The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-01

The Albany Argus thus endorses DR. CLAY's
taunt on South Carolina
aMr. CLAY, in his recent speech in the Senate
stigmatized q recent sentiment uttered by II,
Barnwell Rhett, as treason, and the speaker Gil
he carried out the sentiment "a traitor = and
added:
!" He had great respect for South Carolina, but
he must say it was respect, rather for her revo-
utionary history than anything connected with
her of late years. and he must say to her that self
sufficient and competent she might suppose
herself to be, there were as devoted, gallant and
courageous men in every other State as She"
Mr.. CLAY did less than justice to South
Carolina, in referring to her share in the revoiu-
tionary struggle as an honorable one. Her
course then was reasonable, hating and cow
ardly for the idea of property was paramount
to that of liberty with the planters of the colonial
province, as it was with the planters of the
South" e
To such foul libel as this upon the truth Of
history and all other kinds of truth, it would be
worse than useless to respond.
We quote the passage only to show the very
national and fraternal feeling exhibited by the
presses of the national North, one of the most
influential of which the Argus is--or pretcnds
to be-
Quoting from Mr.. RHETT's speech, the Argus
adds this most affectionate warning:
sThe sketcher Of this brilliant perspective
leaves out of view, the standing army, navy, the
governmental organization necessary to sustain
the new confederation against foreign aggression
and internal danger. He forgets that no power
could thus exist alongside Of the American
Union, without being its dependant or its enemy
and he has never read history, if he has not
learned that dynasties in the end resting upon
The efeminate and sensual population Of the South
crumble under the tread Of the Northern hosts
The madmen who talk Of the sovereignty of
Southern States and the divinity Of Slavery, and
propose dissolution of the Union, as the means
found the shortest and safest road for the de-
struction of both"
A howl Of denunciation has been recently
raised against South Carolina, and an attempt
artfully made to isolate her from her Southern
sisters, and make her the scapegoat of the great
Southern movements, in which she has only CO.
operated with them. Every utterance Of her
public men, every public meeting held within
her borders, are paraded before the public, as
proofs of her " treasona6le" designs,-while the
fiercer denunciations Of Virginia statesmen, and
the mass-meetings of her next-door neighbour
the powerful State of Georgia, have been slurred
over, or passed by umoticed.
The trick is too transparent to impose on the
intelligence of the people of the South, who look
to acts as well as words for proofs of loyalty to
the Union, as framed by our fathers
When Mr.. CLAY took OCCASION to throw out
the taunt in the Senate that his respect for that
State was founded on her revolutionary rather
than on her more recent history, he surely had
forgotten her conduct in the war of 1914, as well
as in the more recent struggle in Mexico.
The following reference to passage in her
history may refresh his memory. We clip it
from the Columbia Telegraph, and the editorial
comments which accompany it, afford true
reflex of the feelings of the people Of that SLAM
dered State
A LEAF FROM THE PAsT.-Many affecting
demonstrations of patriotism and devotion to
the Union are now made by professions, by
speeches, and by letters, and retired politicians
Ill ali p1liIS VI lic COuDUTy arc even WlllltS-So
great is their zeal for the salvation of the
Union-to take upon themselves the cares, and
burdens, and salaries of any Office which can be
conveiently procured.
The time has been when our Union stood in
need of something more than profession-we
make the reference for no inyidious purposes,
but simply to prove that n State ,ohose altitude
and citizens are now ,oiyitlly and grossly mis-
represented, has endeavored to discharge her
duties, and that her sons, although not prof.
cient in the doctrines of tame submission and
unlimited obedience to wrong, have on all
proper occasions manifested their loyalty and
devotion to the right One such instance at
least will be brought to light, in the following
letter, which, as our readers will perceive, was
written during the session Of the Hartford Con
rention That infamous body made loud pro-
fessions Of purity and patriotism while embar-
RAISING and impeding the operations of the
General Governments, in prosecuting war
which was undertaken to secure commercial
independence, and which, while it involved the
honor of all the serarate States, most especially
indicated the right and interests of those
whose citizens were engaged in commercial en-
terprise
Now in time of peace, if a Southern State
dares to express an opinion as to her rights
cleaTiy anu plalHly Sudrdliteeti, IKE cry VI tea-
son is raised in our Federal council chambers,
and re-echoed through the land by the satellites
of ergrown power, or the minions of des-
potism.
Here is the letter referred to. however, which
will explain itself, and show that South Caro-
lima not only can do, but can do quickly and
promptly whatever is required by duty or by
honor
Letter Of Coo. Williams, to the Secretary qfhe
Treasury.
executive DEPARTMENT., COLUMBIA,
Dec. %, 1914.
'Sir :--On the 2lst inst, received letter from
Major General Pinckney, covering several others,
the purport of which was to inform me that the
funds of the General Government at his disposal
pere erhansted--and that the troops in service
for the defence ofhis State could be subsisted
without money, and suggesting the propriety Of
my recommending to the Legislature the expedi-
ency Of an appropriation, in relief Of The finances Of
the United States at this moment.
81 have the pleasure to inform you that two
hundred and sixty thousand dollars have been
nf tha MT h,,f