Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-01-04
Gov. Pickens. of S. C.
At a recent serenade given to Gov. ?

+
ems. at Charleston, S. c., be said;
FELLow-CITIzENs: [ return you my sin
cere thanks for the very kind and cordial
manner in which you are pleased to receive
me. If there is anything calculated to sus-
tain me in the critical and difficult situation
which [ am called upon to occupy, it is the
consciousness that am sustained by brave
and patriotic people. Cheering
Allow me to say to you my fellow cltl-
zens, that the convention of South Carroll
ma has placed this state in a proud and glo-
rious position before the world That con-
vention is now assembled. and under such
circumstances it would be obviously improp-
er in me to make any lengthy or rretracted
remarks. FCres of Go on" go on" ]
But, fellow citizens, allow me to say to you
that hope and trust am in possession Of
information which induces me to believe
that, perhaps, there may be no appeal to.
70 ce on the part Of the Federal authority.
And allow me further to say to you. that if
l am mistaken in this, that at least as far
as am concerned, we are prepared to meet
any and every issue.
A voice. Three cheers for the man in
sensible to fear
| I hope and trust, under existing circum-
stances, there will be no imprudent, no rash
appeals to counsels, acting under impulse
or under false rumors that we will prove
to the world that we are entitled TO be SO
from our virtues and from our character
At present, allow nae to say to you that
the Convention which is now sitting in this
city, in all human probability, will send the
Ordinance to Washington which proclaims
you to be, as you have right to be, free
and Independent Republic. Great cheer
ing. And that they will not present the
issue until the Commissioners from that Con-
vention present the claim to your forts and
public places now in possession of the Fed
eral Government. It is our daty to sus-
tain that Convention by showing that we
are willing to wait free and fair demand.
But [ say to you further, gentlemen, that
in the meantime If there is any attempt on
the part of the federal power to increase the
forces at your forts and Notifications, as far
as | am concerned, it shall not be done with
out an appeal to arms. Cheers. I
sill cerely desire, as far as { am concerned
that we shall triumphantly 60 through this
great controversy without an appeal to arms
or without the issue of blood [ hope and
trust the peace Of the country may be pres
served but if it be necessary to vindcase
the independence Of my country, the situa-
ton which you have placed me in, I VOW to
her all the power | have shall be exerted to
maintain TO the lass extremity the inlepen-
dence of South Carolina. Applause
Allow PIE to say to you that there is Moth
ing at present in the present issue to excite
the slightest alarm. Be firm. be united, be
cool, true to your country and the cause is
safe. | beg you to remember that it is not
the first time in the history of South Caro-
lima that she has stood alone On mem
orable occasion-even before the Deciara-
ton of Independence fought-and tri-
umphantly fought-the battle Of Fort Moul-
trie before South Carolina was an indepen-
ent State. She fought it upon her own re-
scources and her own responsibilities and if
need be, she can fight alone again.
say to you again, that at the great bat
tie Of Cherubusco the Palmetto Regiment
was called upon, and they made the most
gallant charge in the history of the cam
paign; and when the New York and Penn
sylvania Regiments felt it necessary to re-
tire, and the South Carolina Regiment was
called upon, the gallant and glorious leader
of that Regiment, with second in COM
mand, the brave and intrepid GLADDEN.,
marched on the field of Cherubusco alone,
and fought and won, and we can stand and
march alone again.
Fellow citizens. desire to say nothing
that is imprudent or rash | desire cool
ness and calmness. | desire that nothing
will be done to provoke any difficulty, or
prematurely hurry US into war. I desire
every man to be ready standing at his gun,
at his post, ready when the word is given,
and when the last word shall be given, to
march forward and onward to independence
now and forever
There are other circumstances in the
case of South Carolina. She asks no ia
vors-South Carolina asks no support =
There she stands on the defensive, with not
q feather quivering. Raise the Palmetto
flag as an emolem-not only as an emblem
of nationality, but as an emblem of indie
pendence. Wherever that waves, let it
be known that it waves over free and in
dependent people. Great cheering and
music by the band