia; his fend is sold on conditions, Ac. ( and if the State does not secede he will move, Ac. Noy, Mr. Editor, I have answered all that is important but that poetry ; and as Dr. Fuanilin’s father (old him poets died beggars, and as I have not lost all aflinity for dollars and cents, I cautiously enter the poet’s land of dreams, Ac. But here it is: I had an old uncle, and his name was uncle Ned, Long ago, long ago, And he had no wool on the top of his head, On the place where the wool ought to grow, Ar. Now, Mr. Editor, I am not certain this is original with me, it may be copied or borrowed. I speak for uncle Ned as well as my self, and remain, Very respectfully, J. E. BYRD. [for the Darlington flag.] TRIBUTE OF RESPECT. Extract from the Minutes. Temperance Hall, July 24, 1851. Bro. J. A. Dargan announced the death of our late bro.Jacob Cook, and proposed the following preamble and res olutions, which were unanimously u- dopted: Whereas, our esteemed brother, Jacob Cook, has been removed from our circle of Benevolence and Honor, by the Provi dence of God: Be it therefore Resolved, 1st. That this Division has heard of the death of bro. Cook with deep emo tions of sorrow, and tender to his survi ving family the assurance of our sincere sympathy in their remediless loss. 2. That by the death of brother Cook, this Division has lost a consistent and up right member, whose patient continuance in well doing recommended our noble cause to all who came within the circle of his acquaintance. 3. That as a testimonial of respect to the memory of our departed brother, a blank page in the book of the R. S. be in. scribed with his name, and dedicated to his memory; that the Regalia of the Di vision and the Staffs of the officers be draped in mourning for thirty days; and that a copy of these resolutions be enter ed upon the minutes, and also sent to the family of the deceased. Published by order of the Division. F. F. WARLEY, R. S. mSsTTpi. The following -extracts are from a re cent letter, written by a gentleman of high character and standing in Mississip pi, and who is in a position peculiarly fa vorable for forming a correct judgment concerning the sentiments of the South ern Rights party in that State, and their prospects in the approaching elections.— The feeling expressed towards South Carolina is worthy of attention, coming as it does, not from any obscure individ ual, but from a high and influential quar ter: “ The position of Mississippi is this: We are, on the first Monday of Septem ber, under our legislative act of Novem ber 30th, 1850, to elect, say one hundred delegates to a Convention, clothed with lull power to act upon our Federal rela tions: to demand reparation for the past and security for the future, and, in a word, to fix the ultimatum of Mississippi : to select delegates to a Southern Con- gress, or provide for the election of those delegates, and commit the sovereign and federative character and rights of the State. The right of secession is con ceded, disputed only by monarchists and lories; but the time, mode and exigencies on which we shall exert the right, will de pend upon the action of the Convention, and the definitive vote of the people upon that action. That Convention is appoint ed for the second Monday of November. Our recent Democratic and State Rights Convention—a popular affair, but the largest ever assembled within our limits —was a nominative body, and, not feeh ing authorized to settle the sectional ques tion, deemed it most proper to sustain the movement of Mississippi from May, 1849, onward, and to refer to the author itative Convention the reparations for the past and the securities for the future. This is our position. “Now for the popular action. The nomination for Quitman for Governor was everywhere cheered. He has Foote in Yazoo [a Whig county] wi wreaths of victory, but in Holmes ther Whig county] he has demolished him, and so the canvass proceeds. They are going into the Northern counties, where victory is certain. Senator Jeff. Davis has his separate appointments, and each one is a mass meeting, a procession. He suslainsQuitman, calls for a Congress, even though it be between South Caroli na and Mississippi; opposes the immedi ate and separate secession of Mississippi, as -not contemplated or practicable, but haila a Confederacy of the cotton States. Wherever he speaks there is a revolution. Nothing can resist him. “Our faithful Representatives in Con- vernor i [ano- — - ii T«.r *»**•**'«*«, auu preier emrusuug uci p re8S ’a J l< ’ ni P* 0n ’ f' aU * t ’ ret0 ‘ l * McWiU ggjf an 4 ||jippj neu , to s»ch keeping ‘be ne .