Indiana State sentinel., 1861-01-16
qolitltal.
Significant speech of GOV. Pickens.

Slsniffcanf speech Oh Gov. PfckenS.
Gov. PIcKENs was serenaded at Charleston on
Friday evening, and in response made the follow
ing speech:
Fellow citizens, return you nv sincere thanks
for the very kind and cordial manner in which
you are pleased TO receive me. Ii there is any
thing calculated to sustain me i'm the critical and
difficult situation which i called upon 10 oc
cupy, it is the consciousness that am supported
by brave and patriotic people. Applause.l Al
low me to say to YOU, fellow citizens, that the
convention of South Carolina has placed this State
in proud and glorious position before the world
Tremendous applause. That convention is now
assembled. and, under existing circumstances. il
would be obviously improper in me to make any
lengthy or protracted remarks. Cries of "Go
ON, 60 onp' But. fellow citizens, allow me TO
say to you that | hope and trust am in posses
sion of information that perhaps there may be no
appeal to force on the part ofthe Federal authori
ties. lCheers. But il am mistaken in this. at
least as far as am concerned, we are prepared to
meet any and every issue.
j hope and trust that under existing crcum-
stances there will be no imprudence-no rash APP
peals to counsels caught under the impulse of
false rumors; that we will prove to the world that
we are not only free and independent, but that we
are entitled to be so by our virtues and our char
acter. The convention, in all human probability,
will, in few days, send the ordinance to Wash
ington, which proclaims YOU to be, as you have a
right to be, free and independent Republic
Appiause.l And, until they present the claims
of South Carolina to your forts and your public
places, now in possession of the Federal govern.
ment, il is our duty TO sustain that convention by
showing that we are ready TO await free and fan
demand. Bat if, in the meantime. there Is any
attempt to increase the forces that now garrison
them, so far as | am concerned, il shall not be
done without an appeal to arms. Loud and pro
longed cheering. | sincerely desire that, so fan
as 1 am concerned we shall triumphantly &c
through this great controversy without this appel
TO arms. But, if il be necessary TO vindicate th,
Independence of my country, VOW to YOU here
that all the power that have shall be exercised
. maintain to the hast extremely the independ
ence of South Carolina. Great applause.
| Allow me to say that there is nothing at pres
ent in the present issues, to excite the slightes
alarm. Be firm, be united, be true to your coun
try, and your country is safe. l beg YOU to re
member that il is not the first time in the hist0r,
| of South Carolina that she has stood alone. On
a memorable occasion she has stood alone before
even the Declaration of Independence. Sh,
fought-and triumphantly fought-the battle o.
| Fort Moultrie, before she was an independent
State. She fought it alone-she fought it upoI
her own resources and responsibility, and If need
be, she can hight alone again. Applause-l sa,
to you again, on another memorable occasion, a
the great battle of Cherubusco. the glorious Pal
metto regiment was called on for the most gallan
Charge in the history of that campaign, and, ,wheI
the New York and Pennsylvania regiments failet
to answer, and the South Carolina regiment wa.
called upon, the gallant and glorious leader o.
that regiment-his second in command. the brave
and intrepid Major Gladden-marched across the
field of Cherubusco alone, to theirimmortal honor
and we can stand and march alone again. Ap
lause.
Fellow citizens, desire to say nothing that il
imprudent or rash. | desire GOODNESS and calm
ness. l desire that every shall be ready
standing at his post, ready to do his duty When
the word is given to march. tell you, as Ear as
/ am able, when necessary that word shall be
given to march forward TO honor and independ
ence-now and forever Applause. Where vii
the State stand? South Carolina asks no support
There she stands in the defensive attitude, with
her hands grasping the scabbard and not a feather
quiyering in her plume, raising overhead the Pal
metto-the emblem not only of nationality, but
the emblem of your independence Whereyel
that waves, let it be known that it waves over 9
free and independent people. Prolonged cheer
inc