The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-09-25
COLUMBUS, (GAl Sept. l:

GENTLEMEN IL have the honor to acknowl
edge your favor Of the I4th ut., in which you
invite me to attend and address pubic 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 "pnblic SER
vices in the cause of Southern rights"-agree-
ing with you fully in your principles--sympa-
thizing with you from the bottom of my heart,
in your feelings OF antag0nism TO the measures
of the federal government, which have been
called into existence by its fanatical aggressons,
ar reckless and studied disregard Of our con-
stitutonal 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 prejudicesan decisions which demagogues,
Of both the old political parties, united in n CO.
aIition to advance their own self sh views, have
succeeded in sowing broadcast in the minds of
our people, and in garbng their naked wrongs
in the habili!nents of patriotic love for the
Union of our fathers. 1t is our misfortune that
those instincts of pure and unselfi,h patriotism,
which, unbiased by false views, prejudice and
misdirection, would run in bold and resistless
current in favor of Southern rights, perverted
by bad and ambitious men, and made to swell
the triu nphs of our Northern enemies. We are
indeed fighting masked battery !" and the
gifted but unscrupulous 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 'f his coun-
q. 4 .
n0wn.
Gentlemen, Georgian, | hardly know what
to soy to you, Clrolinians, feel that my people
should be this moment, shoulder to shoulder,
with yours. feel that instead of pouring their
torrents of ridicule and abnse on yon, as the
guilty authors of the disturbance of the peace
of the confeieracy, our ms-called constitutional
Union" men, should lock their shields with yours
and present an imprecnable phaanax to our COM
mon foes. feel that Georgia is called the EN-
pire State" in dersion, by those at the North,
whose principles and conduct are fast making
her no State at all, bm "a dspenden, province.
would to God, we had fewer miles of railway.
fewer millions invested in manufactures and
stocks, fewer proofs of enterprise and thrift and
money-makng; and more OF that spirit and
chivalry of Georgia of the olien time, which on
more than one occasion, has interposed her SOW
ereigniy to check the usurpation of the federal
government. If, as greatly fear the tribute 10
our enterprise, is at the expense Of independence
of spirit; and if the ma onal timidity of wealth
and the enervating influence of an unbounded
prosperity, have had the effect of rendering our
ears uore sensitive to the Syren song of Union
ism, and our eyes more blind to dangerous con-
sequences of submission to undoubted wrongs
If you, gentlemen, and l. are disunonsts, how
came we so! Your history proves that your
gallant State was ever ready to catch and obey
the first roll Of the rdppel that beat to arms in
the defence of the Union. South Carolina, al
most untouched by British t,xation, answered
the cry of Massachusetts, and fought the battles
of the revolution in naked principle of Eng.
lish freedom. In the struggle of 1912, with
scarcely sailor or ship anoat you nobly did
your part in a war for "free-trade and sailors
rights" When the 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 confeieracy called for succor For myself
! was bred, rs it were, in the lap OF the Union
The wear was born, NV father entered its ser
vice in the national legislature.
His entire after lie was consecrated to its ser.
vice. | was raised with almost superstitious
reverence for the Union--all my boysh dreama,
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
quickened throb WHY then are-why should
we be disunionistsl Who has turned back upon
their sourse those high and quickennq feelings
of patriotism which were wont to warm our
hearts and converted the god of our idolatry
into demon of mischief an snmityl This is
question that the champions Of sgbmission
never ask or answer. / say the enemies of The
Union and ofthe South hare done IT, IL has been
done by fanaticism that has not ts parallel in
turpitude and in its opportunities for widespread
mischief and run--which has made aliens of
brothers; filed the press the schoolhouse the
pulpit the closet, the forum, the private assoca
tons and public halls Of le gislation with hatred
and bitterness towards us stalked with conquer
ing steps over political parties. and into posses
sion of, the halls of Congress, desolatng and
blasting IA II went; trampled on the Constitu
ton because It wasa pro slavery instrument, and
on the Bible because II taught and counienanced
the relation of master and slave; set at naught
the wisdom and counsels of the past and the
hopes Oft the future; extngushed the sentiments
of brotherhood severed the ties of religious
communion, and excited the inst alarm of the
Southern portion of the Union for their safety,
"No", HVo't'tH anu property NO, RenileUlen, ~
IL not we who hove lost our loyalty to The Union
OF our fathers; BUT THAT UNroS is NO MORE
IT - not we who have refused to kneel in the
temple of freedom reared by rovered hands; but
that temple has been despoiled of the lares Of
the Constitution, and in their place has been set
up the Juggernaut of crushing, fanatica, Sec
tional, Consttutionless majority.
The impregnable rock upon which South Car.
olins bases her refutation OF these ISLANDERS of
her encme, is. that aggression By this govern
rneni preceded her first whisper Of discomfort
Your loyalty was unmpeached and uninpeachn-
Bile until iopdly 10 he Union became treason 10
The independence, freedom and sovereignty of he
STATES. You endured heavy taxes and tariffs
which you knew 10 be unequal and unjust you
gave your sons TO every battlefield Of every war;
you were ready TO make sill greater sacrifices,
but when called upon to sacrifice your rights ms
citizens, the peers Of the best Of Yankees, ike
men. you refused. For while life, and limb and
fortune are due to country, when did freedom
ever demand Of her votaries sacri6ce Of liberty
and honor1
n