Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-12-19
ALARM In SOUTH CAROLINA.

The condition of things throughout the whole
South, at this juncture, is such that the peo.
pie of that section are to be pitied. They are
standing upon mine which may be fired at
any moment, and they know and feel their
danger. The little volcanic State of South
Carolina, though hurrying on secession, is not
without its alarms and apprehensions, as will
be seen by the following letter, which portrays
vividly, and accurately we doubt not, the real
condition of things in that State. A lady,
writing to her uncle in New York, says the
family are preparing to come North, and goes
on to show the difference between the poetry
and the reality of secession. Look upon the
picture -
ssYou may imagine, dear uncle, our situation,
but you never can realize it in its fullness.
Already We tremble in our own homes in an
ticipation and expectancy of what is liable to
burst forth at any moment, a negro insurrecfion.
Could you see the care and precaution display
ed here by the proprietors of the negroes, not
only planters, but others. You would not, for a
moment, ,envy US our possessions. Not night
passes that We do not securely lock our field
servants in their quarters but our most loved
and valued house servants, who in ordinary
times we trust to any extent, are watched and
guarded against with all the scrutiny and care
that we possess. Our planters and owners of
slave property do not allow their servants to
have any intercourse with each other, and the
where they belong. We are all obliged to
increase our force of overseers to prevent too
free intercourse even among our own servants.
The negroes feel and notice these new re-
straints, and naturally ask ssWhy is this 7''
But it is unnecessary for them to ask the ques-
tion, for they all comprehend the cause as we'll
as we who own them. They have already
learned enough to give them an idea of what
is going on in the State and Nation, and this
knowledge they have not gained from Aboli-
tionlsts, as some suppose, but from the con-
versation of their owners indiscreetly held in
their presence. They have already heard of
Lincoln's election, and have heard also that he
is for giving them their liberty, and you may
imagine the result. You have heard that our
servants all love their masters, and their mas
ters's families, and would lay down their lives
for them-that the colored race in the South
prefer slavery to freedom-that they would
not be tree if the could, e., &c. That is but
the poetry of the case, the reality consists in
sleeping upon our arms at nlght-in double
bclting and barring our doors-in establishing
and maintaining an efficient patrol force-in
buying watch dogs, and in taking turns in
watching our sleeping children, to guard them
and ourselves from the vengeance OF these
same Glowing servants''-a vengeance which,
though now smouldering, is liable to burst
out at any moment, to overwhelm the State in
spite of the Palmetto flags or State precau-
tions. You at the North are not the only ones
who are suffering financially by this new pam
ic. The planters among us are really suffer-
ing from the depreciation in their property.
Already negroes are not worth half price. No
one dares to buy a servant, fearing lest he, in
doing so, should be introducing upon his plan
tation one tinctured with the idea of freedom.
Now, one word as to the military force of the
State, to protect Us against an insurrection.
1 presume, with the exception of Charleston,
and perhaps few large towns, that the re-
mainder of the State is situated very much
as we are here; and will give you an idea of
how well prepared We are to resist mob. Up
on our place of ,about 1900 acres, we
have: Of whites, males-husband, two over