North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-03-08
SOUTH CAROLINA.

We copy the following from the Charleston Mer-
curry of the 9th February, with the view of furnish
ing readers with idea of the spirit at pres
ent pervading South Carolina. The Mercury no doubt
speaks the sentiments and feelings OF large MAORI
ty of the people. of that State:
SOUTH CAROLINA, THE HOPE OF THE Souri,
We copy interesting letter from Mobile to the CO.
lumbus Times. The reader will pause on the en-
phatc assertions that the cause of the South is in the
hands of South Carolina, and that true and earnest
patriots in other Sta ties have their gaze fixed upon her
the star of destiny, ready TO draw of gIo-
rious gloomy defeat, from the brighten
ing pang of her light. 1t is arrogance to as
that this is true. The position OF South Caro-
lima is peculiar. One of the oldest of the States, her
scattered over the South and the threads of
sympathy that lead back to the parent heart, pene-
trate the circle of every Southern community, and
make the remembrance and veneraton of her, part
of the traditional sentiment of many States. She
cannot be isolated. Everywhere she must find friends
and adherents. In this respect, no Southern State
save Virginia claim the precedence over her, and
Virginia has abdcated the rights that all, and
more cheerully than South Carolina conceded TO her.
Virginia has shrunk from the glory and the peril of
marshaing and leading the South to the vindcation
of her rights and the defence of her safety. Her
word, which she pledged freely and bravely, she
has left at the pawnbrokers, too poor to redeem it.
After drawing the sword with the air of hero, by
some miraculous mistake, Virginia has cast away
the blade and retained the scabbard, hugging the
empty assertion of State sovereignty, while she has
dlsowned the only means of making it good. Never
did great people, loving honor and alive to disnc
ton, tamey sacrifice the and forget the other.
And for what reward, has Virginia closed her eyes
and turned her back equally the sublime lessons
Of the past and the noble hopes of the future Who
shall pay the price Virginia. for condescending to
transform the native land of HENRY and w AsHING-
TON, OF JEFFERSON and RANDOLPH, into the wretched
neutral ground where the pride of State sovereignty
and the su5servience of venal courtiershlp hold
doubtful contest, and wrigge around each other in
fantastic dance! We say these things in and
modification, and if there is bitterness in the words,
it from the fountain of hopes detroyed, pledg
violated, and proud position abandoned to her and
our enemies.
Next to Virginia, we have said South Carolina,
without arrogance, has claimed the leadership of the
South. She has not claimed it any of them.
Gladly would she have seconded North Carolina, or
Georgia, or Alabama ;-whatever one OF the States,
though the Youngest and weakest of them all, had
placed herself in the to champion the cause OF
the South, would have found South Carolina hon.
est and devoted soldier in her ranks. But when all
the multiplied difficulties of stepping toward alone
in the face of the threatened vengeance of the General
Government, of the newneSs and strangeness OF the
STEP of the imposing force of those thousand assoc
atioGs that have made the Union venerabe-when all
this is considered is not wonderful that the younger
States refused the Office, and demanded rather to be
guided than to guide. The Southern mind too, has
been sorely perpleXed by the supposed conflicting
claims of separate State action, and action by the
operation of ALL They have been taught and warned
bv all their wisest nseors, that the cause which
is common to the whole South, must be cherished
and defended by the abors and patriotism of the whole
This is right. But these sprung from vague hope
that by some means, miraculous or mysterious. a
Southern Conederacy was to spring up like tree
from the earth, without hand to plant the seed or to
defend its first tender shoots-a Confederacy togrow
into power and strength within the existing Confed-
eracy, like the ichneumon wasp in the body OF the
caterpillar! The thing is impossible. The action
must either be popular, like that OF the Nashville
UhOl NJ or m
be by the States acting in their sovereign character
In the latter case, some one State must take decI-
sive sep in advance, and whatever the form OF that
act may be, it is, practically, SECESSION. 1t is
useless therefore give any other form, and it will
only weaken its force, disguise its character, and
whether from fear policy, 10 deny or conceal its
purpose.
South Carolina is the only State where this bold
and decisive step be taken with the general ap-
prevail of the people. Her action is not INSTRUCTED
by the Jealous rivalry of pares accustomed to war
upon each other long that they coalesce without
cordality, and look upon every concession to the
cause of the whole possibly surrender of their
own hopes of ascendency. In South Carolina there
are parties. small fraction of the people dis
from the policy of separate State action because
they say it may interfere with the united action OF the
South. They, too, desire much as the ma jorlty,
the independence of the South. A few individuals
NAV be found who prefer submission to all things; to
whom the very dust that Federal heel that is grind
ing US down is something sacred, and which gIveh
beauty and honor TO him on whom 1t falleth. Wedo
! not take account of these.
| South Carolina is then at this time the natural
leader of the South, because she can act because
she is free to follow the general conviction OF her
people. Her action, persuaded, Will be but a
step in advance of the other States. But in that one
step, there is the mmeasuable space between resist
ance and submission; between future glorious,
prosperous, secure,-and future of cowardy con-
cessions of darkenng hopes, of decayng patriotism,
and finally of and ignominious DISTINCTION
|