The Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1843-1852, 1844-09-25
PROM THE CHARLESTON MERCURY.
JUDGE CHEVES' LETTER.

JUDGE CHEVES' LETTER.
have been informed, to my surprise, that, in
sequence of a short note, addressed to my fel-
s-citizeus of the neighborhood in which live.
the 4th July last, am supposed to be in favor
# resistance by the action of South Carolina
alone. Such an impression is entirely erroneous.
l expressed a dozen years since, the same senti-
ments. almost in the same words. and was, ut the
same time, us is well known, decidedly opposed
to resistance by single State. But shall now,
with your permission, leave doubt of the posi-
tion III which wish to stand, and, in doing 80,
shall mnglc my opinions and couusels with those
of my fcllow-citiZens, to be weighed for what
they worth. in this great argument"
The Tariff L consider an act Of insuferabe and
insulting oppression, which ought to be borne only
until 1t can be ludiciously resisted. But this
slstance, IN my OPINION to be effective, must unite
the efforts Of at least large portion of the sut-
terers. do not think State ought to resist
alone. Therc will be neither confidence nor GER
tantv in such Il course. The people of one State
Standing alone, would not be heartily united
among themselves. 1t might bc different ii the
State were alone in the suffering; but standing in
the midst OF common sufferers, much more numc
than themselves, whose arms were folded,
the prcscuce of these would operate like moral
Condemnation oi lhcT act, Asif cnilirlu" warm
biool, though animated, in So good cause, aud
s.n,;;rn'. fstt stronger INST raised 10 strike
'sSfs a. rtFy,ess rs'!.
unite with IN resistance shall yvc 6as,Iv SUBJ
.uit We have no right 10 anticpa;c that evenr.
inmy opinion, If they do nos, they will be iuSeu-
sble to honor and to shame, and equally so, to
their interests and their danger. But we dare not
cast this rcproach upon them merely because they
do not think hit to adopt measures and our
time 1t we think they are tardy, we must en-
treat them with brothcrly zeal to quicken their
step. 1t our measures be not acceptable to them,
let us modify them, or adopt them, if they lead
to the same end Resistance will be a very So
lemn act. If it be rashly attempted and fail, it
will rivct our chains and bring on us now burdens
and insults Success in such great enterprises is
not usually the result of sudden thought or the
trult OF single day, but of wise and sober deli
berat'ons and protractcd action. We are speaking
OF the movement of natons--a successful resist
ancc will probably cost some years. The circum-
stances IN which we placed cannot fail to re-
mind us OF our first great act of resistance OPP
preston. Let us tlen boast less often ond leo,
idly of the deeds of ancestors, and more faith
fully initiate them. They did not Jump in sim
gle breath to their conclusion and talk of single
handed resistance. They dcliberated long, and
they wisely united all who were under common
suffering and in common danger. Let us do as
they did. Let associations be formed in every
Southern, and, if possible, in every South West
ern State and let them confer together and inter-
change views and information let leading men,
through Committees and private correspondence
collect, compare and concentrate the views of like
men III the respective States, and when ripe for it,
and not before, let representatives from these
States meet in Convention, and if circumstances
promise success let them Mcn deliberate on the
mode OF resistance and the measure of redress
II not, still perseverc let neither delay nor first
failures, should they happen, create dcspair or
ia,nt-beariedness. f,hexibie perseverance, rarely
tails IN good cause, and ours is one that must
never @ be ahsr.ts,,sa Gentinsc 10y e.stis.htrt ,ss
I<tr .IIs1 tttrL| a.
puolfc shame for the degradation to which we
have peen brought; let your exertions be not oc-
cas'ona. and desoito!y, bur organized and inccs-
SAINT avoid especially all clustering, and put in
the place Of it sound sense and forcible reason
ing Your appeals to your fellow citizens may,
nevertheless, be as lnpassioncd your sense of
injury and shame and danger may inspire but
they ought to he chastcned bv a regard to the
moral sense Of an enlightened community. Add
to the proper functions of the newspaper press,
the circulation Of able and well chosen tracts and
let them be found III every hamlet and house i'm
the South and South West. Carry your cxcr-
tons into the camp of the enemy. Thus did the
colonies III their preparation for resistance to the
mother country. During that struggle we had
among friends the Burkes and the Chatlans
and others of the greatest names that ever adorn-
ed humanity. There are in every country virtu-
Gus men who hate injustice and detcst oppression,
though they be the acts of their own country and
government; aud their influence though they NAV
not be able to carry vote, has often great moral
and political weight. Their appreciation will bavc
great effect i'll sustaining your own resolution
But IN this case yon may appeal to your interest
ns well as their justice, for the mass of the pco-
pie, no where, derive any advantage from the OPP
preston you suffer, and have great and honest in
tcrcst put at hazard by the resistance you may be
obliged to make. Manufactured should be the
last resort Of industry, in every country; for,
when forced, as they with us, they serve no
interests but those of the capitalists who set them
in motion, and their immediate localities. Com
rnercc is the proper hand maid of agriculture and
agriculture the blessed employment of man. AL
ready both arc languishing under the intriguing
power OF manufacturing capitalists. Without the
agriculture Of the South and South West, the
grass would grow in the streets Of your great
Northern cities. What, comparatively, would
Boston, New York Philadelphia and Baltimore
be. we're the South and South West, or even the
South alone, obliged to retire from the Union =
What If our intercourse with these cities were
transferred to Liverpool and Havrc! A moments
reflection will be sufficient show how little diff
fcult this trader would be, especially when we
consider the and ,c