The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1860-10-18
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FRIENDS AND FELLow-CITIZgSs


FRIENDS AND FELLow-CITIzESs:
Tappear before you, in compliance with your re-
quest, yesterday evening. 1 do so from my respect
for you and not in any spirit of opposition to my
honorable friend, Col. Ashmore, whom 1 have as
sisted to honor and shall continue to honor. He
has been gallant and true, true to you, true to the
South and true to the Republic. can differ with
him in politics. and point out his errors and he
may do the same towards myself, without any di-
minution of friendship or good feeling.
This compliment, to know my political views, is
wholly unmerited on my part. My life has been
very humble one, and my opinions will probably
influence no one. Unfortunately 1 have been in
the minority all my life, and yet | have had the
qualification of seeing the State of South Carolina
come round and occupy the very position pointed
cut by myself and urged on her adoption. This
was the case in our notification excitement.
entreated the State to forbcar and have patience,
not to throw herself in hostility to the Federal
Goyernment, and the Tariff would be modified But
4 and my principles we're rcpudiated. An extra
eession5of the Legislature called, n convention
Of the sovereignty of the State was ordered The
2yllDslras nulliticd, army organized, ammunl-
tions of war purchased, and aitcr.all nothing was
done. The State quietly submitted.
Again, in 1851, during our secession excitement
opposed the action Of the State and predicted
that it must end in folly and nothing else. The
terms of traitor and submissionist we're about the
uildest used to characterize my course. But after
conyening again her sovereignty, South Caroline
determined to let the Union go on and live under
it! thought then, that this terrible second les
son would teach the fre-eaters wisdom, and they,
would not again attempt TO lead off in disunion
movement, in movement in which no single State
would countenance or tolerate. But was mista-
ken. 1t seems that some people never can learn
wisdom by. experience. We are now on the eve OF
"a another great political storm
Once more, fellow-citizens, / find myself IN
verylean minority, opposed to the counsel and &C
ton of my friends and my State. But, felloW-et-
izens minorities have no terror for me- and maori-
ties no attraction, when opposed to the interests
and welfare of my native State. Philip 7. Bar
banr. n distinguished statesman of Virginia, once
said. that his brother James Barbour, still more
distinguished in the Old Dominion, had the faculty
Of snuing political majority far in the distance,
and trimming his sails so as to catch the breeze and
float on it to distinction and power. l have no
such talent, my friends, and care not to have 1t
is enough for me to follow the dictates of my own
Judgment and have the approval of my own con-
sciencs--Ihe applause of the multitude would be
a Door compensation f0F 9 snerihce Office
distinction and power gained at the sacFihee- Of
one,s country is dishonorable and ignoIninous. s
am, fellow-citizens, still Union man, and will
c,;rc TO the Union of these States rs long as there
ia hone of redress in the Union. The character of
washington and his political sentiments made
deep impression on my early manhood prefer
to follow him and his teachings to that of any other
American statesman. And do not feel that am
wrong in uttering the noble and patriotic sentl-
nents of this illustrious man, who stands first IN
war, first in peace, and first in the hearts OF his
.ountrvmen. I shall never be ashamed to own the
sentiments of his Farewell Address.
T have said that South Carolina is on the eve OF
another great political excitement 1t is truc' and
IT. isas unfortunate as it is true. After our fnii
share Of strife and turmoil, shall see our noble
little State doing precisely as she has done on two
casions-followed by no other Southern
her steps and quietly occupy her
poer Of this great and glorious
Ny friends, Colonel Orr
ell you differently. Time
in his prediction. They