The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-21

Da; and, alter transactlng other business, TOOK
up and debated the bill to insure the prompt exc
cution Of the Bounty Land act, passed last
September. Without coming to conclusion
thereon the House adjourned
A CLEAN OF Sunshine in South Carolina.
The style of oratory which has of late been
most in vogue in the State Of South Carolina
would lead us to believe that all love of the
Union had long since departed from her limits,
and that good sense and good taste had departed
with it. We should do injustice, however, in
coming to such a conclusion. Patriotism has
not altogether given place to sectionalism, even
in South Carolina nor are .ssound and fury"
the characteristics of all her public speakers.
One of the best indications Of this that we have
met with for some time is the speech of the Hon.
b. f. PERRY, of the Greenville district, de-
livered in the House of Representatives of the
State, on the | It'll of December last, on num-
Der of propositions referred to the Committee of
theWhoe on State and Federal Affairs. Although
we do not approve of all the views which are ex-
spirit by which it is pervaded; and we design
to make few extracts, for the purpose of show
ing that there is at least one man in South Car
DINA whose patriotism is broad enough to take
in the whole country, and who has firmness
enough to avow his fidelity to the Union, even
at the expense of being branded as traitor to
his State.
1t may be well to mention, in the first place,
that Mr.. PERRY is native-born citizen of
South Carolina-connected with her by thou
sand ties-anxious only to secure her interests
and her honor. He holds no office, and desires
to hold none, under the Federal Government
If he aspired to Office he declares that it would
that any motive of this sort influences his con-
duct. We quote his own words:
al know, sir, full we'll, that ! cut off all hope of
promotion in this State by the course am now
pursuing. Still, sir, shall pursue it for my
country's good should lose my own self-re-
spect if were to yield to a popular current, no
matter how strong, which believed to be as fatal
to my country as the one now sweeping over South
Carolina will resist it as long as can, though
may stand alone in the State"
Mr.. PERRY participates in the feeling of
wrong SO generally entertained by his fellow
citizens, arising out of the disputed question be-
tween the North and the South, and between
the State and Federal Governments; but he has
no share in their disunion sentiments He does
not believe that the honor, happiness, or pros
perity of the South would be promoted by
dissolution of the Union. His remarks in this
connexion are well worthy of being quoted at
length:
SCI have been taught, sir, from my infancy, by
the writings Of one whose purity doubted,
and whose judgment never failed, that this Union
was the great palladium OF our liberty, independ-
ence, safety, and prosperity, and that should
cherish constant, cordial, and immovable at
tachment to it.
al do, Mr.. Chairman venerate this Union, and
am disposed to hold on to il until dishonor or OPP
preston forces me, a southern man, to break it
asunder. look with feelings of horror the hap
pening of that event which no language can de-
scribe But when it does come I shall be disposed
to do my duty. As much as love the Union,
love the South and her institutions still MORE and
will defend them more cheerfully more readily. l
am not, however, disposed to be laughed out Of my
admiration Of the Union by those who affect to
despise and spurn it's glories. Let me ask such if
there is nothing glorious in it's formation and his
tory-in the battles which achieved it, and the he
roes who fought them, Who can contemplate
few thousand men scattered over vast continent,
rising up in the majesty of strength and power, to
defend themselves against the most powerful mon
arohy Of Europe, and say there is nothing of glory
in this Union' Who can look at the battle
fields of the Revolution, drenched they were
with the blood of northern and southern men,
and say there is nothing glorious in them Who
can read in history the characters and achieve
ments of Washington, Franklin, Hancock, and
Rutledge and deny that they filled this Union with
gorys Who will look at the progress these United
States have made in human happiness and pros.
periy, and in all the moral grandeur Of great ma
ton, without admitting that this has been glori-
GUS Union /? Where are our victories on land and
sea during the last with G. reat Britain? Where
are the battles fought and the conquests made by
our officers in Mexico? Ia there nothing of glory
in all these? And when the Union is dissolved,
how shall all this glory be portioned out between
the North and the South Franklin and Warren
Hancock and Adams, will no longer be countrymen
of ours!
"Mr. Chairman, the sun has never shone on a
people, in ancient or modern times, who have pros
pered and fiourshed and grown great as the Ameri-
can people have since the formation of this Union
From three millions, they have increased to twenty
five millions, in little more than half of century
From thirteen States they have grown to thirty one
In extent Of territory they have spread from five
hundred thousand square miles to two millions of
square milcs The forests have disappeared before
their footsteps, and towns and villages have sprung
up if by magic. In all the arts and sciences and
literature of the world they behind people of
their age. No country on earth enjoys the same
civil and religious liberty Instead of making war
on their fellow men, they have made war, as has
been said by a distinguished Frenchman, against
the forests and wild beasts.
ct will not do, Mr.. Chairman, TO break up gov
eminent every time it goes wrong. No govern
ment could last five years any such principle.
Nor will it answer for people to separate from each
other whenever opposing interest springs up
between them. Such course would produce di-
vision after division, until every ncighborhood and
every family would stand forth an independent and
separate nation"
Mr.. PERRY proceeds TO point out the error of
the assertion so frequently made by the Dis