Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1860-12-21
VOLUME VIII.---N0. 81.
Letter from Judge Longstreet.

Letter from Judge Longstreet.
Judge sLongstreet, in tho following letter
to the editors Of the Richmond Enquirer,
tries to enlighten the people Of that State
rs to the true position of South Carolina
just a: this joncsure Of publie affairs:
co+pup,A, 8. G., Dec. o, 1850.
GESrLEMEN:. Allow me n small space
in your paper to disabuse the minds OF
Yirginians OF very false impression which
they have Of the secession movement in
his State. Almost all your distinguished
correspondents speak of it as thing got
ten up by politicians, end as being entirely
under their control. Never was there q
greater mistake. II is the result of one
universal ou,burst Of Indignation on the
part Of tue people at Lincolp's election.
ore. spontaneous and almost unanimous
resolve, from tho mountaine to the sea-
board, that they mover should come, under
Black Republican rule. sirs, you never
saw anything like it the World never saw
anything like it.
You might as well attempt to control q
tornado, as to attempt 10 stop them from
secession. They drive politicians before.
them like sheep. They do not wait for
leaders to appoint meetings, with intent te
address them. They gather in ,multitudes;
find opt where, q speaker is, visit him, and:
compel bim to speak : and they have not
found one yet bold enough te depoplce
secession separate secession-before them.
Aud yet there is not tumult,. snye the
tumult Of applause; no riotous conduct,
no strife, no heart burning nay,quite The
reverse. tits all smiles, Joy aud good fell
lowship. Their meetings ARE generally at
night; sin the day, every smanEia quietly at
his bgainess, and everything Is going
smoothly on. Flags in hand flags across
the streets, flags at printing Offices, stores,
shops, booths, on o.ppibuses-- in every di
rection. Now, gentlemen, why your peo-
pie talk Of postponements, consultations.
corporation, delberation, &C., to South;
Carolinal WHY do they speak Of her II
though they thought she was exPerimeAts
ing with the other States, or trying tosJSfSa
them to a. bitter alternative. WheIfasbs
took her staud do not believe she, expeets
d the cooperation Of any ssother2 staba., ,sI
am sure she looked for no such thing Ih,
Virginia. In 1888 she sought cooperhIlon
With Georgia, and shsiwas very ceurtsepsly
dismissed. In. 1850 she sopglts, GO Opera
! ton at Nashville, with all the. other S5hth-
ern States. Size found no sncourageinsat
there. In 1860 she offered co;opelatidH@
Virginia, andishe was deicately dismi#s&
What ground Of hope Shad she: that slaRs
other State in the Union would make SosE
mon cause with erinthis N mopsmenta @
truth ofthematter,is that the impalss SAfSh
moves her, moves seveu.stentls Of |tss
people Of the South. Put.np your strd5
est men anywheresin Virginia, befoHa
large multitude of1hef upaspifing ;peoAIF;
letthem propose temporizihgs resolatisA
and let the most unpopular man, JIM tlies
4 ssnbly offer:a substitute resolution, feEiEaE
mediate secession, and. mark the efssEhs
tho two upon the people. Yoas@ill. llffs
every sign pfs fayofitism tosthe. last ,andiks
three instances out fse'tley aRiIIsadEM
the1ast with acclamation. Theghols sop@
try is stirred. from. Maryland 10 Tel
Why is ,thisa Il is because every ,bds
knows what; Black .Reppblioanisln an