The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-07-30

shall have no jurisdiction after the next
has been convened five days.
MOVEMENTS IN SOUTH
CAROLINA.
The Greenville Patriot publishes an in.
teresting report Of the proceedings of what
it terms "an anti secession celebration Of
the Fourth Of july" at Greanvlle. South
Carolina. Four thousand persons are
said to have been present. The Patriot
adds:
"The ball is in motion, and will roll on
till it passes through the length and breadth
Of the State. Spartanburg will give it a
thousand licks on sale.day in August.
York and Chester will follow suit. The
death-knell of secession has been rung.
The people of South Carolina have recov-
cred from the panic which passed over
them last winter. In less than two years
secession will be laughed at in this State"
From among the many letters read on
the occasion we select the following:
Letter from J. R. Poinsett, Esq.
GENTLEMEN: Your invitation to address
you, either personally or by letter, on the
important subject Of State secession, atthe
celebration Of the ensuing anniversary 1f
our national independence, reached me
only yesterday, and, although the time is
short, | hasten to comply with your re-
quest,
My views and opinions on this subject
have already been submitted to my fellow
citizens, and might content myself with
referring to my published letters, were il
not that the deep interest take in this
question, and the earnest solictude feel
to preserve my native State from pursuing
a course which involves its ruin, impel me
to urge such further reasons as suggest
themselves to my mind against this meas
ure Of unmitigated evil.
Attempts are made TO liken the mad
scheme of separate State secession to the
great and glorious event you have assem-
bled to celebrate. But who that has lis
| tened to the Declaration of Independence
promulgated by the unanimous voice Of
an entire and united nation. and to the re-
ctal of the wrongs inflicted upon the
American people by Great Britain. will
draw comparison between that revolu-
lion and the one proposed by South Caro-
lina-I should say. by certain revolution
ary leaders in South Carolna-where a
single State, in opposition to the wishes
and opinions Of those in its immediate
neighborhood, having similar interests to
protect and similar wrongs to complain OF,
seeks to dissolve the government. and to
declare itself independent! In the first
case, great and prosperous nation has
arisen, commanding the respect OF the
civilized world; in the last, an insignificant
State would be formed, unable TO support
or defend itself, and regarded by the rest
of the world as an outcast from the NIGH
ty American republic of which it now
forms conspicuous part. | am aware
that this is not popular language to hold
to people who are in the habit Of hear
ing themselves lauded as being clothed
with power to maintain this single State
against the world in arms, and possessing
resources adequate TO defray all the ex-
penses of an independent government
This, fellow.citizens, is dream from
which you must be aroused by having the
truth laid bare to you. 1t is deluson
shared equally by leaders and people; for
/ do not doubt the sincerity of those who
declaim SO eloquently about the greatness
we should achieve by separate State ac-
ton, and the proud attitude we should as.
sumo as an independent nation. | have
read attentively all the speeches published
lately to convince the people. within our
borders of the necessity Of immediate
State action, appealing to their patriotism
and their high sense Of honor to induce
them to take this hazardous step, and eith-
er setting forth, in glowing colors, the vast
advantages to accrue from it, or admitting
the danger, but striving 20 convince them
T that case has arisen where the honor oi
the State requires that they should EN-.
brace ruin rather than submit to wrong
In all these publications, have failed to
see any attempt to prove that we, in South
;. Carolina, suffer greater wrong than ouI
sister slaveholding States, or any reason
adduced why we, arogating to ourselves
nicer sense of honor and greater share
of magnanimity, should place ourselye,
> in the van, and.lead iorlorn hope which
, will be followed by no advancing column
. to support it. We are told that our posi-
ton, If we take the lead, will excite the
, sympathies and command the aid of al
the southern States. What sympathy OF
a1 can we expect from States whose coun
3 sci we shall have scorned, whose charac
9 ter for courage we outrage, and whose in
, lterests we sacrifcel What sympathy car
/, we claim from the rest of the civilized
, world. whose hopes Of freedom were cen
g tired in the success of the experiment 0
e selfgoyernment, and who win regard oul
0 conduct with reprobaiion as well as dis
i lmayl Be assured, fellov-citizsns, tils