Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1864-03-09

1t ID DETER to be conquered Dy any otheE
nation than by the United States. 1t is
better to be dependency Of any other
power than of that. By the condition of
its existence and essential constitution, as
now governed, it must be in perpetual hos
tility to us. As the Spanish invader burned
his ships to make retreat impossible, 80 we
cannot afford to take steps backwards.
Retreat is more dangerous than advance.
Behind us, are inferiority and degradation.
Before us, is everything enticing to pa
triot.
Our bitter and implacable foes are pre-
pairing vigorously for the coming campaign.
Corresponding efforts should be made on
our part. Without murmuring, our people
should respond to the laws, which the exi;
gruyy demands. Every ona. capable of
bearing arms, should be connected with
some effective military organization. The
utmost energies Of the whole population
should be taxed to produce food and cloth
ing, and spirit of oheerfulness and trust
in an alIwise and oyerruling Providence
should be cultivated.
The history Of the past three years has
much to animate Us to renewed effort and a
frmer and more assured hope. A whole
people have given their hearts and bodies
to repel the invader. and costly sacrifices
have been made on the altar of our coun-
try. No similar instance is to be found Of
such spontaneous uprising and volunteering.
Inspired by holy patriotism, again and
again, have our brave soldiers, with the
aid of Heaven, bafled the efforts Of our
foes. It's in no arrogant spirit, that we refer
to successes that have cost us SO much,
blood, and brought sorrow to so many
hearts. We may find in all this an earne.lt
of what, with determined and resolute ex.
ertion, We can do to avert subjugation and
slavery-and we cannot fail to discern in
our deliyerance from SO many and SO great
perils, the interptsitionsof that Being who
will not forsake Us in the trials that are to
come. Let US, then, looking upon the bod
les Of our loved and honored dead, catch
inspiration from their example, and gather
renewed confidence and frmer resolve to
tread, with unfaltering trust, the path that
leads to honor and peace, although it lead
through tears and suffering and blood.
We have no alternative but to do our
duty. We combat for property, homes, the
honor Of our wives, the future of onr chill.
dren, the preservation of our fair lsnd from
pollution, and to avert doom which we
can read, both in the threats of our enemies
and the acts of oppression, we haze aiiu-
ded to in this address.
The situation is grave, but furnishes no
Just excuse for dependence. Instead OF
harsh criticisms on the Government and our
Generals; instead of bewailing the failure
to accomplish impossib ilities, We should
rather be grateful, humb1y and profoundly,
to benignant Providence, for the results
that have rewarded our labors. Remem-
bering the disproportion in population, in
military and naval resources; and the deh-
cheney of skilled labor in the South, our
accomplishments have surpassed those re-
corded of any people in the annals Of the
world. There is no just reason for hope
lessness or fear. Since the outbreak of the
war the South has lost the nominal posses
sion: Of the Mississippi river and fragments
of her territory, but Federal occupancy is
| not conquest. The fires Of patriotism still
burn unquenchably in the breasts Of those
| who are subject to foreign domination =
We have yet in our uninterrupted control
territory which, according to past prog.
reas, will require the enemy; ten years to
overrun.
The enemy is not free from difficulties.
With an enormous debt, the financial CON.
vulsion, long postponed, is surely coming.
The short crops in the United States and
abundant harvests lin Europe will hasten
what was otherwise inevitable. Many sa-
| gacious persons at the North, discover in
the usurpations of their Government, the
certain overthrow of their Liberties. A
large number revolt from the unjust war
waged upon the South, and would gladly
bring it to an end. Others look with alarm
upon the complete subversion of constitu-
tional freedom by Abraham Lincoln, and
feel in their own persons, the bitterness Of
slavery which three years of war have fail.
ed to inaict on the South. Brave and ear.
nest men at the North have spoken out
against the usurpation and cruelties daily
practiced. The success Of the men over