Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-08-20
A,t;,or Of The Nashville Adde'S

Author of the Nashville Address.
I The Charleston Mercury Is mistaken
in the feeling which it attributes to us TO-
wards Mr.. II. BarnweIi Rhelt, the author
Of the Nashville Address. VS. have no
the slightest disposition TO carp at his o.
pinionS, nor 10 censure gentleman ron?
when we have entertained no, one per
sonally unkind feeling bot when he Is
brought N as the model Q! n politician,
whose opinions a,c calculated 10 Strike al
the Union, We feel it our duty to Look m
to his patent-papers. Is this ulFaist me
man who ought to instruct tie South
The New Orleans Picayune devotes an
article TO him, for the purpose O! proving
that he is not a recent proSclyte TO diSu-
Mon in consequence of the slavery cues,
tion. hu. that as far back as 1888 he was
ayowed disuniouist. The following Itcnl
that paper may cast much light on she
stream of its opinions Union.
Then MIR. Rhett was against all COM
promise as delusion, and the Union as
somethingthat must perishand oughtto per-
ish. In the State convention, called to
repeal the notification ordinance, (Feb-
ruary, 1889 though he SUBMITTED to the
necessity, he did it with extreme i'll grace
was for keeping Up the military organ
ization of the State in anticipation Of ano-
Their collision, and boldly declared in that
early day that he had no confidence in the
Union. We mention this as proof that
Mr.. Rhetl's dislike of the Union is an an
Gent and deep-rooted feeling, and that he
has in the most excited times failed TO gel
it endorsed by the people Of South Caro-
linn.
The particular incident to which we re-
fer has some traits that may make 1t In
teresting TO recall it.
Mr.. Rhett (who was then known as K.
Barnwell Smith-his rame has been since
changed) was a member of the convention
from the parish Of ST. Bartholomew
When the report accompanying the ordI-
nance repeating the ordinance of nuilIiica-
ton was read in convention, it contained
an avowal of "ardent attachment TO the
Union" Sir. Smith (RhetD rose in great
excitement, and moved to have the phrase
stricken out as "untre" as respected him
and his constituents. lie denied that they
had, or had any reason 10 have, an ''ar-
dent attachment" to the Union. He said,
.,he would rather see the whole State from
Table Rock to Fort MOultrie, one militia
nv camp than for the State of Sou:h Car,
DINA TO continue a member of the Union,
such as it was then, and had been for the
last ten year" from 1922 to 1882.
The following scene then occurred. as
we find it in a report Of the proceedings
of the convention:
General James Hamilton, Jr., attempt,
ed to rise, but gave the floor to Colonel
Samuel Warren, from ST. James Santee,
a revolutionary officer.
Col. Warren, leaning against the table
and supported on his crutchcs, said he
understood the gentleman from St. Bar
tholomew Mr.. r. 3 SMITH to ask when
he was up, "where was the man in the
convention who could place his hand up
on his heart, and say that he was attached
10 this Union -
Mr.. Smith. Ardenny attached.
Mr.. Warren. In don'tc care what word
YOU place there. |, for one, can place
my hand upon my heart, (suiting the ac-
ton to the WORD, y and can say that am
ardently attached 10 this Union. | fought
for it, and bled for ii, land he looked un-
consciously downwardS to the remnant OF
his dismembered limb and will do 1t a
gain, whenever my services are required.
The whole scene was one OF deep and
touching interest.
Mr.. Smiths motion TO strike ont the
declaration of attachment 10 the Union
was defeated by a large majority in con-
ycntion of the nuifers ! Will lie have
more success now! We trust not--we
believe not. There is, we hope, enough
of the spirit ofthis revolutionary patriot
left TO make even South Carolina hesitate
long before she agrees with Mr.. Smith
R6et) that the Union is a failure, anc
disunion right and duty.
Upon Congress, much, }! not all de
ponds. Let them give us such settle
ment of these difficulties as moderate anC
| Unlon-loving men can approve--Clay
bill or some other not worse--and tn
disolutionists,, opened or concealed, vii
| he awed into silence al least, by the loud
deep, and almost universal approval Of Tho
MASSES OF tho southern people.
The Danes and the II0isteInefs'
The late Sangujnary EGttle.
Our foreign Gles are filled with the de