Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-10-06
POLL U dG.Al.
BY REQU EST.
From the Darlington Sou,hcrncr
Letter from Hon. ]. 2. Zimmerman

From the Darlington Southcrncr.
Letter from Hon J. P. Zimmerman
Mr. Editor: | was astonishcd the other day
on opening the Darlington alag" to sec it
announced in way to attract notice that
endorse the letter of Major Perry, the Editor,
promising, in order to show the cnormity of
the sin, and to hold me up to public rcproba-
ton to publish the letter next week. What
MIR. Riggs motive may be, in thus departing
from the cou,tcscs of life, in dragging man
into public notice, who is seeking retirement
aud who cannot be regarded in any other light
than rs private individual | cannot pretend
to say. 1t must be to bring himself into no
toriety, as Jealous and fearless defender of
Southern rights or it may be. to show more
fully that he has imbbed the spirit by which
most of the papers of the State arc at the
present time actuatcd.
Intolerance has ever been poor argument
az WIS found to be the case in 1851, when
those who opposed the ruinous policy of Sc
ceSson, were branded with every cpthct of
abuse and vitupcration.
Whatever may have been his motive every
body will, 1T seems to me, at once perceive the
dIscourtcSy exhibited, and repudntc the at
tempt to bride aud suppress the full and free
expression OF private opinion, by any man,
am not, and do not intend to be cand
date for public favor, aud no man, has n right
to arragn me for my private sentiments. pr.
vatcly expressed His ostcntatious offer of
his columns to explain my position does not
palliatc or soften the injustice; and | shall
therefore use another medium profuring un.
der the circumstances, a paper, whose Editor
1t he has always been hostile to me, (I hope
politically only) has the reputation of being
generous opponent
might, very properly decline to notice
Mr. Rugg at all, for the reason, that being Il
private man, my opinions can have bnt little
weight with the people. But in as much as
l. have never concealed my opinions on any
subject of interest, and Gf have any nfu-
ence it is because have never been afraid to
take my position and defend it,) submit a
ii" brief remarks In reply to the chargcs pre-
fcrred. In doing so shall speak fearcssly
and independently, for have nothing to ask
Of my friends, and nothing to fear from my
enemies.
In reference to Major Perry, to endorse
whose opinions, is in the estimation of some
to exhibit the grosscst dcfulcation from poit,
ical honesty, [ must be permitted to remark,
that have never seen a man with whom
have been as slightly intimate, for whom
have higher respect. Intelligent, patriotic.
independent and incorruptble, have regard
ell him as the very mpcrsonnton of the man
without fear and without rcproach. No man
Qn the language of the late Chancellor Dar.
gan in reference to Major Perry,) has less Of
the character of the dcmagogue. If in ta-
king his political position, he has been gov
erncd by interested motives, he has always
been singularly unfortunate, in choosing, what
appeared to be at the time, the unpopular
side
have not Major Pcrry's letter before me,
so that am indebted to an imperfect memo,
Ty, for the points on which shall remark
His first opinion il, that the election of Lin.
eoln will not be II sufficient cause for dissoIu-
Eion of the Union, concur with him in that
aud expressed myself to this effect some ycurs
ago TO a friend, whose name forbenr to men
tion. If that election is made according to
the provisions of the constitution, fairly, and
honestly by the electoral colleges, or the
House OF Representatives in case of failure
by the former, it will not justify us in the
eyes of the world, to resort to disunion The
people to whom the grave proposition of dis
union is submitted will naturally ask what
has Lincoln done, not what are his opinions
They Will not suppose, that mere anticipated
e'ii' ~ suincIcht, Dut VIII inquire Tor the ac-
tual mischief that has been done
If mere apprehension of farther injustice
and aggression is regarded as enough, why not
dissolve now! even though Democratic
President, and that BY our own vote to aid in
his election, holds the sceptre. From the
present position OF parties, VIC look for fur
thcr enroachments. If this is the principle
by which wo are to be governed why strive to
elect Breckenridge and Lane Their cleo
tion will form but feeble and imperfect break
water, to the rushing OVERLOOKING tide of ia
naticism. 1t is as certain as the san Shines
that the political influence of the South, is
gone. " The s7eptre has departed from Ju-
dah, and who believes that he can ever grasp
it again !>who looks for another slave State