The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1863-01-23

Fpersne tho subject anG The recreants any fur fur
thur But the matter Of late has assdmed such
q vitally dangerous aspect that we cannot
withhold our mite of condemnation Of the
extortioner without feeling thai sbs SO doing
we must, to some extent be a participants in
this enormous sin against God and sagainst So
cietys Ihe. swo principles at the head Of this
article are in irreconcilable opposition the one
to the other, and no Yankse sophistry can
change or laterltheir relationship. And when
ones country is invaded by a powerful, relentS
less and inscriptions foe, and threatened with
subjugation, confscation and utter ruin, AS
ours now is, there can be no line of neutrality
for any citizen to stand upon.
I Every man (yea, every woman) must array
himself on one side or the other; he must
either be apatriot, or he must be an .cxtortion-
er. We will here stop to define these two
principles, when made active by the conduct
Of men. The patriot, then, is one who makes
pecuniery sacrifices for the good of his coun.
try. The,extortioner is one who increases his
pecuniary gains while his country and his
countrymen are suffering loss and threatened
with ruin. noE*aW
This definition is short, simple and plain,
and easily 10 be understood; and is also Just
and truthful, and we think connot be gainsaid.
We have been thus concise and explicit that
each and every individual may, without 6oubt
or difficulty, place himself in his true position,
and that each may not be in ignorance as to
the true position of his neighbor. The truth
fulncss of this definition can hardly admit of
doubt, for it is too obvious for argument, that
he who augments his private fortune during
our present most exhausting and painful strug-
gle can not be patriot, and must therefore be
an extortioner. 1t matters not how many dol
lars he may have given to the cause-such
contributions are not his own, for he first ex-
tofted them from the blood and tears of suf-
fering people, and then makes display, and
very often boastfu one through the public
journals, of his lberality. Such men have
drawn the drapery of the god of mammon
over their own eyes, and are verify fatteriug
themselves that because they have wilfully and
sinfully blinded themselves that they are hid
from the scrutinizing gaze of watchfu and
discerning public; but the people know better
their eye is upon them, and it matters not how
selfsecure they may fell in their ill-gotten
gains, just retribution surely awaits them
if their own brazen face can, without COVER
ing, Withstand the finger of scorn that is point
ing at them-the tenderer hearts of their off,
spring will have to suffer the modification and
shame of being told by their play-matcs and
school-fcllows, that their fathers got rich off
the necessities of the people during the great
war of independence. These men are GER
tainly right in one thing, and that is the esti-
mate they put upon themsclves-they know
they would neither have character nor respec-
liability without fortune, and hence are reckless
OF everything else that they may get gain.
That there are such characters as extbr-
TONERS among us, the various apologies and
excuses we daily hear made, is sufficient evil
dence. A says, have imported at great haz-
ard many articles essential to the defence of
the country B says, have been benefactor
to the people OF my vicinity, for brought ar
ticles from distance which they much need
ed; says, have served such length of
time in the army; D has sons now in the ar
my; E has substitute; F has traded in moth
ing but cotton, tar, pitch or turpentine and so