Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-07-11
COMM NICATI0N

COM n NICATI0NS.
FOR THEsADyERTIsER.
THE SOUTHERN PATRIOT GOOD TASTE AND
PUBLIC VIRTUE.
. ALL are ready to .concede 10 the Editor Of this
Journal, elegance, courtesy, and manly propriety
in private life; but any. one who has watched his
public course, is forced the conviction that he is
politically, the chi&sa sinners" Let him but
touch on single law, solitary MEASURE or insttu-
ton of the country, and all his judgment, his dig
nifty, and his excellent common sense, as we'll as his
amiable disposition, seem at once to forsake him.
He is in every respect transformed on the instant,
and becomes as unseeRly and repulsive in contro-
versy as he is refined and fascinating in the polished
circles of his neighbors and intimate companions.
He to pretend to def + patriotism or to talk about
patriot If to disagree with his native State in
all her most cherished schemes Of Improvement
constitutes patriot, then is the "SOuthern Pa
triot" lover Of his country! If to be at variance
with his immediate fellow citizens in all their notions
Of Constitutional Government, is calculated to in
spire confidence in one who is bidding for the pub
lie regard then is the GPatriot" fit depository Of
our trusts, and suitable representative Of the in
terests Of our peopel If men are most easily and
willingly taught by one who scorns their understand
ngs laughs at their predictions, and treats their
tenderest sensibilities with contempt, then is the
Patriot" q proper instructor of the youth, the
manhood, and the genias Of South Carolina! II q
man who habitually derides his own section Of the
Union, holds it up to fidicue whilst injuriously
contrasting it with another hostile section, and in
every way appears to depreciate his own domici,
can havea right appreciation Of patriotism and true
loyalty to ones country, then is the Patriot able
to apprehend the duties which devove upon the
subjects of free government. If the man who
processes on all occasions 10 love the enemies Of his
State, who vndicates them BY the greatest efforts
of his intellect and at the game time applies deroga
tory epithets to the land of his fathers, and
terms of detraction to the associates and friends Of
his youth and meridian prime, can. catch or feel q
single spark of that noble generous fire that anima
ted the Spartan to offer himself up for Greece, that
induced the Athenans to betake themselves to their
ships, and abandon their houses and wealth to the
flaming brands Of their enemies, and that sustained
our revolutionary fathers, when cold, and naked
and perishing, they struggled seven dreadful but
glorious years for the redemption and salvation Of
American liberty, then Is the +" Patriot" the model
Of heroic virtue, and all love and devotion to the
land that nurtured hsih(aney, that has joyed in his
growing fame; and that now claims his lvcliest
sympathy, his full allegiance, and the homage of a
dutiful honest heart. -
In the issue Of the Patrior Of the 2sth June,
under the caption of "!Ihe Forgeries," is one Of
the most unprovoked, !tand one would almost be
justified in saying, did seanot prize the character
and bodness Of the author, ln,pudenD attacks upon
large and respectable portion of the inhabitants Of
South Carolina that was ever written by the hand,
or uttered by the lips of the most vndctive spirit.
Have the Co-operationists or Unionsts not gained
the victory? Who insults a fallen foe, but pre-
cipitae il-natured man, q barbarian or savage or
one destitute Of courage, quality no person denies
to the Editor of the Patriot?" 1t is excusable,
perhaps, in heated controversy, or it is at least
tolerable, from the fraly Of our species, to apply
harsh and nndeserved epithets to our opponents
but when the dispute ends a .high-toned victor
ceases his opposition cal ms his preturbed temper
and actually endeavors to soothe the man who was
but Yesterday his active and determined antagonist
have seen the bravest and best soldiers on earth,
after desperate conflict, offering bread and water
to their wounded enemies, whilst those who skuked
from the fight, were impacable BY nature, delight
edto increase their tormert, and make their anguish
and misery more intolerable than it had already
been rendered by the fortune Of war.
Every one acquainted with the strife between tue
S, cessoniss and their adyersares supposed it to be
terminated, and articles peace ratified by the con-
testants. One side was wiling to believe, or at any
rate took it for granted that the other was honest
as well as patriotic:
Why mention'the late forgeries as the acts of q
distinguished secessionist ?" Why not have said
that they were the deeds likewise of jealous metho-
dist exhorter? The gentleman alluded to, was not
very important member Of the estate Rights party
Even if he had been, that party should not be
blamed for his transgressons OF the twelve chosen
followers of Christ, one was Devil. have known
more than one Co-operationist tried for stealing,
but that did rot lessen the great body Of Unonists
in my esteem, or in tho good opinion OF any well
regulated mind.
The Patriot" too, has felt moved to repeat the
stale stuff about patriotism, and the hackned charge
that professcd patriots and revoutonists are oten
or generally, men bankrupt in character and for
tune. Such allegations nave been made by the un'
resisting and by tories against the true men who
would revolt from tyranny, and vindicate the free
dom Of man, ever since the beginning Of govern
ment.
1t is not the fact that the poor are less patriotic
than the rich, or in the more erude phrase Of the
j." Patriot" than those who hold the stakes"
1t is true though that the most resolufe defenders
of their country, at every PERIOD have as frequently
been found among the poor as the rich. There may
be something in the argument Of the "Patriot"
which would greatly initiate against his own posi-
ton-that the rich and prosperous are indsposcd to
risk their property to the hazards Of war, and hence
they hug despotsm to their bosoms-apd swallow
it down rs q sweet morsel.
The views though, of this great man Of the noun
tains, Il will not retort upon him, and soy the old
! -, 10 h., al. II NJ