The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1853-03-24
From the Columbia Banner.
"The Palmetto.State."
(in Original Composition hy a Pupil Of The Coi-
um6iG Femule Icademv.l

South Carolina, called the Palmetto State,
Is situated between North Carolina OH the
north, and Georgia on the southwest, its
eastern shore is washed by the waves of the
broad Atlantic, while the Blue Ridge frowms
gloomy on the northwest. Its capital, Col
umba, stands near the centre of the State,
on the Congarcc river, and is place ofcon-
siderable trade. 1t is about one hundred
and ten miles above Charleston.
Charleston at the junction of the Ashley
and Cooper rivers is one of the largest cities
i'll the Southern States, and from its extcn-
sive trade and beautiful situation, it has re-
ceivcd the well ncrted title Of the "Quccn
city of the South" There are several other
towns of considerable Importance. 1t has
been asked, "Why South South Carolin;,
was called the Palmetto -Statc." We are
told that when britannia first sent her nli.I-
ions to reduce this rcbcllious colony-wl,en
they came across the wide spreading main
to execute the ordcr-thc dauntlcss SONS OF
Carolina assembled OH Sullvan's Island, and
erected II breastwork ofthc almost impcne-
trablc Palmetto, against which tile lcep-ton-
cd artillery of the British, played i'll vain.
After this, Carolina adopted the badge of
that tree, and received the name of the Pal
metto-State. | am not certain whence the
name originated, but this do assert, she
never will di>I,onor it.
When Columbus first bcheld the unknown
shores of the new world, Carolina stood ar
ravcd i'll all the beauty OF an oriental para
disc. The white man had never yet strip
ped her forests of their foliage, nor her val
les of their flowers. The red man WAS lord
of the wilderness though which he roamcd,
and master OF the mountains over Which he
pursued the wild f,wn. But the white man
came, and the rcd warrior folded his blanket
across his breast, sheathcd the glttcriny
tomaliawk i'll his wampum belt, and depart
cd from the home of his childhood, to make
room for his palciaccd foe. The sc,lpturcd
cdlticc rose where the forest hunter had
spread out his rude wigwam; the sword be-
gan to rust Oh the wall, and the timid deer
afirightcd, when she bchcd the waving
bouyhs, under which she used to browse,
lcvcled with the dust-hcd to a new home
in the unexplorcd west. Peace hovercd
over the hallowcd land of Carolina. and tho
star otcivilzation rose, beamn. with two-
fold lustrc, in contrast with the darkness Of
barbariSm which trowncd against her west
ern frontier! But suddenly the cannon WAS
heard. The rlouglman lii.l down his share,
and asked what it mcnt9 lie was told that
Great britain had forged yoke and would
bind her colonies down to slavery, These
few words were enough. All! Britain take
back your troops! iuu have not yet learned
how to bind the liberties and curb the iron
will OF trcemcn! You have yet to learn how
Jealously they guard their rights. England
sneered at the warning voice of Pitt, and
pursued her mad project. She was appal-
led when her fleet was driven from Fort
Moultric and learned that the ]'almctto-Statc
would not bend her neck to wear woke
but The foe was not yet conquered; the life
blood which bathcd the Cowpcns, Monks
Corner, Entaw Springs, and other battle
fields, were to wash the foot prints oftyranny
from her soil. Again the trumpet was hush
ed for brief space, but the campaign of
1912 aroused her sons once more to action;
and at New Orleans the obstinate Dritons
learned that the victorious army was COM
mandcd by C:,rolihian.
In 1882, the political world vas thrown
into great commotion, and the cry Of Null
tication caused Congress to pause and reflect.
1t told the North that Carolina was as ready
to defend liberties against her sister States
as against foreign enemy; that she would
never wear the CALLING chains of bonlage,
though they were startled at her tcmcrty
and lofty daring, &hcn she threw off the fet-
tcrs of an oppressive union, and stood alone
against the combined powers of the North.
The Tariff was abolished, and once more
she became one of the confcdcratc,l States.
Years rolled on, and Cardinals sons were
called upon to maintain their nobly earned
fame against soutllern'foc. Wide Mexico
was the theatre Of war;. How well they sus-
tanned their, ancient glory, the trumpet of
fame has told-the remnant who returned
oftlc prousl band that left their native soil
has shown. No wonder Liberty is. sweet to
every Carolinian. Can you thiuk What lras
beed sacrificed for It and not feel your bosom
glow with rapture at tho thought that you
possess boon so precious. Can you blame
ME when say 81 love South Carolina" My
,grandsirc bore the hardships of the Rcyolu-
ton, my father defended it iDStho campaign
Of 1912, and some of the blood of my oWn
veins, flowing from a brothers wounds,
swelled the ensanguined torrent that rolled
over the field of Churubusco.atW Well may it
be said, that "Chivalry is.a second nature to
Carolinian," and well may we, be proud of
her. Her children are pre-cmincnt in beauty
unboundcd in knowledge, and invincible in
war. r
Tell me not of the hallowed relics of Pal
estine, nor the proud trophieso Rome: Tell
me not of Europe, rich in classic lore, nor
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