Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-06-14
rr1nAY.auNE bal. lsel.
TIVE cENTLEMANs COMMONWEALTH.


The plantation owners around Charleston,
speaking for the favor Of the English arisocrn'
CIV, have revived the old tradition that their
state was "loundcd by gentlemen" Depriv'
ed by the fault of republican institutions, OF
any express patent of gentility, they can only
appeal TO the fading record, and to their own
assurances of the purity OF their blood. They
would have escaped the humiliation of SO long
union with the descendants OF the Pnritans,
if they could but, when their gentle blood
protested, Lee, and Sumter, and Marion, and
other low minded patriots, united their arms
with the Yankees, and forced South Carolina
to assent 10 the "natcd union" The gentlemen
of South Carolina have had but one mind all
the time, and would now welcome, if it were
possible, any royal scion who would have the
kindness to reign over them.
In ordinary and quiet times, this question
of gentility would be an open one, and it
would be interesting to subject it 10 a some
what careful and precise analysis. While the
gentleman's commonwealth was faithful 10 its
constitutional obligations, however unwilling
~ Only ulSplty aug TO sHly SlSel VII holiu'9
and special occasions, its high pretensions
properly came within the field of Unsuitable
debate. Some skilful analysts have OCCASION
ally met its champions on their Wanted field;
with what results Massachusetts has ample
cause TO remember These descendants OF the
cavaliers, pressed to the wall, have shown
degree of aptness for the knife and the club,
which would have astonished the races from
which they have wonderfully descended; and
when pursued by true knight, daring them
to defend their cause with manlier weapons,
have shown the same fieemess of foot with the
CHASER sort" of mankind.
But in the midst of IA raging storm, there is
no time for petty discussions. The past his
tory OF the genteman's commonwealth will
rest secure from criticism, with all its insipid-
ity and uselessness, SO long as the rebellion
which it inaugurated is suffered to threaten
the existence Of constitutional liberty on this
continent. The magnitude of its present guilt
hides from sight the multitude of nameless
vices with which its annals for eighty years
are dishoEOred. The government which she
has outraged meets her upon the field which
she has chosen. Supported by the states be-
tween which there exists an unfortunate com
munity of interests, her demonstrations of
hostility assume such fearful magnitude that
the government itself, with its vast resources,
in operation and in reserve, is compelled to as
sumo the attitude of an enemy, accepting war
with portion OF is own subjects, rather than
of sovereign maintaining its just authority,
and nfcting chastsemeht for its causeess
violation.
OF the defeat of the rebellion, there is no fu-
ture event more certain to happen. 1t is in
the order of nature, and of Gods providence.
1t is written already in the census The thun.
ders OF our cannon will only pronounce it to
the world. But there is a limit to the power
of our arms. The renovation of the rebel
states from the heresies which have turned
the head OF South Carolina, aud have carried
their deadly infection through nearly The
whole south, must be the result of time,
patience, and enduring thought HI, So long
as the leaders of the rebellion are per-
mitted o'live and operate upon the min = Of
people already excited by appeals to their
sions, and studied perversions of their So
ment, the atmosphere will be presidential with
treason. When they have paid the lives
which they have forfeited, the country can
afford to await the returning reason of the
people, to whom kind and benefcent govern
ment is a necessity.