Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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V DEVOTED TO SOUTHERN RIGHTS, MORALITY, AGRICULTURE, LITERATURE, AND MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. JAMS H. HOtWOOD, EDITOR.] To thine Otcnself be true; And it must follow as the night, the day; Than const not then be false to any man.—Hamlkt. VOfc. 1. DARLINGTON C. H., S. C., THURSDAY MORNING AUGUST 21, 1851. [mniiii .v nt uirki;, pi blisiu.rs. NO. 25. $ THE DASUNOTOH FLAG, U PUBLISHED ETERI THURSDAY HORNING, AT DABMXGTON, C. II., S. C., BY NORWOOD & DE LORRE. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION I tn 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 37i cts. fbf each subsequent insertion. Business Cards, notexceeding ten lines, inserted at 9b, a year. POtlTIC Al. (From the Edgefield Advertiser.) SEPARATE STATE SECESSION. NO. II. Ability of the Slate to maintain her Inde pendence. Wo are now to consider the ability of the State, under a separate government, to maintain her respectability among nations, and to protect herself against fressions. lice out of the Union, what is to prevent ? The elements of strength in a State are compactness of territory, union of interest and feeling, pecunia ry resources, and men of strong nerves and stout hearts. Some great men have said, that " war has no sinews but those cf good soldiers.”* And again: “ a State, to be great, must be. a milita ry rare; or both by origin and dispo sition, warlike.” There is much wis dom in these words. It is equally true, that mere force never yet subdued a spirited and intelligent race of men. A brave and determined people may be whipped, but, if united, they can never he subdued. History does not furnish a single example. It is a re mark, worthy of its author. * who overcomes By force, hath overcome but half his foe.” Nor do numbers always constitute the strength of a State. A Territory of moderate size, with a warlike popu lation, affords ample bulwarks for pro tection and defence. Small States, hy a prompt concentration of their power, can always exert a force greater in proportlbu than large States, and hence usually defend themselves beyond all expectation against large forces sent agaiast them. “ It is known,’ 4 says a great statesman,^ “ that it takes a much less force, in proportion, to subject a large country with a numerous popu lation, than 5 a small territory with an Inconsiderable po|Hilntion.” Apply these principles to our case. South Carolina is strong in arms and rich in soil. She has a territory of 31,000 square miles; wealth to the amount gf 9250,000,000; and a military force of 55,000 men, who may be constantly employed in active service, without subtracting very largely from the ag ricultural indnttry of the State. And she wiljgrhave “good soldiers.” Are not our men of a “ military race ?”— Are they not warlike both by “ origin and disposition ?” Let our past histo ry answer. We certainly have the “sinews of war;” and from the na ture of our population and territory, we could keep in check at least one hundred thousand men that might lie sent to iuvade us.J This would at once render us a formidable power on our own soil, and the invader would hesitate long before undertaking to en ter onr borders. It is idle to say that the State wiwld not be able to main tain Hi independence. But on a subject like this, an ounce of experience is worth a pWtand of speculation. Let Us look to history. Many of the most thriving and power ful nations of antiquity, and in modi ern times, have been less in extent than South CaroHia. Take, for instance, the Republics of Athens, S[ Rome. The territory of Attica? eluding the Islands, of which Athens thu capital, contained only 874 inare miles; 135,000 citizens and residents; and 305,000 slaves, (white,) upjth an aggregate wealth of about M000. Spurta had a small ®ruu» only 150,000 citizens, and 230,000slavas. Its wealth, in the pal- misat days of the State, was very in considerable. Yet the combined army of these little States, not largsu.than ^ b,ina ’ * Lord Bacoti and Maehia battle,|| and drove back from their bor ders, the Persian invader with his mil lion of soldieruk^sl he resolution itself to meet this amrea multitude, must ex cite our highest admiration, and teach us an example worthy of imitation. The power of Rome arose in a sin gle city and a small adjacent territory; and when this great State was at its highest degree of strength and power, it embraced only the principal provin ces of Italy, not exceeding, perhaps, in extent, 50,000 square miles. It was in the meanwhile, poor and without trade. Nothing hut Its warlike sons could have given it so complete an as cendency. In coming down to the period of the middle ages, we find among the most prosperous and powerful States, the little Italian Republics of Venice, Genoa and Florence, with territories not larger, perhaps, than Edgefield Dis trict. There, too, was the small Re public of San Marino, which exists at this day, with an area of only 21 square miles, and a population of 7,600—one of the most remarkable examples on record of the capacity of small States to preserve their independence and lib erties. For centuries, it has stood i amid the most dreadful political con vulsions; and, though invaded perpet ually by the formidalde powers of the Pope, which surrounded it, grew, as the historian tells us, “ populous, hap- f iy and illustrious.” This arose, we earn, from the honest simplicity and virtuous manners of its inhabitants.