The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-11-23
A Page OF South CarOiinas History


The Charleston Mgrcmy threatens that the
proud city By the sea Shall be :. laid in ashes
rather than il shall tall into the hands of the
cursed Ilessians," aud tells us that black
flags are hoStcd, indicating that no quarter
VIII tie taken from thc.. invaders. We may
form some idea of wha they are likely to do
from what they iii on the occasion Of an nva-
sion of another srrt If licssians about Il hun
bred years ago. An officer OF distinction in
the British service, giving an accout Of the
operations Of his MAJcsly's army in South
Carolina, says:
=. We arrived before Charleston on the il
LJnly, 1913. in the evening. The enemy
sent next morning to know what terms We
would grant. -Four hours were allowed them
to surrender prisoners of war, or take the oath
of allegiance to his Majesty. and be protected
IN their persons and properties, and return t"
the class OF peaceful citizens. But an express
having arrived in the mean time from Gen
Lincoln with an accent oi his approach, and
that u reinforcement would be in town that
day, the enemy grew more confident, and
began to talk in higher terms; however. they
proposed neutrality for the province until
the war between Great Britain and America
WAS determined"
The following is the proposition made by
Coils Smith and Mcintosh to Col. Provost
anu Sapl. hoHNiiFt, ~ Il CONFERENCE al OtllrltS
ton, May ~ l179 "Thai Caroiiua slouid
remain in a state Of neutrality during HE unr,
and the question uhciher CuroiinQ StOuM 1eDiaih
an iniepeu1em State or be subject 10 G,euf
Britain, be determined By The fuic Of uar."
The proposition on the part of South Caro-
Ina is made the subject of the following bitter
| comments in Gaine s'Mercnry olJuly y, l770:
" This proposition shows in clear point Of
view with what ease the people Of Carolina
| can throw OFT and break their most soumn
, engagement with the Continental Congress
and France, ON the approach Of real danger,
| or whcncvcu they think it will suit their br-
rdte views. Such IS The mnch-boaacd rirtue
and honor Of The Inhabitants Of Sou h Caroliau :"
How cuilously this same spirit OF cowardlv
scltishncss appears in the present course of
South Carolina! 1t will be remembered how
| careful that State WAS TO see that the war VAS
kept out of her own borders and transferred
| to the soil OF Virginia, and with what scVrn
| the proposition OF Virginia to preserve Il posi-
| ton OF neutrality was met hv South Carolina.
| Having succeeded in making the Old
Dominion the great chopping block ON
/ which the contending hosts should spend
their destructive blows. South Carolina-the
! pcriidous. the selish-with d chuckle OF
| diabuic,,l satisfaction. proclaimed her delight
ut having succeeded in the rusc, and trans
'errcd the operations and the horrors of war
| far from her own burdcri
| Aud now that the Government. in III,
exercise of just retrbutun. has struck A
blow at the very heart of the rebellion and
planted calling thorn in the side "t that
naughty, high blown State, her lca,ling journal,
| the Charleston Mercu,y, does not scrupe to
admit that its sole obj ct in urging an agrees
sivc campaign on the Potomac was for the
purpose of protecting South CArolIn, from