Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-12-21
The Position OF South Carolina.

It's not difficult to deal seriously win lnc
fimsy prctcxt OF those who presume to de-
nouncc, as if CT cathedra, the course oil Sou'n
Carolina
That the State has chosen to act promptly
and effcc.ualy for herself, and without consult
ta;ion or conference with other States, is easily
exclaimed and instead OF vituperatire censure,
is entitled to the highest eulngy and waf'neSt
gratitude frcm every true patriot. First, South
Carolina did, not twelve months since, request
an Interstate conference, and received, even at
tho hands of the Legislature OF Virginia, The
nortiryirg rcpulsc Of refusal, which, however
cour,eously wordcd, could be Interpreted into
nothing less than IN assurance that even IN tic
mids. Of common suffering and common dam
yer, the authorities Of Virginia deemed even
friendly conference with South Carolina,
thing to be not only avoided, but summarIiy
rejected. In o word, South Carolina, tender.
ing an act Of close alliance and generous syn-
uaihy, WAS repealed with IN unmiS,akable ex-
ur.ssion Of distrust We say it in no phariSal-
cal spirit;but in the humility ol sincere thankul.
ness, we rejoice that no baue for this error
clu be laiI at our door. We can sincerely add,
that we believe the step was taken in contra
yentiou oc the popular will of Virginia.
There is We. another and still weghticr rca-
son for South Cardinals omission tC consult
and confer with other Southern States, before
,uking the fnal step Of effectual resistance. 1t
is. that the time for consultation and deli6era-
tion has passed, and the time FIR action has
! arrired. We have not time to secure cooper.
alton in counsel and in action among fifteen
| States before proceeding to effective measures
Of resistance Every months delay weakcns
uS, hv the continued Prostration of commerce
and industry. And an attempt to secure be-
! (orvhand the combined action OF the South,
would only result in placing the true men Of
the South at the mercy Of MI the Ubsta-
ccs, distractions, impedlments, delays and
disadvantages which host Of tri0ers and
trinmcr., and an additional multitude Of timid
or ,rcacherons ".leliberatirts" would be only
100 sure 70 throw in the way.
The time for clFtctual action has arrived and
nj the right time, South Carolina has prompt,
" volunteered 10 lead in action. |! is an act
vr which every one of her sons may well Le
proud Her whole history shows no brighter
or more glorious page. Indeed, it is question.
able whether the history of the world can pro.
duce another snch example, Of the whole pco
pie Of Sovereign State springing so promptly
and unanimously 70 the yindicat!on Of her in
suited dignity.
At one bound, this gallant little State has
reached position pre- eminent TO thar Of all
her sister States II is proud position, and
heavy with the responsibility Of her own dcs-
tny and that Of the whole confcderacy. May
the God Of truth and patriotic duty strengthen
her to sustain the burden she has assumed
4 raltering OF 4 backward step on the part OF
South Carolina, at this time, would work ter,
rible evils TO thc South and to the Union.
As to hcr firm Of ac!ion-any man OF com
mon sense and ordinary powers OF observation
could have OWNED at once that when South
Carolina should attempt ultimate resistance to
Northern aggression, she would resort 10 an
act Of secession. II is the mode Of resistance
to which her people haze been educated to look
for many years Aud il is the most Gclcrrntal
action which she could have adopted towards
her sister States CT tic South. Any other
mode Of active o, efficient resistance, on hel
part, would at once have involved every South
ern State in immediate revolution. As it is,
she has left them as free MS she could leave
them. to ''dchibtrote" and finally to take sides
with her, Or against her, or to stand neutral, il
they should choose.
The paltry prctcncc that her mode OF ac'on
has been dictated by cowardly desire to avoid
the dangers Of armed Collision, TO which other
Southern States may be exposed in the vindi
cation Of their ishts in the Union, is too tInsy
to lnsrit serious consideration. The very MEL
who dare TO nsinuatc such charge against
the Lrayc people Of sovereign State, must
know, that Whenever Virginia shall cross swords
with Northern enemy in defence Of her ri ghts
in the Union, or out Of the Union, the blood
and treasure Of South Carolina will bc as freely
offered for our assistance, as though We had
never rcpeiied her overturcs, or slightcd her
example.