Newbern weekly progress., 1860-11-20
TFrom the Charleston Courier.
A NEW ERA

eft is time for action, not for words" was
our remark in relation to the memorable event
of the 9th of November, 1850, which deter.
mined the failure of the great American expe-
ment of Federal elfgovernment, and compelled
South Carolina to consider and arrange a new
| political relationship
The action has commenced, and some of its
significant beginnings are recorded in another
! place.
The time and the emergency demand calmness
| and GOODNESS, dignity and determination and
| such qualities we believe will be found equal to,
! or increasing with the calls of the day or the
| hour
alton of the Legislative Sovereignty of South
Carolina, as now represented in the Capitol we
had the indications of unanimity, honesty, e.
delitv and devotion to the State, which should
mark the demeanor of all officially charged
with our destiny and fortunes at this juncture.
Let the General Assembly 60 on in this way,
| firmly but not rashly, consulting principle, not
impulse or party feeling, and deferring to the
advice wish, or action of other States and Sow
ereignties, who share our position and duty, so
far as may be done without a.sacrifce ofessen-
tial and vital honor. -
They who have ignorantiy or wantonly
charged South Carolina with vain desire for
the place and post of leader in the great work
of reconstruction and re-adjustment of Federal
relations, have erred as widely from the truth
as those who derisively proclaimed that she
could and would undertake dare no resist
ance of any kind to any aggressions or under
any provocations. If the index Of the dial
plate of Providence points to South Carolina as
the leader selected by the natural course and
issue of events, she cannot and will not shirk
that position, be it one of honor, or only of in
evitable danger. 1t is enough for her that it is
one of duty.
When the canonading opened on the Pal
metto Fort, on Sullivan's Island on the 29th of
June, 1916, there was no time for South Caro-
lima to consult her sisters. She doubted them
not, and in discharging the duty obtruded on
her, she evinced her confidence in them, and
gave them some ground for confidence in her.
The fact that the Legislature of South Caro-
lima was in session at the occurrencence Of the
great crisis, to which other States looked for
ward as we'll as South Carolina, was not of her
design or appointment in this respect
If under these circumstances, with the for
tunate absence of the EN- Embarrassment and con-
ficts of parties which for the time have divided
the patriotic citizenship of sister States, in all
respects, peeresses of South Carolina-and
with General Assembly recently elected and
constituted, in full view of the great crisis-if,
under these circumstances, we say, South
Carolina should be constrained by duty and
position to take some step apparently out OF
the line of the South, her sister States need
not fear she will go beyond the reach of the
elbow
The first revolution which asserted and illus
trated in America the great principle of repre-
sentative selfgovernment, was enacted in South
Carolina in 1919.
In the second great revolution of 1766-76,
she bore her part, with what fidelity we need
not now relate; suffice it to say that while she
never sought isolation, or q post OF honor in
advance of her sisters, she never waited for
them, when that waiting would have d;shon-
ored herself and imperilled them.
We repeat, however, it is not a time for
words, but for resolute, deliberate, cool and de-
ter1uined action.