Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-02-02
THE HoMEsPUN MOVEMENT.

We are gratifed to perceive that the senti.
ment of independence in dress is gaining ground
in the Southern States. The costly fabrics of
silk and broad cloth are being laid aside, with
patriotic magnanimity and self-sacri6ce, for the
more homely adorning fkerseys and linsey wool
ssys. Virginia snd Virginia ladies are not
lone in this timely and admirable movement
We learn from the Columbia Carolinian that the
students of the South Carolina College, in pa
triotc meeting, on Friday last, ''resolved to pro-
cure uniform suit of clothing, from the kerseys
made at the Columbia Mills of JAS. W. GIBBEs
& Co. : and that orders from distance are
abundant.
When young men at College, who are generally
supposed to be wealthy and fond of their fine
clothes, thus gallantly step forward and, for the
welfare and independence Of their country, join
the matrons and maidens of sister State in
casting off the yoke of fashionable tyranny, we
are reminded of those who, to save Rome, gave
away their jewels. Extravaganza in dress never
pays; and at no time less than now. 1t has all
along our history been fattening that system Of
Tariff fleeing of which the South has ever been
complaining. We have TINS presented to the
world the remarkable aspect Of people grum-
bling about thing which they might remedy by
a little self-sacrifce and homemade indepen.
dence.
The sentiment which BURNS once advanced to
distinguished man, who expressed his surprise
that BURNS should recognize an honest peasant
in humble garb IL look at the man and not his
Jrogans'-is the sentiment which should inspire
a free, Republican people. No man is the better
for being wrapped in purple and fine linen and
fariug sumptuously every day. No man is the
worse for having on homespun coat and panta-
looms. Dress is not Distinguishing mark Of
greatness or nobleness. Broalcloth does not pro-
duce brains in sappy head. Velvet does not
inspire virtue in vain heart. Cassimeres, moth
eaten though costly, cannot erect cast of true
gentility, which always proceeds from within
that of the lilies of the field, which the gold of
monarchs cannot buy. Fine dressing is not o
mark Of wealth even; as the poorest fops and
firts are often found in the gaudest attire, and
:he wealthy are as often clothed in comparative
| ly cheap material
Why not then, we ask, lay aside the expensive
fnery, which is helping to manufacture rifles,
pistols, pixies and swords to draw our own blood !;
or which, at the very least, is augmenting the
power of those who are hostile to us; and en-.
courage home manufactures and Southern inde-
pendence ? We will ask this question on even
broader principles. Suppose there were no dis
tlrbances between US and the North-no Protec.
tive Tariff, no Free-soilism, no Black or Brown
Republicanism, defiling the glorious pages of our
history-what should we do? Should we annu-
ally take millions of dollars from the great man
ufacturing, mercantile, mechanical and agricul-
tural interests of our country, and place them
on our backs for the poor privilege of strutting
our brief hour on the stage Of life in the mos,
costly and superfuous attire? True patriotism
inspires nobler use of wealth. 1t developes
resources, improves morals, educates intellect
1t throws its broad, sinewy arms around the couu
try, and lifts it with giants strenth, to indie
pendence first, then to enterprise and distinction
If extravaganza in mere superficial show is
vice any where, it is douhly so in popular gov
ernmeut where the people arc supposed to bt
free and equal aud the real rulers. If they yicl(
; passively to the tyranny of dress, they are no
wholly free. If they encour: re it, by regarding
a man for his Jroyans, they encourage despotism
: True freedom consists in letting man do as h
pleases, where thtre are 10 hiuding obligation
in me way. Hence he spoke well, who said lib
ersy and virtue mustgo together; for he must b
} n ylrtuous man who will think none the less Q
!, YOU for not conforming to his prejudices an
prepossessions And the proper way to resis
r those ,tealthy inroads which despoti9m is eve
5 making into free and popular governments, is
d crush out those insdious customs which make
b. man or woman respectable for what is extrinsi