The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1844-09-05
LETTER OF JUDGE PORTER or ALABAMA.
PUBLISHED ny REQUEST OF THE CLAY CLrB
or CHARLESTON.

PUBLISHED BY REQUEST OF TIE ILAf ILrB
or CHARLESTON.
Tascslooss. July &c. 1874.
My Dear Sir:-Your professional en-
gagemenls employ Too much Of your time
10 su.horize The use Of il in more formal
eplst,s. Yei I cannot ff,aln from the
expression Of my grstulsliaos ~ the noble
stand you have taken on the side Of our
beloved Union, and her valuable lns,i,u-
lions. II there 70 sublime spectacle in
the world, il 10 the inielleci OF man EXERT
ed IN the cause Of good government and
public virtue, 81 time when the msjati-
~. in The madness OF party zeal, and IN
The fury Of misguided, sometimes in,e-
rested, psriisanship. are devoting 20 social
snd personal prescription every ooe finn
enough 10 oppose their d,sorganlzing
schemes. That position is yours. We
know The attachment Of South Csrolinisns
10 certain men, who, Tor years connected
with public stations in the state, hsvs
grown old in her service and the affec
lions Of her people. We know how hard
il is TO make the people believe IL possible
for such men TO err. We know they are
looked upon ss too much Of JupiteIs even
10 nod, and that all slslion mus, be resch.
ed through their sanction, We feel the
. difficulty Of an independent position smids,
J such state OF things. and value more
highly The noble courage which prompts
you to stand boldly forth in the cause of
yonr country. Your honorable defence
Of the Union has been read by me to the
pie of Alsbams and Mississippi. sm,ds.
plsudiu awakening the reverbera,lng
: echos Of our primitive forests. The scsth.
ing reproofs administered TO the mad doc
innes of some OF your statesmen have
done service to the whole country, and
laid the people under deep obligations to
your frmness ond patriotism. I wish I
had some magnetic telegraph reaching
from here to Charleston along which
could send shake Of the hand Tor your
effort before the Clay Club. | never felt
so enthusiastic before, because never go
conscious of RICH. know my consis-
tency is attacked. | am ardent in any
cause ! undertake, and had bei,er be in
consisten, twenty times than remain in eff
ror. an certain am r'ght now. for no
man be can wrong who 10 Tor his country
against party. In 1882 | was mad with
love for South Carolina. ] only saw her
in difficulty. snd espoused her quarrel.
II But. heavens! how | shudder TO think how
l,iile we valued The Union then. | feel
now tina, to otter The word disunion, to
contemplate il, rs to commit double ues-
son. Di.union is the grave OF L,bsriv.
j. And while | love South CarolIns, Gsd
knows love the Union more.
regreat 10 notice how invidously
some Of our friends speak OF our brethren
Of the North. These expressions are
wholly unjust. The northern people
neither rob nor plumber Us. They are
generally . moral, industrious, patriotic
people. as anxiou. to preserve the Unian
and sustain the integrity Of our institutions
a. We are. Ia sustaining measures TO be-
netit them, they are certainly as disIhie>
J. rested az ourselves, who oppose measures
supposed to injure us. Ihave no lear Of
a people who exhibit sueh pure morality.
such extensive social improvement. such
high intellectual powers; and am conf
dent they would 80 readily rush 10 our
supper, in case OF domestic violence as
our own people. As tnr the few who
express themselves opposedto out dome'-
,ir matters. they are ,oo uncomfortable to
be thought Of. The generous patriotism
Il Of the North will crush them. wnhoa.'he
Interference of the South, As'o be anti
cips,ing disunion, or any general, unjust.
/ or unconstitutional action on the parl oil
The North, on accoun, OF such eases. II Is
viola,vs of the confidence We should not
only feel but express to The Northern
people. | feel tia, il is 20 dishonor TO
my native state to express devo,ion to the
!, Union. or to declare my willingness 70 sof'
fer many. very many, evils rather 'han see
il severed. THIS feeling desire to see
every where ente,tained by my country
men, Patriotism sometimes consists 10