— May wo not aspire to the noble career of this gallant little State 1 Look, also, to the present nations of Europe. On the map we discover some 45 States, less in extent of terri tory than South Carolina—Kingdoms and Republics, that not only enjoy the blessings of liberty in a higher degree than most of the States around them, but maintain a high res|>ectability among the nations of the earth. The reader will recognize among these, Bel gium, Denmark, Greece, Holland, Por tugal. Sardinia and Switzerland. Yet Belgium has an area of only 12,560 square miles; Denmark, 22,000; Greece, 21,800; Holland, 11,000; Portugal, 30,000; Sardinia, 28,830; and Switzerland, 17,208. England it self, which has gradually risen in mag nitude, till she has become at once the most wealthy and powerful nation on the globe, has an area of only 51^K)0 square miles; being less than eitner Georgia or Florida. The above Suites not only^tchieved, but have maintained their independence. How do the num berless little Principalities, Dutchies and Kingdoms in Germany, many of them not as large as Edgefield District, preserve their sovereignty and indepen dence among the despotic family of European nations ? There are the free cities of Hamburg, Bremen, Lu- lice, and Frankfort, only third rate towns, that have existed ns indepen dent sovereignties for centuries. True, they belong at present to the German ic confederatin: but this is a mere league of defence against external powers, not interfering with the sove reignty and freedom of these cities.— Yesl these Republics, not one of them having an area of over 150 square miles, nor a population above 200,000, have long'' upheld, and do now main tain their individual sovereignties, en joying the glorious sweets of liberty, in the neighborhood of large and pow erful despotisms—in the very eyes of tyrants who have their standing armies of 150,000, and 300,000, who frown upon every semblance of political free dom. Once members of a confedera cy, styled the “ Hanseatic League,” comprising 85 States or Cities, and which, by its wealth and arms, ruled nearly all Northern Europe, these little Suites have had the nerve to achieve their indepaudence and maintain it un- the frowns and threats of despot- in a pitched t John C. Calhoun. ■'htlnfni'Hhes , to all invaders—»come we will overwhelm you; many and you shall over-1 the people of South Carolina, with quadruple their wealth and mili- ry force, and more than the centuple their territory, are actually heutating whether or not they shall give up their sovereignty, and become the mere tributarfi0ien of a Northern consoli dated despotism. O Tempora, O Mo res! But iH* estimutup the elements of success for a separate State Govern ment, it is not proper to consider only our physical resources. JjPie true strength of a nation reaAfea much, perhaps, on the operntiaft of moral causes, as on the organisation of physi- wer. The Government, which, reckless administration nnd law- ppression, has sown the scVti of diacontent and faction, need not ex- UPtatea pect to exert the full measure of its strength or greatness. For this to be done, especially in free countries, the moral energies of the people must be awakened. Among a great and free people, before the national mind can be urged to exert its full power and will, a plausible pretext must offer it self—a prospect of gain, or, at least, of some seeming good. Factions among us may combine for the accu mulation of Vealth and power, but they will rarely unite to consume wealth by extravagant wars, unless driven to them in self-defence. The Federal Government, hy arousing dis- affections in the minds of the people, on the great sectional matters at issue before the country, has deranged its springs of power, so as necessarily to cripple its energies, if not entirely to paralyze them, in any struggle it may- wage relative to these sectional issues. And while it? power thus becomes weakened, a common interest and safe ty must inevitably urge us, sooner or later, to that union of feeling and sen timent, that concert of will and action, which the desire for self preservation never fails to inspire, and which are the chief sources of national strength. But another moral element of great force among civilized nation?, and one which will surely redound to our ad vantage, is the power of public opinion. Under the bonds of a modern com merce, and the refined influences of Christianity, a sort of international eth ics have sprung up, infusing into the 1 minds of nations a more liberal sense of justice, which, added to the strong principle of self preservation and self advantage, serves greatly to restrain the aggressive spirit of military, de- potic nations. Despots know that un der the enlightened