Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-01-19
The Virnlent Seeretaru

The Washington Constellation, of Wcdncs,
day, referring to the resignation of Secretary
Thompson, says:
1t is well known that the gentleman whom
the President commissioned to administer ud
interim the affairs of the War Department,
Ilolt although he WAS born on Southern soil,
and owes to the South all that he is worth ON
earth, either in means or fame, was opposed
to her in this her hour of trial and danger.
and that, if he could he would compel her
by force to surrender her liberties, and submit
to the degrading rule of her enemies But it
was hoped that he would not dare to use the
powers thus accidentally dcvolvcd on him, to
rcvcrcc the Presidents declared policy, to fall
SHY the Presidents assurances, and expose
him in the face of the world to the imputation
of having violated his faith Dccp.r rooted
and bitter as his feelings of animositv are
against the South, nobody could suppose that
le would have the audacity, on his own mo-
ton, to risk involving his country in all the
horrors of civil war without consulting his
colleagues, or even informing them that he
contemplated doing so.
And yet such is the fact. Despite the
positive and emphatic rcmonstranccs of Mr..
Thompson against sending rcinforccmcnts of
Federal troops to Charleston; in the face of
the solemn understanding that none would bc
sent without informing him of the intention
to do so. MIR. Holt ordered ship to be char
tered, 23O Federal troops to embark in her,
and proceed on Saturday last to Charleston to
reinforce Major Anderson in Fort SUMTER
The announcement of this movement, contain.
ed in the public newspapers of yesterday, was
the lirs; intimaton that Mr. Thompson rccciv-
cd that 1t was made, or even resolved on
Although amembcr of the Cabinet, supposed
to be eognizant of its policy, and responsible
for its course, an act OF this magnitude and
Importance to his section is resolved on and
consummatcd before he is even told that it is
contemplated
Under these circumstances. Mr. Thompson
instantly resigned his commission. By doing
so, he has vindicated his honor and stamped
his rcprobution on an act which no hon, rablc
man can regard otherwise than with the sever
est ccnsure.
We much regret that the President will
necessarily be held responsible for the crinn-
al temcrity of the man whom he temporarily
placed at the head of the War Department. =
He has but ono course left, if he will escape
the odium that will attach to all those who
took part in the issue of this fatal order and
that is, to dismiss Mr.. Holt from place to
which he should never have been called and
order General Scott to return to his post and
attend to the Legitimate duties of his com
mand of the army. The Southern man who
would send armed men to shed the blood of
his brethren, is fully capable of betraying the
colleague to whose friendship Ire owes his un-
deserved elevation The President has VET
the power to prove his rcprobation of this
reprehensible proceeding, and we trust tha;
he will not hesitate to exercise it before tho
sun sets.
HINT IN TIME.-War or no war, it be
comes us always to "savc our bacon" Tho
following recipe is from good source anc
may be serviceable Just now when hams ar.
ready to be hung up:
e" There is, according to my experience, no
thing easier than to avoid the skipper and al
worms and bugs that usually infcst and dc
stroy bacon. 1t is simply to keep your smoke
house dark, and the moth that deposits tn,
egg will never enter it, For the past twenty
five years have attended to this, and neve
hare had my bacon troubled with any insect
l have now hanging in my smoke house, ham
one, two, and three years old, and the oldes
are as free from insects as when first hung up
| am not aware of other causes for the excer
ton OF my bacon from insects, but simpl
the fact that my smoke,housc is always dark
Before adopting this plan had tried man
experiments, but always either without sue
cessor with injury to the flavor of my bacor
| smoke with green hickory; this is impol
tant, as the flavor of bacon is often utterl
f destroyed by smoking it with improper wood.
YoUsn and age have too little sympath
with each other, If the young would rcmeh
Der that they uaay be old, and the old remen
, ber that they have been young, the worl
would be happier.