The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-02-04
VOLUME ,6---N0. 40.
From, the Advertiser.
GENERAL MCGOWAN BEFORE THE
PALMETTO ASSOCIATION.


GENERAL MCGOWAN BEFORE THE
PALMETTO ASSOCIATION.
Mr.. ED1roR:-I am very glad to see
that Mr.. Ramsay, at the Post Office, has for
sale yet, a few copies of the admirable
speech of Gen. MCGOWAN before the Pal,
tnetto Association.
This production of Mr.. McGowau's, does
rs much credit to his genius and taste, as
anything which has proceeded from him
1t is exceedingly difficult, on such theme,
to meet the demands of vulgar expectation,
and still conform to the rules of taste and
elegant composition. So much blood is
required to flow, so much noise Of drum,
trumpet and culverin is expected to roar,
and 20 many appalling pictures of limbIess
human bodies, Of mangled charges tram
pling over the wounded and dying men,
aud of cities desolated by fire and sword,
with their women violated, their husbands
weltering in gore, and their children con-
sumed in the smouldering dwellings that
sheltered their helpless infancy, are supposed
to move in the grand panorama of every
speech that is made on the Mexican war,
that almost every orator who has gratfied
the public demand, on that subject, has
most sigual1y offended the judgment, and
wounded the nicer susceptiblities Of the
few temperate and wise, who listen to such
things.
The address is very unpretending-de-
signed only to give slight sketch of what
was suffered and done by the Palmettos
Regiment, and to claim for that gallant
corps reasonable share of credit and
proper place in history. The style is easy,
pespicuous, graceful, and rather classic.
The reader will readily conceive, whilst pc
rusing its pages, that the writer could accom-
plish even greater things-because there
seems to be manifest in it SO great lack of
effort. That is one of its chief beauties, and
complete history Of the regiment, after
the same manner, and finish, would, indeed.
be incompatible.
But own, that the General has been
little too uuambitious. His effort would
have bad longer life, if he had made two
or three strong points, and to their elucida-
ton, development, or establishment direct
ed the whole artillery of his thought, the
images and drapery of his delightful fancy,
and the force and eloquencc of his convinc-
ing logic.
The right government of volunteers, their
aptitude for foreign service and their suffer-
ings in Mexico, would each have presented a
field for remark and discussion, wide enough
to have filled the hour. The causes of the
peculiar bearing, prowess and heroism of
the South Carolina volunteers, would alone,
have furnished argument for the longest
oration. And the comparative merits Of
the Northern and Southern volunteers,
though rather an invidious, would yet have
afforded most highly interesting topic, the
discussion of which, would have been just-
fed by the circumstances surrounding US,
and by the difficulties, harrassmeuts, and
dangers, that beset and imperl the South.
These remarks am sure, are not made
by way of objection. The speaker touched
on nearly all the matters mentioned. The
human mind is hard to satisfy; and upon
tasting so much that is good, it longs to
cat and drink, until the appetite, so pro-
voked, shall be appeased by complete sur
felt.
The history afforded US Of the career of
the regiment, and all the reflections thereon,
appear to be truthful and just, and convey
ed in language of great simplicity and ap-
Epropriateuess. Only, I think there is
a little inaccurscy in the account of Santa
Anpas attempt upon Qutman's Brigade
between El Pinal and Amazoque. had
the pleasure Of reading the Mexican Gen
eEa|'s own despatch to his own Government,
relative to the occurrence; and have con-
yersed freely on the subject with the officer
who commanded the advanced guard of the
Palmetto Regiment on the day Of the mod.
-tated attack. 1t was perhaps no accident,
that Gen. Worth awaited the arrival Of Gen.
Quitman, and that the latter hastened his
march on the thirteenth Of May, 1s47.
General MCGOWAN, on reflection. will recol-
lect that during the night Of the 12lh May,
1 whilst the New Workers and South Caro-.
liniaps lay near the pass Of El Pinal, after
Tattoo had long been beat, after the excite
-,nent consequent upon the accident in the
quarters Of the New York Regiment, by
which one member Of that command shot
another, had entirely snbaided. and after
slsep hsd .spyeloped tbc whole camp in pro.
found repose, that tbs Sentinel at post, No.
T9,,nssrsbs tert Of Gapt: Quartermaster Mo.
~Gosany hailed threa times, some unknown
ihtspder, Who had galloped up to The lines
a.t fp!l speed. and was only arrested By the
,daithfnl soldier Of. the quarl awake, TO his