The Portland daily press., 1862-10-10
Letter from Mr.. Garnet Of Virginia TO Mr. Prescott
80 ofSouth Carolina.


VA. CONVENTION, May 3, 1851
Ny DEAR SIR:-You misunderstood my
last letter ifyou supposed that Intended to
visit South Carolina this Spring | am ex-
ceedingly obliged TO you for your kind invita-
lions, and il would afford me the highest plea
sure to interchange, in person sentiments with
Il friend whose manner of thinking so closely
agrees with my own. But my engagements
here closely confne pe TO this city, and deny
me such qualification
would be especially glad to be in Charles
ton next week, and witness your Convention
of Delegates from the Southern-Rights Associ-
atoms. The condition of things in your State
deeply interests me; her wise foresight and
manly Independence have placed her as the
head OF tile South. to whom alone true-heart-
ed men can loock with any hope or pleasure
Momentous are the consequences which de-.
pend upon your action. Which party viii pre-
vail? the Immediate Secessonsts. or those
who are opposed to separate State action at
this time? For my part, iorbear to form a
wish. Were | a CaroliHan IL would be very
different; but when | consider the serious eff
fects the decision may have on your future
veal or woe, / fell that a citizen OF State
which has acted as Virginia, has no right to
interfere, even by wish Ii the General Gov
3 eminent allows you pcacably and freely to Sc
eeed, neither Virginia nor any other Southern
State would, in my opinion, follow you at pre-
sent. But what would be the effect upon
South Carolina? Some of our best friends
here suppose that ii would cut off Charleston
from the great Western trade which she is now
striking for, and would retard very greatly the
progress of your State. / confess that | think
diderantly. l believe thoroughly in our own
theories, and that ii Charleston did not grow
quite so fast in her trade with other States, yet
the relief from Federal taxation would vastly
stimulate your prosperity. Ii So the prestige
of the Union would be destroyed, and you
would be the nuccs for a Southern Confeder-
alton at no distant day. But do not doubt,
from all have been able to learn. that the
Federal Government would by force beginning
with the form most embarrassing to you aud
least calculated to excite sympathy mean a
naval blockade. In that event. could you with
stand the reaction feeling, which the suffering
commerce of Charleston would probably man
fest? Would You not lose that In which your
strength consists. the union of your people
do not mean to imply opinion. | only ask the
question. III you could force this blockade,
and bring the Government TO direct force, the
feeling ia Virginia would be very great. l
trust In God it would bring her to your aid.
But il would be wrong in ne to deceive you
by speaking certainly. ! cannot express the
deep modification have felt at her course Of
this Winter. But l do not believe that the
course of the Legislature is a fair expression.
OF the popular feeling, Inthe east, at least the
great majority believe in the right of Secess-
Ion. and feel the deepest sympathy with Caro-
lina In opposition TO measures which they re-
gard as she does But the west-Western
yiryinia-flere is therub! Only $4,000 slaves