Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1864-02-10
For the YorkvIlle Enquirer
i. For the Yorkvlle Enquirer.
SHALL WE ACHIEVE OUR INDE-
PENDENCE.

acter at present, and strikes us with pecu-
liar force. On the assumption that we a0'H
achieve our independence, are based our
fondest hopes and brightest antioipations,
in reference to the future history of our
beloved country. While on the supposition
of defeat there arise in the mind apprehen.
sions of all that is revolving to the feelings
of patriotism.
Is it possible then that our enemy can
subjugate us2 We claim that it is not, or
if possible, it is not at all probable. 1t is
true, that during the past year, we suffered
some reverses, but are we, therefore, to des.
pond? Could we have reasonably expected
to carry on such war as the present, and
against so formidable foe, without some
reverse to our arms? Most certainly we
could not. We should remember what our
condition was in the beginning of this war.
We were unaccustomed to the military art,
and owing to our peculiar institution, our
muscular powers had not been developed as
had those of our vaudal foes, nor had our
spirit of endurance been tempered by hard
ship and suffering like theira. We had no
army, no navy, nor any munitions Of war,
and before the machinery of our new gov.
ernment had been properly adjusted and
pat in action, our ports were blockaded and
we almost entirely cut off from all inter-,
course with the civilized world, while our
enemy had access to every quarter of the
globe, and possessed every conceivable ad-.
vantage over us in military resources. And
still, with all his giant strength and boasted
power, what has he accomplished? Has he
crushed out the so.called rebellion, or sub.
dued the spirit of freedom, which, from the
has actuated our noble soldiery?
Has he eztiDguished the fame Of patriot
ism that has been burning on the altar of
every true southern heart? No, but as the
application of oil only adds intensity to the
burning fire, 80 have his cruelties only kin
died an inextinguishable fame Of hatred in
our bosoms against bis cruel despotism.
He has brought into requisition every
possible means and resorted to all conceiva.
BILE stratagemsi in order to desolate our coun.
try and lay waste our homes, and has he
succeeded in this cruel work? Where are
the records of his victories, save in the
traces Of his rapino against the unprotected
and defenceless?
In every engagement his numbers has
very far exceeded ours, and yet in almost
every land attack his hosts have fed before
the columns of our triumphant army. For
nearly three years he has waged war a.
gainst us, which, in magnitude and quick
of battles, has been unparalleled,
and to-day he is as far from having subjuga.
ted the sunny South, as when be called out
seventy.f thousand men for the purpose
of putting down the rebellion in sixty days.
And judging the future by the past, he
never can conquer US. Who ever heard OF
eight millions of freemen being subjugated.
The mere assumption of such thing is
Even. the more sober and
reasonable among our enemies have long
since been convinced of tie impossibility
of conquering US by the force of arms
Since, then, our enemies can never subju-
gate US, we ask the important question, are
we going to conquer ourselves?
Are we, as individuals and as people,
determined to sacrifice everything, if need
be, rather than be slaves Or have many
of us determined to make money by this
cruel war, and hoard up fortunes at the risk
of plurging ourselves and our entire coun'
try into inextricable ruin {? Indeed, we are
sorry that so many of US have so far gone
crazy after fortunes that we have deadened
all the purer and nobler feelings Of our na-
ture to such degree, that we can ask the
most fabulous prices for our fabrics or pro-
ducts. Or we can do even worse than this,
by closing our places of trade and absolute
ly refusing to sell anything for Confederate
money. Is this possible? Can any man
among US refuse to let a soldiers family
have the indispensable neoessaries of life for
our Government notes? Men, too, who
have been exempt from taking up arms for
our country's safety, for the express purpose
of supplying our people with the necessary
fabrics, at the rate of seventy.ive per cent:
on the actual cost Of manufacturing? And
yet, these very men can go before an enrol
ling officer and swear most solemnly that
they are selling their goods at legal rates,
while, at the same time. they are realizing