The republic., 1851-07-12
From the Richmond (Va.) Republican.

|
Five and half of the closely printed columns OF
the Charleston Mercury occupied with an ac-
count of the celebration Of the anniversary of the
battle of Fort Moultre, ON the 2Sth of June. The
event thus commemorated one deserving OF
eternal honor. 1t was a most brilliant victory 1t
was won by Carolina arms. 1t the first victory
of the Revolution 1t the first star which shone
| in that dark and stormy night, and which led the
way to that brilliant constellation which is now the
| chief glory of the political armament and from
which South Carolina wishes TO shoot into an un-
tathomed abyss. Such an event ought to be cele-
brated with hearts full of national gratitude PRIDE
conentment, and hope. At such a shrine, redden.
ed by the best blood of Carolina, and crowned with
her first wreath of triumph, one would think that no
man could bend without a soul burning with love
of country To whisper disunion and rebellion,
| nay, to proclaim them boastfully in such pre-
sence, were like offering strange fire upon the al
tars of the true Divinity Could the grim warriors
Of Fort Moultrie rise fr0kn the dead, how would
they frown upon those men who celebrate their
deeds by casting upon the priceless result of
their blood and toll
The President of the Day characterized the bat
tie of Fort Moultrie Gas the first aot in the dra
which had led to the formation Of that Constitu
ton, under which, he stated, we were, and had,
from the commencement of the present century,
been suffering, and to which he felt satisfied that
not of highminded fathers of the Revolution
would have attached his signature, had they
known that it would have been prostituted by dis
| examinations being made between the two sections
of this country, which, unless checked would re-
suit in the citizens of the South becoming vassals
to their own slaves"
According, then, TO this declaration, the South
has been suffering under the Constitution from the
commencement Of The present century-in other
words, for hfty-o years-and therefore the only
exemption she has enjoyed from n condition which
another of the orators of the occasion described
than colonial vassalage the thirteen years
which intervened between the adoption of the Con-
stituton and the beginning of the present century!
short-lived success, indeed, to be purchased by
war of seven years. miserable abortion to spring
from the combined wisdom of the sages and patriots
by whom the Constitution was framed. speedy
and most inglorous close of the drama Of which
the first act was performed at Fort Moultrie! We
cannot believe that there has been any such termi
nation OF the labors of the heroes and statesmen of
the Revolution; or, if we could, would never
celebrate any act which led to such impotent
and ignoIninious conclusion. We would honor the
valor and patriotism displayed at Fort Moultrie,
but mourn that its blood was shed only to reduce
the descendants of its defenders to lower than
colonial vassaage.
Nor can agree with the President of the Day
that not one of the highminded fathers of the Rev.
olution would have signed the Constitution if its
actual operation had been foresecn. Sectional dis
ordinations reducing the South to state of vas
salage have not occurred, except in the heated
brain of southern secession. Which of the fathers
whose life was prolonged beyond the period from
the commencement of which it ia said the South
has been suffering, ever recommended disunion ?
Secession is plant of later growth. 1t grows
most rapidly in the hearts of young men ; but it
never did take ready hold of an old revolutionary
breast Wherever you meet white haired old
patriarch of 76, in nine out Of ten [yea, ten
out of ten] you meet devoted friend of the Amer
ican Union, for he knows by his own experience
the cost at which il was purchased, and his aged
eyes have witnessed it's growth from an obscure
and feeble condition to q glorious and gigantic
power True it is that in the bloody wars of inde
pendence he gained no stars, no orders OF distinc
ton, no wealth ; but he boasts trophy prouder
than them all in the Union of the American States
And when men talk hippantly of scattering into
fragments this dear bought trophy, he reeards
them as casting insult upon his dead and living
comrades of the Revolution, we'll as upon him
self and is eager to inerpose his aged breast once
more between his country and its enemies. Such
is the feeling of the few survivors of the revolu-
tionary and such is the feeling ofal the south
ern States except South Carolina.
We cannot imagine greater contrast than that
presented by the battle of Fort Moulrie the 2sth
of June, l776, and its celebration on the 2Sth of
June, 1851. Then the pervadng feeling of every
heart was intense and enthusiastic AMERIcASIsM
Then there were no speeches, toasts no oratory;
but strong men, their faces blackened with pow
der, worked at their guns, silently, sternly, and
with valor which has never been surpassed, and
which was worthy the theatre and the cause.
And what their obecti What was it that
nerved their hearts with superhuman courage and
their arms with superhuman strength Not surely
the independence OF South Carolina II was Amer.
icdn rights and american freedom which wero vim.
dicated there, and through the smoke and confu-