Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-11
THE PRESENT, THE PAST, AND THE FUTURE.
SOUTH CaROLLMa AND HER POSITION


SOUTH C.aRoLLMa AND HER POSITION
1t is a matter of propriety, as well as convenience,
to separate the case Of SOUTH CAROLINA from that
of other States which have given evidence of discon
tent with their condition in the Union, because,
whilst this exhibition OF discomfort began with
South Carolina and has been continued by her, with
little intermsson, for more than twenty years
having been the leaven of the excitement in other
Southern States, which rose during the last year
to such height as to be supposed by many per-
sons to endanger the existence Of the Union--it is
she that has now passed the Rubicon," and const-
tuted herself the head Of conspiracy, the undis-
guised object of which is, and the effect of which,
if it answers the expectation Of those who have la
bored to get it up wiH be, to dissolve the Union of
the States.
That such is the purpose Of South Carolina we
do not ask our readers to believe upon our asser-
ton, but upon such evidence as shall leave in the
mind of no man doubt of the fact. The People
of that State would, themselves, in their present
temper, be deeply offended at any ones so much
as limiting doubt Of their intention.
The attitude in which we now find this State
cannot be accounted for upon the hypothesis Of its
being the result of any single impulse. Il is not
wholly referable to the climate and other crcum-
stances Of her geographical position, nor exclu-
svey altogether to the resentments of thwarted
ambition, but to the compound effect upon fervid
temperament Of both those causes.
On the subject of the climate and circumstances
which surround the S.ate it is not necessary here
to dilate. Nor, in this place, will we say more Of
the disappointment Of ambition which she has ex-
perienced, than that her disappointment is in two
points, in each Of which she appears to have
been equally sensitive, viz first in the ascendency,
in station and power, to which, as State, she as
pired among the States; and, secondly, in the
hope in which, as people, she INDUCED, of the
elevation to the highest trust in the National Gov
ernment of that favorite Of hers, whose recent
death is still mourned throughout the country we'll
as in South Carolina by ardent admirers of his per-
son, his politics, and his intellect.
Though these remarks are not addressed to South
Carolnans, who have taken their position, and are
MOTTO be argued out it, itmay become us to premise
that no thought of disparagement to the people Of
that State, in their personal capacity their private
relations, enters into our mind. We have known
tertain any unkind or disrespectfu sentiment to-
wards them. We speak Of the community only,
the political body of the State, and of the position
which its Government has ostentatously taken in
view of the world, as dsaffected and disloyal
member of this heretofore harmonious Confederacy.
In the language of writer in a late number of
Georgia journal, (the Unconstitutional Union" of
December 6) who, with more intimate knowledge
than we pretend to of the People Of that State,
says what believe to be substantially rue there
" are many considerations connected with the his
I" tory Of South Carolina calculated to win the re-
gard of honorable and generous-minded men. Who
that has visited Charleston says this writer, "has
not observed the courtesy, frankness, and obging
esprit Of her merchants The people of that en-
"lghtened commercial metropolis the very
"soul of enlightened, devoted, and refined hospi-
"tality. There is enchantment in their warm and
"sincere society. Her women are beautiful-her
"men are brave-her statesmen are patriotic, and
"especiaAy devoted to Carolina. Her orators are
"eloquent-her lawyers profound But con-
tinues this observing writer, I" the city of Charles
"ton-the State Of South Carona-is the very
8" home Of aristocracy. 1t is the most arstocratic
8 State in the Union. mean to say that there is
$ less intimate intercourse between the masses of
" her people and those by whom they are govern
!" ed-less sympathy between the wealthy and the
"poor and the People have less to do with cleo
i" tions than in any other State perhaps in the
" the Union. In that State the people do not vote
" for their Governor-they do not vote for Electors
" of President and Vice President. In visiting the
" State one is forcbly struck with the exclusive
" ness and aristocratic tone Of society-with
the imperious department and cold politeness
" which mark the intercourse between the lordly
" man of wealth and the working Masses The
" same anti-republican and arstocratc features, as
Z" before suggested, mark the institutions of the
" State. The People exercise but few political
"rights. Hence they are less enlightened on the
history of the country and know less of the
' measures of the Government than the people of
/" other States who are in the enjoyment Of larger
" share of power in the direction Of public affairs
Though, as we have already intimated, having
no claim to any thing like the opportunities of
personal knowledge which this writer seems to
have enjoyed, our impression, derived from long
observation Of her political action and the lam
guage employed by her public journals, is,
that the preceding portrait Of the character and
DeculiarIties of tho Stota L.. ..s.