diplomany of mo dern times, every community of Suites for their mutual welfare and safety, will use the utmost efforts to preserve a balance of power. They are lieginning to learn, also, that in time of highpopular excitement, standing armies how well so ever disciplined, arc not always to be re lied on; and that the spark of liberty, once kindled by the flash of fire arms, is in danger of soon lighting up the whole mass of the people, and of ex tending to the soldiery itself. Hence the cautious timidity of the crowned heads of Europe, in the recent out breaks among their subjects. And nothing but the dread of public opin ion—of a general Congress of Na tions—of an awakening sense of in dignation throughout the European States and the civilized world, prevents the more despotic powers from inter fering to suppress the liberal move ments now going on in smaller conti nental States. South Carolina may with reason count upon this moral element. All the Southern slaveholding States know and feel that, on the proper restraint of Northern power, absolutely depends their safety and welfare; and this, whether the Union exists or he dissol ved. Without the most blinded preju- dices and suicidal policy, they cannot allow the equilibrium between the Northern and Southern power to be destroyed. It would be their certain destruction. They know and feel this; and how much soever they may for a while, after South Carolina withdraws, listen to the dulcet strains of the Nor thern Syren, when the fatal Goddess creeps out from her secret places, forms of power, rest assured they will rise up in their might to stay the heart less course of the greedy and cruel monster. No moral reconing can be more certain. Consider now, the situation and the circumstances of South Carolina. In the first place, these will urge us to a policy of peace. Cut off from all prospect of enlarging onr dominion by force, we should be entirely free from the ambition of conquest—that pro lific source of strife and war among the naSons of the world. Our efforts would be directed to the pursuit of liberty and happiness; to striving after a high development of onr national re sources; and to making advancements in our moral and intellectual Rtain- ments. While this would naturally lead us to euktvafe peace and comity towards other States, it would ensure from them feelings of friendship and sympathy ibr us. Again : The nature of our produce would Im well calculated to beget friendly Motions with other States.— Our Exports consist of Cotton, Rice, Lumber, &e.—products of the earth. We are almost the only State that ex ports Rice to any extent Our pro duce, therefore, is of that character which will cause it to bajagerfy sought by many nations, while our situation will be such nus to load us to seek from others, commodities which they may have to exchange. This begets, at once, a lively and healthful trade,; and every one knows that trade and com merce are greirt peace makers. But thirdly, we shall have little to excite the animosity or envy of other nations. Our Territory will be com paratively small, and m great part sub- I ect to cultivation only by the African, t would therefore scarcely tempt a conqueror, or invite the rapacity of the North. Our wealth also is of such a nature, as not to excite Northern cu pidity. Consisting almost wholly of land and negroes, it would be of little value to any expect those who own slaves upon the soil, while any serious disturbance of our institutions would effectually destroy our produce, which it is so much the interest of others to obtain. Nothing but a spirit of re venge in the Northern mind, could pro voke an attempt to conquer our State; and we have fears from no other quar ter. While, then, other States would have little temptation to interrupt us, every consideration of interest and policy would lead them to let us alone; in which case, as indicated in our for mer article, we should enjoy an unex ampled prosperity. With our native strength, therefore, and by the operation of the moral causes we have been considering, there can be little doubt ns to the ability of the State to maintain her liberty and independence. As to her respectability, that may very well be left to time. One tiling is certain, it will never depend on mere physical strength. Under the judg ment of a Christian world, physical power is no longer the test of worth among nations or individuals. A peo ple who practice virtue and justice among themselves, and in their inter course with others; who excel in mo ral and intellectual attainments; who are brave, high-minded and honest; and who always tread the paths of du ty nnd honor, need have no fears for their respectability, either among con temporaneous nations, or with posterity, though they may chance to occupy a small territory, and to enjoy few of the luxuries of life. It may, too, with safety be affirmed, that while small •States have sometimes afforded sub stantial liberty, large ones have always been despotic ; and hence, the jieoplc who sacrifice their ambition by seek- 1 ing to live in large and magnificent empires, must do so at the expense of their