‘ nd B ™ Wn ’ ] nt0 ^ e lovo can scarce deserve the name ” love can scarce deserve the name.’ tru .t the daughters of Pendleton are oi ding the candidates l nominees J t^WT* noWer mould, and have not yet for- November Convention, are in th« arena. J gotten tho mothers of the Revolution; arena, and are out with heart and soul in the cause. Our other gifted eons, ‘ ding the candidates [nominees] We have the taknt—seven out of ten on our side; aq£ if we fail, it wiU be on Montesquieu’* principle, that as we ap proach the equator, the men become wo men. and the women men! In 1849 we united both parties; but in January and February, 1850, the selfish, sordid, petty village Whig leaders succeeded in with drawing a majority of the Whig rank and file from the movement; and the ‘adjust ment’ measures in Congress consumma ted the discord, producing consequences of which you are fully apprized; yet Mis. sissippi has proceeded, gaining strength at each apostacy, and now, more than ever, rolls up the popular mountains!— Allow the figure. We will elect at least 75 out of the 100 to the Convention, and the November election Quitman will lead Foote between 15,000 and 20,000. I put down my maximum and minimum. Our papers claim 25,000 for Quitman. “ I see it announced that your Govern or, by proclamation, has called you to elect two delegates from each Congress ional district, to a Southern Congress.— Well, we want such a Congress, even though it lie with you alone; for if we cannot secede and you do, we can say to you go ahead. We shall have exhausted all nossible efforts of concert in the South, and then our people will be as one man, save such as should be hung. “ This leads me to an overwhelming fact. Whenever your State is named by any of our speakers in the tribune, there is a thrill, and a shout, and such continu ed applause, as to show that our people are no longer deluded, but that our hearts are with you. This repeatedly occurred in our late Congrention. Our speakers never leave the stand without jwinting to calumniated, glorious South Carolina— the enlightened of the earth—and tho shout goes up and continues until inter- rupte#by the speaker. “ Be of good cheer. You are not to be isolated; and never, no, never, are you to be reduced as Hungary to Austria!” ALABAMA. So far ?s heard from, and from the in dications of the polls, the following is be lieved to be the result of the elections in Alabama: Gotimor.—II. W. Collier, aouthern rights, elected. Members of Congress.—1st district— Jno. Bragg, southern rights, elected by 1,500 majority. 2d.—Abercrombie, union, elected. 3d.—S. W. Harries, southern rights, elected. 4th doubtful.—Candidates. John Erwin southern righhi, and Wm. R. Smith, unj ion. Erwin is believed to be elected. 5th-—David llubbarb, southern rights, elected. fith.—Wm. R. Cobb, union, elected. 7th.—S. F. Rice, southern right, elected. The Southern Rights party have a ma jority in the Legislature, which will elect a better southern rights Senator from Ala bama than Jeremiah Clemens. The sou thern rights party had gained 11 in tho Legislature. NORTH CAROUNrELECTlON. The elections arc about over in this State, but sufficient returns had not come in, at our latest dates, to make clear the final result. It is believed that Thomas Ruffin (the Democratic candidate) has been elected to Coi ijrress, over Ed wai d Stanley (W’hig.) Ruffins majority in Waynecoouty is827 over Stanley, with a small gain in all the counties heard from for the democratic candidate. In the 3rd District, we hum from the iV. C. Argus, that Dockery the Union candidate is far ahead of Caldwell (iftuth. ern Rights) in the counties of Anson and Stanley. We trust it may not be so else where. “ELLEN DOUGLASS.” A lady-writer nppearen in the last Pendleton Messenger says the Edgefi dd Advertiser, over this beautiful and ap propriate signature. The communica tion seems to have been called forth by some unfortunate paragraph written by Mr Pcrht of the Patriot, in which tho latter says, “ho cannot be mistaken in supposing the ladies to be generally in favor of the Union.” Our fair friend scorches the gentleman not a little for his temerity in hazarding^so unfounded an opinion. She is eviden tly the daughter of a spirited house, and would make a heroine did the op portunity offer. It is said that woman is the creature of impulse only. How ever this may be her impulses are, in ninety-nine instances out of a hundred pure and noble. The impulses of the women of Carolina have ever condem ned submission to wrong, in those they loved. And they no at this day! Brave gentlemen of Carolina, see that your amis be bright! The ladies call upon you to resist your oppression.— Who can falter at jpeh a c»Ut We give below and extract from “Ellen Douglass.” “The ladies of our Fort Hill District are as high-toned, and patriotic as their sires, husbands and sons, and bow could it be otherwise, when a bright and God like spirit has so long taber nacled with us I His memory alone would nerve the heart and hand to acheive for the cause sanctified by the last exertion of his strength, wonders not surpased by the heroinfc of Hun gary ; and should fortune ever; be so adverse to the cause of truth aud jus tice, as to need their aid, I feel no doubt of the energetic response. 'rhaPatriofs correspondent must he a daMM or damsel cold in Mood, and if site can really and truly fancy a svb- missionisl, aud prefer entrusting her-