The southern aegis., 1861-10-05
CONSTITUTION oNGs TO THE LAST PLANK
LAST PLANK WHEN CLOSE AROUND HIM.
ANNUM v-No 80

Republican party. Ny heart almost died
within me when I read Lincoln's first
spsfch at indianapolis, for 1 well knew
th if that was an exposition of his ideas
ofThe condition of our government; it
must be of short duration. Had he pos
sessed ordinary sagacity or honesty we
might have been saved. The Union party
South was then strong and hopeful, but
under his duplicity it began to fail of its
strength; and when his Proclamation was
issued, then died out instantly the Union
party. And the North is yet so dishonest
as to think there is in the South a Union
fparty-they pretend not to know what has
become of the Union party-they pretend
not to know what has become of the Union
men--l can tell them where they are
they can find them in our armies-they
can find them at Bethel, and at Bull Run,
at Manassas, and they will continue to find
them wherever they may offer battle
The Union men were the first to fly to
arms, and very large majority of them
are already in front Of the battle. 1 have
but two sons old enough for soldiers, and
they are both in the field. IfI had twen-
ty sons, / would have all of them there !;
and in the course of the fight, should it
pass this way, (Which we all expect) 1
shall take my place beneath the flag of
the Confederates. Every man in the South
is now soldier--every town has its mill
tary organization-even to boys of thirteen
years and less, all are drilling and learning
the science of war. Manassas was to the
North Waterloo, but to us also dearly
bought victory. Many brave and gal
liant son of the South there found his grave;
but they died .gloriousl y-died in defence
of their altars and their homes. James
was in the battle as Adjutant of the Mis-
slssjppi Goth Regiment-of him or his
late 1 fiase NOT yes heard--aln anxious;
but ISAatever it may have been, shall
try tolresign myself to it. Kent belongs
to thS 18th Regiment, and reached tie
field On the day after. the battle. This
war 4ay be waged for years, but the South
will never be subjugated-the last man
and tile last dollar will be spent in her de-
tence.i Reconciliation or reconstruction is
no longer talked off, [ doubt whether
one intelligent man could be found any
where in the South, who would consent
to any settlementshort of our entire separa-
tion and independence, (of course there
are some in Western Virginia and East
Tennessee.) The people are unit upon
that question. We have now no politics
to divide us-all are bent upon common
cause and the attainment of common end
Our crops, thank God, are abundant, such
as were never grown before in the South
We have superabundance of every thing;
of corn which is now being used for bread
we have enough for two years supply; and
cotton never promised a more bountiful
yield and beside every description of veg
etable and grain; the Southern States will
produce wheat enough to supply the Con-
federacy with four-and in all this we
think we see the hand of the Almighty,
ahd have never known the people SO en-
tifely and devotedly thankful to Him for
these indications of His approval and for
the bountiful mercies with which He seems
to bless US. This county is small, has
only ZOO voters and we have $50 men in
the field--the balance are organized at
home, ready for any service to which they
sipay be called. * X * x
/; Che most distressing part of this war is
shat we have to "pit" our best and noblest
1citizens against such stuff as the North
brings against us-but they will find every
battle to be Manassas or. Bethel Our
lmen go to fight, and they will do it despite
1iof any odds which may be brought against
Them. : -
i What will Maryland do? Will she
join us or not? Her Governor has fear,
bound her hand and foot, but surely day
Of reckoning will come for him, or Mary
landers are untrue to their ancient fame,
and unworthy descendants of the cold
Maryland Line" Every one of our sons
in the South is watching with eager and
outstretched arms for her. L yet believe
and hope that she will link her destiny
with her sisters of the South; whose inter-
ests are her interests, and whose glory al
so she should share. We are different
people from the North, and have believ-
ed for the last three years. in my trips
North, that the time was coming when we
should have to be two people-that time
has come, and now we, BY our own stout
hearts and strong arms, with the providence
| of God, are determined that we will never
again participate in a co-partnership with
a people SO unworthy of us, and SO insen-
isible to common honesty and the blessings