liberty and happiness. RUTLEDGE. AGHXCUITUHJL I How blest the farmer’s simple life. How pure the joy it yields! Free ’mid the scented fie pcstuou ■Ida—L Everett., From the American Agricultrist. WHAT FARMERS OIGHT TO KNOW. Let us see what farmers ought to kuow and do to raise themselves to the character of professional men; and what almost any of them might occom- plish in the long winter evenings, at a trifling cost for books, and a little more expense of hard thought and attention. A farmer ought to understand the leading principles of chemistry. The soil he plods among at the plough tail is not a mere inactive mass sticking to his shoes when wet, and choking with dust when dry. It is a vast laborato ry full of many and strane materials, always in action, warring combining, changing perpettually ; to-day receiv- ing accessions from the heavens to morrow, pouring them into the wide ! sea, to be again supplied to other lands. The eallh is all but a living creature and he whose busines has been slander ously said to be but “of the earth ly should surely understand the soil’s nature, its elements, its likings, and its diseases.. The fanner should understand phy siology. Under his care, he has the noblest forms of creation—the ox, the horse the sheep. Can he spend a life among them, and not know bow the heart beats—how the nerves thrill— where lie the muscles—what are the principlqx of action—and the seats of disease—how the fat grows—and how the bones are formed ! Can lie be a breeder, who has never studied the pe- culiarilies of races ? Can he be anything but an empire, who undertakes to feed and fatten cat tle, without knowing of what the food is com|>osed of, and what parts of the body require this or that element ? The farmer should have a knowl edge of medicine, and of the elements of surgery for though in this respect, when applied to human ailments, it may prove that “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing,” yet many a fine ani mal is allowed to be come dog's meat, because its owner could not distinguish between a fever ami an inflammation, set a bone or bandage a wound. The farmer should be a botanist,— The primeval curse of mother earth was that she should bring forth thorns and thistles and many other noxious weeds besides have since been added to her progency. How great the a- mount of toll expended and how ser ious the loss of crops from such plants as Canada thistle, burdocks, turkey week, and a host of others, let those tell who have been sufferers Many | hooks have been written on such things many plans have been given for eradi cating them; but unless the farmer can distinguish them—unless he knows their character, histories, am. modes of grow tli, how unaided does ho go to his task ! Besides, botany in all its shapes, is the natural science of the countryman. How does the seed ger minate ? How does the tender leaf unfold itself l How is the blossom impregnated and the fruit formed (— What will injure, what improve each plant? All these are questions which every farmer should have studied and ascertained. And can one he content to spend a life in ignorance of the characters of the trees and flowers that gorgeously spread around him, painting his fields and woods w ith their thousand hues, and rendering this outward world a mass of beauty ? The farmers should be—or shall we say should wish lobe—a naturalist.— No one has so many opportunities of observing and noting the habits of animals, birds ami insects, in some cases this knowledge may be of ines timable service. It must always be a pursuit of pleasure and cannot fail to refine and improve the mind and sen sibilities both towards the interior creation and towards man. But time would fail to tell of what the farmer ought to know and under stand. There is no knowledge which would not be serviceable to him.— There is none which will not elevate him in the scale of intellectual beings : ! and what, perhaps is more important to many there is scarcely a physical science which he will not find putting money into his pocket constantly.— How many times in a life would a barometer save a whole harvest; how many blacksmith’s and carpenter’s bills may be esca^d by the humgle know l edge of the use of the use of tools.— Now’, if our farmers would become self instructors and instead of doing just as their grandfarthers did before them, tliey would think and learn for themselves. No profession would become more honorable, carry more weight in socie ty, nor be more ardently sought after by the active and intelligent of all clas ses. Instead of our young men rush ing from the country to the city, the city youths, would yearn to be fanners and instead of the chief emulation be ing who should save most the strife would be who should accumulate the most by the profoundest experiments, most successfully carried into practice. By these means, farming would tense to be the mere drudgery of “dirty-lian- ded industry;” and every operation would become scientific bassed on great principles, breeding new thoughts and new results and ending in valuable ac quisitions. Instead of the poet des cribing the farmer as one who. ‘•Wandered on unknowing what he sought, And whistles as he went, for want of thought.” we should have farmers themselves dis- i tinguished authors of valuable works; scientific, at all events if not poetic Some great minds we already have employed iu farming, but unfortunate ly that is not yet the character of the class. (From the Laurensville Hearald.) Pleasant Ghovb, July 1.. Dear Major-.