Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-03-07
From the Evening State-Rights Republican.
To His Erce1leacy, Coz. Means:

% f1tS EIccSfRhrY, c0b IHedHS:-
The dcstinies of South Carolina are entrust:
cd to your hands, at most critical period of
our history The action of our Legislature at
its last sitting, was either very foolish, or indi
cative of Il determination on our part, to carry
out our past resolves " at all hazards and to the
last extremity" and much of the efficiency Of
that action must depend on your discretion and
frmness. No one who knows you can doubt
your patriotism or devotion to the interest and
honor of the State, and knowing you thus, l
take the privilege, as an humble citizen, of ad.
dressing you, in no spirit of presumption, or
dctation, but from an earnest desire to add my
mite to the great cause in which all true Caro-.
linians are engaged.
The policy aud tendency of the action Of our
State may be summed up in one phrase, chilli
tary preparation" and this is especially the
province and duty Of the Executive The un-
usual amount appropriated for military purpo-
scs-the establishment Of a, Board and Bureau
of Ordnance-the establishment of Encamp-
ments, and every measure adopted by our Leg
islature, must prove futile, if not carried out by
the executive authority now entrusted to your
hands. For many years past, our Governors
have borne, respectively, the title of Conn,an'
der-in-chief, as empty honors, and their military
duties have been discharged in putting on uni
forms and making holiday addresses. The
time for action, however, has now arrived, and
South Carolina looks to you as her official lead
er, and to you is entrusted the dlctatorial pow.
er, which you are charged to exercise enc quid
! deirimenii res-publica caperei."
As one mode of dscharging thoroughly the
duties devolving upon you, ndacquitting your.
self in your highest trust, as your friends and
feIlow-citzcns reasonably expect, it becomes
you to do all in your power to put the State in
an attitude of defence and preparation.
Your own experience, aud the advicps you
are enabled to summon to your aid, will sug
gest to you the mode in which this end can he
attained, and will only touch ut present OIL
one point. No military preparation is com
plete without instruction, aud no amount of the
material of munitions of war can avail, without
an educated and thoroughly drilled soldiery.-
Let your attention, therefore, be dire cted to the
proper training and drilling of our citizens, anc
let us all aim to attain that degree OF prepara
ton, which willrender citizen and soldier con
vertibleoter,ns-a necessary condition OF a sell
existing republic Let our citizens, our young
neu especially, and youth over sixteen, be ful
ly equipped and thoroughly taught, and fo'
peace, or war, we will be prepared. A prepa
ration for war is the surest guaranty for peace
-preparaiun,on our part noD is the best stet
for cooperation, if cooperation be at all posi-
ble-and preparation now is necessary for sep.
arate State action, to which we must look
Let competent military instructor therefore
be provided and commissioned, that our cit
zens generally may initiate the noble exampl.
of the Richland Light Dragons, who have
gone to work voluntarily, in endeavoring t.
procure for themselves that knowled &c whicl
the times demand.
In the language OF Milton," a good educa
ton is that which fits the citizen to discharge
every duty of peace or war" and on YOU i:
now devolved the highest responsibility OF fur
nishing in part, that education to your country
men. J. r. u. WI Az.
COLUMBIA, March l, 1851. ::