The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-29
From the Savannah Republican, March "a.
A Word to tho People OF GeOrGfa.

We are convinced that but few persons outside
Of South Carolina understand the real position and
purposes Of that State. fully appreciate the dan
ger which may result to the other southern States
from her action. We have watched the course of
her press and public men, and, from calm and
impartial review, we are Satisfied that ii 10 the de-
termination of q majority Of her leaders (Which
means the same as majority Of her pcope) to
break loose from the Union and to drag Georgia
and other southern States with her. They first
sought to f1atter into their mad scheme by
rendering Georgia the lead but finding she
could not be seduced from her proud position
in the Union, they now seek to involve her in
another and indirect way. Frantic the people
OF Carolina arc they are not mad enough to scccde
their own They hope to drag others with them.
With similar institutions, coterminous bound
airy, and other causes of sympathy, they hope, by
madly finging themselves out of the Union, and
provoking an armed collision with the General
Government, to arouse the fears, the prejudices,
and the lssions OF our people, and TO involve
them in \ revolution of their own seeking. In
the event OF their secession. they no doubt hope
that tho Government would attempt to coerce
the State back into the Union. Their military
preparations show that they expect the Govern
Inent will make wnr upon them; and, when it
comes, they believe other southern States will rush
to their assistance.
The Charleston Mercury, which possesses greater
influence in South Carolina than is exercised by
any other paper in the Union, and all the other
papers in the State with one or two praiseworthy
exceptions, as well as nearly all their delegates
elect to the State convention, have declared in ia
yor OF accession and are preparing the public mind
Tor It. While these things are going on there, the
Southern. rights" papers in this State manifest
their sympathy in various ways, and, by their 81
lcncc in some respects and their open encourage
ment in others, subject themselves to the suspicion
that they approve of the course which Carolina
has determined to pursue. That she calculates
upon the cooperation of Georgia is evident from
the following extract Of letter, written from Ma
con to the Charleston Mercury. That paper saws
a ex in he
politics OF his State, and who is in position to
Judge accurately Of the movements of public opn-
ion''-that "his statements are of cheering char
actcr," and that it places "entre confidence in
their accuracy"
oMAcoN, Feb. 26.
"Great efforts will be made by the
submission press, and leaders in this and other
southern States, to inculcate the impression that
II South Carolina should secede, she will meet with
no sympathy from her sisters This is great
mistake. Notwithstanding the shameless backout
OF Georgia last November, more than half her cti-
zens, to-day, sympathizc with South Carolina
and should she lead of, thousands and tens of
thousands OF as good and true men as ever fut-
tered, on this side of the Savannah, would rush to
the rcsue. With the good and true, in this State,
decisive action by South Carolina ia regarded as
the only thing that can save the South. All eyes
here arc turned to her tho custodian of the rights
the honor, and the civilization Of her southern sis
crs; and trust in God she will give Clay and Fill
more an opportunity Of testing The strength of a
government" &C., sc.
II Is time for the people of Georgia to look this
matter full in the face. They will be called upon,
we fully believe, to decide whether they will re-
main in the Union with the other thirty States or be
forced out by South Carolina. State pride, and
State rights, and Southern rights" will be APP
Pealed to; but will Georgia suffer herself to be
dragged down to the bottomlcss pit by her ''rue
or ruin" neighbor? We believe not. We think
wo may go further, and say to the people of Caro-
lima that they arc dcceiving themselves They
need not rely upon Georgia. She will not sus-
tain her in her frantic and insane movement.
Georgia is anchored fast to the rock of the Union
at least for pact grievances and all the agitatioa
and storms which Carolina may raise will not be
sufficient to drive her from her mornings. She
is a part, glorious part too, Of this Union, and
she will remain in it until she sees proper Of her
own accord to withdraw from it, IL is not only
wrong. but it is cruel for presses in this State, and
men like the writer above, 10 encourage the belief
that our people " would rush to the rcscue'' They
will do no such thing, unless we greatly de-
ccived While, therefore, would admonish
Carolina to look to other quarter for help we
would caution our own people to hold themselves
aoof and to prepare to meet and put down all efforts
to involve this great State in the scheme for the
destruction of the Union.