—I have no doubt you and your readers will be pleased to hear from the Mute Examination at Cedar Spring, on the 27tli ulL The school now contains pupils—eleven males and nine females. Fiften min utes before 10 o’ clock, A. M., the “Neighbor’s Band” being present com menced playing in front of the Institu tion. Being promptly joined hy the Committee of Arraugments, teachers, pupils, parents, and friends of th« pu pils, together, with others associates on the occasion marched into the grove, where the Examination was cone lulled —the procession under the direction of Maj. J. T. Kikhy, Marshal of the day. The black-boards were arran- gen under a commodious arbor, built for the occasion, extending a comrao- 1 cKoos arbor, bailt fo 1 ’ the occasion •at tending in a semi-circle form, some eighty or ninety feet. The Examina tion was opened hy a prayer in the Sign Language by Mr. Edwards, Mute Assistant Teacher, after which the pupils, each hi front of a large board; were put under cximination ac cording to their classification; the school being divided into four classes, fne first having been under instruction but a short time, were limited in their operations, nevertheless discovered the susceptibility of the mute mind, and the adequacy of the Sign Language to develope their intellects. The third and second classes were able to trans late with considerable ability many sentences based on nouns, verbs ad jectives,&c. They also repeated the days of the week, cardinal numbers to a considerable extent, and the secoiVl class particularly, wrote compositiions. The first class, under the immedi ate care of the Priiici|Mtl, under iustruc tion about two years and a half, gave astonishing evidence of their progress. They translated with great facility and made calculations on variops questions one of which I remember was as fol lows ; “Queen Victoria was born in 1816, and married in 1840 : how old is she ? and how long has she been mar ried?” Some gentleman, I believe Maj. Stkohlk, was called on to select sub jects, for compositions, which were promptly written out hy the pupils.— They were then instructisl to hold a conversation among themselves, nnd gave evidence of their conversational ability. The whole affair was closed hy an aopropriate address by Col. E. C. Leitnbb. 1 have no doubt but that every heait that could fell left rejoicing that under the providences of our kind Parents this Institution is doing infinite good for those whonie it is designed to bless. We learn from Mr. Walkkb, that six or seven pupils more are expected next Session. Should the school con tinue to increase as it has done which doubtless it will, otlier buildings w ill l>e absolute necessary. A cabinet shop is partially under way in the care of Mr, Templeton, a mute pupil, from this District. We were shown a very pretty bureau lately finished by the boys. 'Phis is matter df deep concern as preparing the pupils for the duties of life. I feel confident that the Legislature will, ere long give further aid to this most benevolent work. E. H. F. A Desperate Resolve.—The Lock- port Daily Courier says—“ There is a legend that a merchant once determin ed to ruin himself by squandering Ids money in advertising; but ho found the more he advertised the richer he grew, until at last he was obliged t<> give up iu despair of ever effecting his purpose in that way.” Politeness Reciprocated.— V criminal was in the county jail await ing his trial for murder with a reasona ble prospect of conviction. The can didate for slierifality called one day to see him when the prisoner wishing to compliment Ids visitor, said to him ;— “If 1 should lie condemned to be han ged I know of no one by whom 1 would rather be hung that by 3’ou.” The visitor, with one of his blandest:—And should I he elected sheriff, 1 know of no one I would rather hang than yon.” Short and Sweet.—Divers plans of courtship are laid down in books, and none takes our fancy like the fol lowing adopted by a couple recent ly : . , “Miss Adela, will you marry me ? “Well, Thomas, P spose I must.” “I’ll be m\g;H obliged to you if you will. Then he kissed her, and the business was settled right off. The cool courage was remarkable of that chap who wfien forced into a fight exclaimed as the bystanders rush ed in between him and his antagonist, “ 7Vo of you must take hold of him, but one can hold me !" “ Does not the bell tolling,” observ- ied his companion to Col. —, ou hearing a funeral knell, “ (Hit you in mind of your latter endl” “ No; but Ote ru|»e puts me in minu of yours. II " Mamma,” said a little boy to his ma, “ may I go a fishing t” ** Yes, : sonny, but don’t go near the water.— And recollect, if you’re drowned, I shall skin you as sure as joa’te aDve!" Ml ^.. .