The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-05-16
MISCELLANY.
South Carolina and the Union

interestedness of, South Carolnians, Th.
character and condition of her people af
fords ample proof that Southern institution,
do not operate injuriously on the plvsica
comfort, the morals orintellpence of society
With so much that is valuable and desiratI,
to preserve, we do not wonder that she
is highly conservative in feeling, probabl,
more SO than any State in the Union. w,
concur with her that it would be treasonable
and profane to initiate, at the South, the
restless spirit of change and innovation ex
hibited by the new dominant party at III,
North. But we widely differ with her as
to the best means OF stemining this incom
ing tide of innovation. Political disunior
would not bring about intellectual disunion
Public opinion is fabricated in Wester,
Europe, for that is the centre of though,
and fashion for Christendom. Thence il
finds its way through our North to the
South. The current Of thought, thus setting
i'll upon us. will be sure to subvcrt our insti,
tutions, unless we can check its advances
| hy originating a counter-current ut the
South. There will be no long truce, .ur
| drawn battle, between institutions so oppo.
site in their morals, their tendencies and
their influences, as ours, and those of West.
ern Europe and the North. We are. essen.
italy one people, having similar wants, re.
ligion, thoughts and interests, and controlled
by one public opinion, however different
our existing political institutions.
Social forms so widely differing as those
Of domestic slavery. and (attempted) uni.
versal liberty, cannot long co.exist in the
Great Republic Of Christcndom. They can.
not be equally adapted to tile wants and
interests Of society. The one form or the
other must be very wrong, veryill suited, to
promote the quiet, the peace. the happiness,
the moral ty. the rligion and general we'll
being of the community. Disunion will not
allay excitement and investigation much
less bcget lasting peace. The war between
the two systems RACES every where and
will continue to rage till the one conouers
and the other is exterminated. If with dis.
| union we could have "the all and end all
there" the inducements would but inspire
our European. anl American adversaries
with additional zeal, and make them turn
y deafer ear to the thousand arguments and
facts Which we can adduce to show that the
evils Of our system are less than those of
| theirs.
The time is cninently propitious for nd
ducing those facts and arguments, and the
South is ";,bout it." Our adversaries dc.
light in sociological discussions for they
are bold aud rash cxperimentors, sanguine
optimists and perfectionists, who admit that
they have not yet found the right form OF
society, and are. eager to listen TO. the sng.
gestions Of all who propose to show new
road to Utopia Let us take the census oi
crime and poverty and Of food, of the
Sonrh and of the North and of Western
Europe in one hand, and i'm tbesotller the
history Of the f,mincs, the riots, the revo.
lutlons, agrnrianisIns, and the universal an.
archical upheaving of free society. Let US
con- are the evils Of the1two forms of 40.
ciety as exhibited in universal history. LIE,
us weigh the authorities derived from the
usage of mankind in favor Of, the one or the
other; and finally, let us+appeal TO the BIZ
hle in our defence Wjthinzstlie last two
years only has the Southern press began to
adopt this mode Of dealing with the sub
lect. 1t has thrown downthe gnage TO the
North. and the sNorth4sSill mot take it up
The North still continues to dsnonnce slave
~, but will not meet The issue, Ss.sNWl,ich
form of society has been sattended will
most Of good and least Of evil 9''s Hss.:s
South Carolina, we think, should take
Ihigher grounds. Stayinlt the Union, and
endeayorto control its policy.s;;s,Fhe discus
sion Of tile relative merits 81 the opposing
systems, will beget a fair and HONORABLE riv
airy that may lead to much sgopl We dc
4 not hope nor wish. 10 see slavery like o,ir,