Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-10-26
Public Meeting in bia, S. C.


We learn from the Guardian that very large
meeting was held in Columbia en- Monday night
last at which the following preamble and resolu-
tons, reported by committee of sixteen, were
adopted by large majority:
"When the election of Mr.. Lincoln rs President
of the United States by purely sectional party,
made it manifest that the consummaton so long
apprehended had been accomplished, that the South
no longer controlled her destinies but was hence
forth to be governed by another people, alien in
sentiment and in interest," South Carolina dissolved
her connection with the existing government The
act was deliberate preceded by years Of discussion
on the questions involved, and in accordance with
the recorded pledges of her constituted authorities
She had counted the cost, and she feared nothing
so much as the degrading vassalage which awaited
her. Her example was followed by other Southern
States. A new COnfederacy Was formed, and South
Carolina assumed new political relations. The old
Conlederacy denying to the new the right of self
government, hitherto esteemed the corner stone of
Amecan Institutions made war, and for four years,
a ruthless, savage inhuman warfare unparalleled in
atrocty, has been Waged upon US. South Carolina,
who led the van, has suffered only in common with
her sisters The States which came 10 her support
like South Carolina, have freely sent their sons to
the fed, and, despite the terrible slaughter which
has ensued, still oppose to our oppressors an und
minishef army with an unvanquished spirit It
cannot be that South Carolina will be tie first to
quail before the foe whom she was the first to defy,
and that she will teach lessons of submission to
those who, but for her, perhaps never would have
been IN arms. Our enemies are no less hateful and
atrocous than in the beginning, and our friends
as true and faithful as ever. 1t would be rank
cowardice to succunb to the first, and infamy to
fail in our support of the latter.
These reflection are suggested by the recent cx-
froD 1norv 1ofto rof
dent Davis. Mr.. Boyce is tn. representative of the
central district of South Carolina We of the cap
ital of the State are his immediate constituents
We cannot permit such letter to pass unrebuked.
With Mr.. Boyces motives and Intentions we have
10 concern. The tendency Of the letter is to inst
feelings Of submission and suggest the wish for
reconstruction. Its logic is more directly opposed
| to secession and separate Confederacy than in
favor of the measure, remedy proposed in our
extreme distress. 1t full of gloomy despon dency
and is calculated to create dissatisfaction with our
o" government and to reconcile US to that of the
enemy, ana to dspirit our army in the field. The
committee, with these views. recommend the adop-
ton of the following resolutions
Resolred, That the opinions and sentiments Of
the Hon. W. w. Boyce in his published letter to
the President Of the Confederate States regard
ed as the suggestions of timorous despair, which,
if needed, can but lead to dishonor and ruin.
ResoLred, That if it be true that the Northern
States must of necessity, 'snot only make their in
slutions but ours" also, and tina; even the achieve
ment of independence will be but the inaugura
lion of military despotisn and the overthrow of
cur Hberties-then the teachings of our iustrious
statesmen for more than thirty years have been a
elusion and snare-then the withdrawal of this
State from political union with the States Of the
North, was a high and fearful crime, and all, who
by their counses in past times have contributed to
its accomplishment, not excepting Mr.. Boyce him
SELF are partakers of its guilt-then all the costly
sacrifice of life and property attending it, has
been worse than useless and but one refuge for us
is possible, to haste upon the wings CT the morning
to reunion with people whose hands are red
| with the blood Of our kindred-whose baseness
grows and multiplies the contest proceeds; who.
with the intelligence of the civilized man, have all
the vices of the barbarian and have been less ele-
vated By the ennobling influences of christianity
than any of the nations of the earth fate so full
Of herror that rather than yield to it wo prefer to