New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-06-10
South Carolina.

the way OF lOTclDle ScccSSloH VII HOl Wv"
hook? If we were going to set down serl-
ousy to calculate her available force for
any military demonstration 1t seems to US we
should have to begin and to end by calling
il nothing We see no way of escaping the
conclusion that she possesses no military
power whatever. We have NapoleOn's au-
thority for saying that War is a science of
barbarians, and rests on numbers. In fight
ing, pluck is a great thing, but pluck does
not avail unless it is backed by the real bone
and muscle According to that gallant lit
tie State everything she would claim in the
way of valor and mettle, does not relieve
| her at all from the mputaton of impotence.
| 1t is not that she has no strength for combat,
Though compared with that of most of her
confederate States it is a comparatively mi
mute quantity,) but that what she has, is
needed to preserve her own domestic peace.
The perfect assurance of internal tranquil
tv she does not now possess even at this
period of profound national, long continued
quiet. The mounted night patrol Of her
capital city proclaims the sense of insecurity
It's population daily feel lest the horrors of
servile insurrection should deluge their
streets with blood. An alarm is felt and
watchfuness demanded by the people of that
State akin to that which we can imagine of
a country that had an enemy encamped in
its midst. Not so great to be sure, for
their enemy is in custody, but none the less
constant and vgilant.
South Carolina numbers within her limits
over one hundred thousand more slaves
than treemen She has four blacks to three
whites. According to the Census of 1850,
her population stands 1000 free whites,
to $50, 900 slaves This is a great discre
pencv in favor Of the black race. The
thing is managed easily, however, while the
country is in a state of peace, and the arms
and weapons of the State are all In the
hands of the whites. In state of war,
however, and especially Of intestine war,
relating to the question of servitude, and
bearing directly upon the condition of the
enslaved, it would be very different
! Under such circumstances, when enough of
the masters had been detailed to take good
care of the servants, but few would be left
to carry on q strife with another and an eX-
ternal power Looking at the matter IN
1 business point of view, if the whole country
were going into rough and tumble fight
with any of the first rate powers of the
/ globe, we should be inclined to say to South
/ Carolina, You can be let off from all fur
Their duty, if YOU will come under bonds that
the African race shall keep the peace within
your own boundaries" 1t is thus we set
| down South Carolina as possessing no eff
/ fective force whatever for a state of war.
/ Vahent and chivalrc are her sons, no doubt.
! We would not detract an iota from their
/ claims on this score But to rush into
1 contest of arms against the Federal Govern
ment, she would only emulate the famous
example of Charles the Nllth, in his for
tress at Bender, defying with his two hun
dred men the force of the whole Turkish
1 Empire The exhibition Of this madness of
courage might stay the sword ofjustice and
of vengeance, but it would not prevent the
speedy dlSarmmg and efectual restraint
! of tho On;voti, cornbatantS II would be
ridiculous 10 menace South Carolina with
threats of punishment in the event of her
attempting TO carry her projects of seces-
sion into execution. Ii any such rashness
Is seriously contemplated, It were Of no use
to employ words IN the ease. The patient
is past all efforts OF ratiociuation. and the
hallucination he exhibits, can only be re-
moved. if at all, by dong what is necessary,
and saying as little as possible.
But setting aside the considerations to
which we have alluded, which go to e.tab-
lish the weakness of South Carolina as a
military power, and especially on a question
involving, ultimately, the question of eman-
clpaton; her positive numbers, If untettered
by domestic demands upon their military
prOwess, would be quite too insignificant to
occasion serious concern. The white pOpu-
latiOn of this country is twenty million.
The white population of South Carolina
is but little more than quarter of one mil