Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-03-29
Gs~ The Charlotte IN. C.) Southern, thus
speaks of the position of South Carolina. We
commend it to our readers:

commend it to our readers
WILL SOUTH CAROLINA SECEDE?
This is a question asked daily in every part Of
the Union; and it is a question of interest be-
cause the eyes of the whole Union are now turn
ed, (and with more earnest and deep solictude
than by many is, supposed to exist to see what
she will do. She has been accorded a peculiar
and prominent position in this crisis, because she
has been the most yigilant sentinel in the
camp of State Rights. She has been given the
post of leader by common and undisputed accla-
nation and consent because it has come to be tao
litly agreed, that whatever South Carolina can
stand in the way of Yankee stripes the other
Southern States can submit to. And South Caro-
lima is beyond all other States, looked to do some
thing because she has ever been the first to OBJ
serve Federal aggressive injuries, the readiest to
proclaim her resentment, and the boldest in her
attitudes of defence. All these things combined,
give her position she may be proud to enjoy,
and in connection with recent events, place her in
such an attitude as very naturally to draw atten-
ton to her, and to suggest the pregnant inquiry
Will South Carolina secede?
We cannot presume so much as to take upon
ourself to say that South Carolina will or will not
secede but we can venture to say we believe she
will. Our reasons for saying SO may be briefly
stated.
If she do not secede she will be ten-fold worse
OH Jndn Sne C0ulQ De from the consequences OF
secession. She would become a by-word, a re-
proach her name would be a burlesque upon
honor the Palmetto a device upon the shield of
cowardice, and the State be looked upon as the
Fallstaff among States. She has taken position
which to recede from is to bring infamy and dis
grace upon her fair name, which will draw upon
her the scorn and derision of every true State
rights man in the Union, and which will elicit the
jibes, jeers, contumely and scorn of every tory
federalist in the land. Her professions her politi
cal demonstrations henceforward, would be worth
no more in the community of States or nation than
a base counterfeit upon change No, no, she
can never recede from her proud stand. Better
every son of South Carolina fill a grave beneath
the conquered flag of resistance and secession than
| by retrograde movement, bring such sure dis
grace, such certain shame upon herself.
South Carolina is in the position of man Of
undoubted courage and honor who has been insul-
ted by bully of ten-fold his physical strength
| The man of courage and honor does not ask
whether by resenting the insult, he will be over
powered and whip thy his bullying antagonist The
insult meets Immediately with some mode of re-
dress. She would be craven, coward sink, il
she paused upon the probable prudence of bearing
with present injuries and insults, because forsootf
her insulter, her oppressor might nhict some other
castigation. No man of honor makes such g
pause-no State that cherishes principle of honor
will. South Carolina we believe to be no such
craven--no such coward. There is then no alter
native but for her to secede