The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1851-01-16
mo. 49,.

ccssty be defcated-is not only folly, but
madness. 1t is but TO add disgrace to insult
and injury. That South Carolina, us u sov.
crcign State, has right to Withdraw herself
from tho Constitutional compa CT to which she
is now party, do not pretend 10 deny; but
the policy Of doing so az This time, alone and
unsupported an she is by any of her sister
States Of the South, I think is suicidal, and
will prove ruinous 10 her best and dearest in.
tcrcs,s. think it is her duty TO herself and
| necessary 10 the success OF her cause, that she
should wait for the cooperation Of at least ono
or Two other States before she takes II step
which cannot be rctraccd-bcf1rc she makes
an issue in which sho cannot sustain herself.
| Delay rs not submission, but in this case II ~
| policy which is necessary TO success, yea
| rcccs iry 10 our salvation.
repeat il, l am in f,v0r Of resistance TO tho
measures Of the General Government calm.
| firm. and determined resistance--but J um
not in favor of sacrificing South Carolina OH
| the issue, when l cannot SEQ what is to be
| gained by the sacrifice. We arc told bv those
| who arc in favor Of immediate and scpcrato
State action. that it is disgraccful and coward.
ly for South Carolina TO wait any longer for tho
| cooperation Of other States. This | aRdig4
| nnnIy dcny. Courage docs not consist uf
rashncss, nor cowardicc Of delay. The bravcst
Of men, in personal quarrcls and collisions.
pursue their systems Of policy, which frequent.
! ly involve delay, and although their bosoms
may be burning with tho feelings Of indigna.
ton and revenge at an insult offered, they d.,
not strike till they think they arc ready. No
ono attributes this 10 Cowardcc. Nation is
nothing moro than u collection Of individuals,
and the same rule will apply. II you should
desire an example Of pure aud unalloycd cour.
age in snppoi OF this position, il may he found
! among the lower order Of animals. Even tho
| Lion has his tactics in his mode Of assauling
his enemies or taking his prey. aud does not
disdain to avail himself Of them an occasion
requires aud especially is hc distingui shed
above other animals for his " wait and watch
policy" Then, why should the Lioa.hearied
SOUS Of South Carolina be ashamed Of this
policy?
We are further told that If South Car lima
will seccda from The Union, tho other Southern
| act of hers TO follow bor cxanple and roIlu -.
| her 81 Ia ndard. This siS non seguifur WI.
eismont 81 .hero To- Ah".ee ewTsqssiop on ih.
southern States to follow her example,. olhef
| my part, can sec none. Several Of t,E9E
States have already told us that they arc not
| yc, ready to take that s,cp-thcy have told us
so through their ballot boxes by overwhelming
| majoritics, when that was the issue before the
people. j should say, then, it would be u
| most dangerous experiment for South Caro-
| lima TO do desperate act with view Of for
cling them 10 cooperate with her. Their pride
| Of opuion, their jealousy and dislike Of South
Union and love Of rcacc, would all operate
most powerfully to induce them to withhold
from us their aid and assistance in such an
emergency. few Struggling volunteers from
other States would be all that We could reason.
ably expect in the event Of collision between
South Carolina and the General Government.
Such collision under such circumstances
must OF necessity prove fatal 10 South Carolina.
/, is snid that South Carolina can scccdc
! from the Union and establish an independent
government for herself and maintain rcspccta.
bility among the other powers Of The car,h.--
Let as sec what figure shc will cw upon tho
| map of nations. She is among the smallest
States in the Unon-a mere spot Of territory
- containing less than halfu million Of inhab.
! Itants, aud she Is now set up as an indcpcn.
dent nation. or course she must do rs other
nations do-havc domestic policy and for.
cisn policy-cnicr into treaties aud form ALI.
| ancics-Cslablish commerce aud build navy
TO protect n-kccp up n standing army at the
expense OF govcrnmcnt-scnd ministers to
all the different courts of Europe and Amcii
ca. each with u salary Of nine thonsan nd dollars,
and nine thousand more for an oulft-0orI
suppose shu will be ns liberal 10 ncr ministers
as tho General Government is 10 hcrs) build
custom houses and pay collectors Of revenue,
with II hundred other things that could be men.
tiDncd--and where s she 10 get all tho millions
of money necessary TO dcfray these expenses
Oui Of 'he pockets Of Tie people of course!
II would Lo impossible for such handful Of
population 10 endure the burden Of taxation
necessary TO support an Independent govern.
crnmcni 1t would literally consume their sub.
stance and dcpopulatc The State. But if they
could bear up under all this, there is still an.
otlicr Inconvenience which those Who are in
favor Of separate and immediate Statc.action
have not, perhaps. duly reflected upon. 'Eho
insgnfcancc Of 80 small q Slate, when coni-
pared with most other Eat.ons. supporting and
| chcrishng an institution with which nearly
the whole civilized world seems 10 be at war,
would subject her flag TO insult every where,
and she would be powcrless TO avengo IL. 4
nation To be respected must have The ability 10
cempand respect. Tho smallest inIiaciion OF
tlhefights OF any other nation on The part Of
htteyStatc, wonld be regarded by them as cdusa
| BELLA declaration of war would follow, and
il requires no prophet 10 forctcll The result
These, follow citizens, arc my reasons for de-
sting TO wait for Tho cooperation Of some Of
| tho o;hor Southern States At least. before wc
| plunge ourselves into fliculty from which
| we cannot he cxtricaicd without their assis.
lance. think they should unto with us at
| once for tic purpose OF resisting lprllor ag-
gressions by tho General Government, and Of
rodrcssng the grievances of which wo already
| have 100 much reason u complain; but they .
think diff rcntly, and their opinions are en,i.
tied TO some respect as well as our own. if
we do but wait a sufficient length Of THO, I
entertain no more doubt that they will even
tually unto with us for tho purpose Of rcsis
tinco, than do that causes will produce Of
fccts. Ii they uro Determined TO wait for
further aggrossions, doub, not but that they
will receive them, aud receive them promptly.
! Fanatlcisn,, like Mr.. WEBSTER, ''ncver takes
/ u step back wards" Lot us then, havce little
| patience und Success will crown our efforts,
but II wc rush madly Oh before wo arc pre-.
pared to meet The issue, defeat and disgrace
win be tic mortlfyng result. Entertaining
these vows. il um honorod with seat in tho
Cohvehtion, i shaft, TO the extent Of my bum.
bio abilities oppose secession and separate
S,atc.actioil But if my opinions arc over.
ruled. aud South Caroline, whose honor Is dcar
10 ne. will. nnadcd aud alone, force tl,c issue
between herself and tho General Government,
asa cit zcn and PATROL cxPec, to stapd by
hor in her hour Of peril and 10 share in her
1 destiny. 'May tho God of wisdom direct her
i copncils.o Very Respectfully, .'s %
u w w J. NJ. ROWLAND.