The southern press., 1851-09-27
LErrER OF yoHs FORSYTH, ESQ.

/
LETTER OF JOHN FORSYTH, ESQ.
COLUMBUS, (GA,) Sept. II.
GENTLEMEN IL have the honor to acknowl-
edge your favor Of the l4th ult., in which you
invite me to attend and address public meet
ing of the citizens of Charleston district, to be
in Charleston on the 18th day of September"
| Thanking you cordially for the compliment,
which by the instructions of the Auxiliary South
ern Rights Association, whose organ you are,
you are kind enough to pay to my "publlc SER
vices in the cause of Southern rights"-agree-
ing with you fully in your principes-sympa-
thizing with you from the bottom of my heart,
in your feelings Of antagonsm to the measures
of the federal government, which have been
called into existence by its fanatica aggressions,
ard reckless and studied disregard of our con-
stitutional rights-it is, | regret to say, out of
my power to accept your invitation.
! have duties which bind me to my post at
home. We have hosts of powerful enemies,
sporting with the rights and misguiding the in.
telligence of patriotic people, here to meet and
contend with. We have to combat the poison.
Gus prejudices sand decisions which demagogues,
of both the old political parties, united in co.
alition to advance their own self III views, have
succeeded in sowing broadcast in the minds of
our people, and in garbing their naked wrongs
4 in the habiiments Of a patriotic love for the
Union of our fathers. tits our misfortune that
those instincts of pure and unseltish patriotism,
which, unbiased BY false Views, prejudice and
misdirection, would run in bold and. resistless
current in favor of Southern rights, are perverted
i by bad and ambitious men, and made to swell
the trumphs of our Northern enemies. We are
indeed fighting Smashed blttery;" and the
gifted but INSCRIPTIONS politician, who in burn.
| ing language, pointed it out to his countrymen,
is he who is fighting that battery with zeal and
ability, which employed on the side { his coun.
try, would win for him an Immortality of re-
nown.
| Gentlemen az a Georgian, I hardly know what
to say to you, Carolnans, feel that my people
should be this moment, shoulder to shoulder,
with yours feel that instead of pouring their
| torrents of ridicule and abuse on you, as the
guilty authors of the disturbance of the peace
of the confaderacy, oar mis-called constitutional
| Union" men, should lock their shields with yours
and present an impregnable phaanax to our cola-
mon foes feel that Georgia Is called the sEm.
pire State" in derision, by those at the North,
| whose principles. and conduct are fast making
her no Sta,e at all but aependen. province. ]
would to God, we had fewer miles of railway.
fewer miilions invested in manufactures and
stocks, fewer proofs Of snterprize and thrift and
money making; and mare of thst spirit and
chivalry Of Georgia Of the olden time which on
more than one occasion, has interposed her sov-
ereignty TO check the usurpation of the federal
! government II, as greatly fear the tribute 10
our enterprize, Is at the expense or independence
of spirit and IL the a'ional timidity Of wealth
and the enervatng influence Of an unbounded
prosperity, have had the effect Of rendering our
ears uore sensitive 10 the Syren song Of Union
ism, and our eyes more blind 10 dangerous con-
sequences OF submission TO undoubted wrongs
| If you, gentleman, and ]. are disunionists, how
came we so? Your history proves that your
gallant State was ever ready to catch and obey
the first roll Of the rappel that beat TO arms IN
! the defence Of the Union South Carolina al
most untouched by British TAXATION, answered
/ the cry Of Massachusetts,, and fought the battles
of the revolution in a naked principle Of Eng
ish freedom. 10 the struggle of 1912, with
scarcely a sailor or ship afloat, you nobly did
| youg part in war for "free-trade and sailors
! rights" When tie Union has teen menaced by
external foes, you have never stopped to inquire
| what section was concerned in or TO be benefit
! ted by the war. You have always been ready to
bleed in your persons or your purses, whenever
tie eonfederacy called for succor. For myself
I was bred, as 1t were, in the lap Of the Union
The year was born, nv father entered It's SER
vice in the national legislature.
His entire after life was consecrated 10 It's ser.
vice. was raised with almost superstitious
reverence for the Union-all my boyish dream :,
I visions and associations Of glory and rerown
were bound up With Il. and the rustic Of its stars
and stripes never failed TO move my heart TO n
quickened throb. Why then dre-why should
we be dsunionjstsl Who has turned back upon
their sourse those high and quickening feelings
OF patriotism which were wont 10 warm our
A II Al
into demon Of mischief and enmity! This is
question tina. the champions Of submission
never ask or answer. I say, The enemies NJ The
Union andofds Soaih hare done it, Ithas been
done by fsnaticism, that has not its parallel In
turpitude and in its opportunities for widespread
; mischief and ruin--which has made aliens oi
brothers; filled the press. the .choolhouse, the
pulpit, the closet the forum, the private associa
tons and public halls Of lie gslation with hatred
and bitterness towards MS stalked with conqner
ing ,teps over political parties, and into posses
: sion OF the halls OF Congress, desolatiny anC
7 blasting "a II went trampled on the Consttu
ton because u wasa pro slavery instrument anc
, on the Bible because Il taught and countenanccc
! the relItion Of master and slave set Mt rauph
the wisdom and coUnsels OF the past and IN,
p. hopes Of the future; eStinguished the sentiment
r of BROTHERHOOD severed the ties Of religion
communion. and excited the Just alarm Of tn
Southern portion Of the Union for their safety
lives, liberties and property. No, gentlemen, !
2 is not we who have lost our loyalty 10 the Unior
If our fathers BUT THAT USoS ~ 10 MORE
II is not we who have refused 10 kneel in tn,
/. temple Of freedom reared by rev,red hands; bu
: that temple has been despoiled Of the lares o
the Constitution, and ia their place has been sc
up the Juogernaut Of a crushing, fsnatical, sec
, tional, CONSTITUENCIES majority. "a.
I The impregnable rock upon which South Car
olina bases her refutation Of these ISLANDERS o
her enemies Is. that aggression by his gorern
) nent preceded her first phisper Of discomfort
. Your loyalty was unimpeaehed and unimpeschu
2 BILE until loyalty 10 The Union became treason I
o the Independence, freedom and Sovereignty of III
I STATES. Yon endured heavy taxes and tariff
] which you knew TO be unequal and unjust yo
gave your sons TO every battlefield Of every wal
}. you we're ready TO make sill greater sacrifices
; but when called upon to sacrifice your rights a
n citizens, the peers Of the best OF Yankees, lik
). men, YOU refused For while life. and limb an