Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-12-21
Letter from south Carolina.


Mr.. S. NJ. Yosr-DEAR SIR: Entirely
contrary to my expectations and wishes,
when left Virginia, do l find myself yet
detained at this, aoao, most interesting point,
in the South. | shall yet have to remain
several days. / have not been an uninter-
ested spectator of all that has transpired a.
round me. Events crowd each other here
with rapidity proportional to the excited
temper and spirit of the actors While they
seem to be calm and deliberate, yet there
is, at the same time, disposition to hasten
forward the great act, to which all hearts
and minds are unswervingly bent-the se>
cession of their State. have witnessed the
state of feeling that characterized the mind
of the people before the election of delegates
to the Convention-was present at that cleo
ton, and have been an almost daily obser-
yer of the proceedings of the Legislature,
and will be present at the converting of that
Convention, upon whose deliberations hang
not only the destiny of this State alone,
(would to Heaven its effects could be boun-
ded by the confines of South Carolina but
of this Union of States, and of civil liberty,
it may be, in the world. That the men,
bers who will compose that deliberative body
will be able to elevate their views to the
high and dignifed position they will occu
py, in considering these naomentous ques-
tions, | do not for one moment admit
Propelled as S. Carolina has been, by an
excited and almost frenzed public opinion
towards secession; made to believe, as her
people have been, by their political leaders
and editors, that 1t is the panacea for all
their evils, social agricultural and political,
they will not listen for one moment to any
influence that they anticipate will postpone
this result. If you scan closely the papers
of the State, you will find they only contain
all that will serve to keep up the excite
ment of the public mind. and studiously,
persistently exclude everything that will
tend to open the peoples eyes to the dan
gers before them. or create hesitation as to
the necessity for severing their connection
with the General Government So impa-
tent are they of dissent from their o.
pinions, that in conversation their polite
ness is put to the test, in having to listen
to opposite views. Yet I cannot but be-
lieve, sometimes, see some faltering.
some hesitation, some willingness that some
thing wonld turn up that would be good
protect to postpone the decisive step II
may be that the aoish is the father of the
thought with me, but in the last few days
perhaps since the election of delegates to
the Convention-I have not heard SO much
Impotence expressed in conversation about
getting out of the Union, and fears that the
Convention would not at once pass the ordi.
nance of Secession. The several newspa-
pers, conceit, have moderated their tone.
But am free to say, that | most ardently
| hope the time has noao come when the South
will demand an eternal cessation of this sla-
very agitation, and if the Southern States
will agree on this, and adhere to it, my be-
lief is, the North will concede to put it in
such tangible practical form, as to be equiv
alent to its final abandonment. This pre-
sent moment solemnly believe is the van
tage ground-which if the combined South
will not use to her neutrality-suspicious. must
of necessity be dissolution of the Union
May the counsels of our best men be drec-
ted to this end. My beliefs Virginia ought
to call Convention. as the most easy mode,
as we'll as influential in giving expression to
her views.
approved of your spicy comment on
Gov. Gist's message-and will give him
the article for place in lis scrap book
which he is making up for the comments OF
the press North and South on his course
He read me several few days since equal
| ly caustic and some very amusing-all of
which he enjoys. He is an amiable and well
educated gentleman-of moderate capacity
The Legislature has up to this, Wednesday
been trying to elect his successor. The con-
test has been principally between Col. Pick
ems, late minister to Russia. aud Mr.. Je hn-
son, member of the Legislature from one OF
the parishes near Charleston There will
be caucus to mig ht, and it is not impro-
bable some new man may be taken up. AL
parties concede the necessity of selecting ;
man of talents. of craftsmanship and nerve
in the present crisis | should have said il
connection with your article on Gov. Gist'
message, that so far as | heard an expires
sion of sentiment here, it was adverse to hi
suggestions as regarded Virginia as both in
opportune and discourteous.
The honor of seat in either branch Of
the Legislature Of this State, is sometimes
attended with much personal labor in tn,
canvass, as we'll as expense. Candidates
in most, if not all the districts, are expected
to see all the voters, and the purchase O
votes is carried to shameful extent. A
member of one branch of this Legislature
paid nearly three thousand dollars for hon.
ors. And in other elections, for minor Of
fees, the same unworthy means ars used
1t is true of the population of this
State, that a considerable class of the poor
inhabiting what are called the "sand hills, .
are the most abject, wretched and ignoran,
you could imagine. / do not know class
anywhere in Virginia to compare them to
The population of the Ragged Mountains,
above Charlottesville, would feel outraged to
have the comparison instituted between
them. Why, Sir, to see as have done a
half dozen specimens of this people in the
streets of this beautiful town. with shack
ling cart between the shafts of which poor
bit of steer is harnessed with corn shuck
collar, and rope harness, filed with small
load of Lght-uood that strong man should
almost carry. and it may be bushel or two
of peanuts with a wild duck and squirrel
or two distributed among the followers, and
all having an interest in the contents of the