Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-10-25
Public Meeting in CoIumbia, S. C.

We learn from the Guardian that a very large
meeting was held in Columbia 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, as President
of the United States by purely sectional party,
made it manifest that the cOnSummation 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 vaSSaage which awaited
her. Her example was followed 10y other Southern
States. A new COnfederacy was formed, and South
Carolina assumed new political relations. The old
Confederacy denying to the new the right of self
government hitherto esteemed the corner stone Of
Ameican institutions, made war, aud for four years.
ruthless savage, inhGnan warfare unparalleled In
atroclty, has been waged upon us. South Carolina,
who led the van, has suffered only in common with
her sisters. The States which came to her support
like South Carolina, have freely sent their sons to
the field, and despite the terrible slaughter which
has ensued, still oppose to our oppIessors an und
minshed army with an unvanquiShed spirit 1t
cannot be that South Carolina Will be the first to
quail before the foe whom she the first to DEFY
and that she will teach lessons of submission 10
those who, but for her, perhaps never would have
been in arms. Our enemies no less hateiuland
att than in the fegnning, and our friends are
as true and faithful ever. Ii would be rank
cowardce TO succumb to the first, and Intamy to
fail in our support of the latter.
These reflection are suggested hy the recent ex
traordinary letter of Hon. w. W BONce to Pres
dent Davis. Mr. BOYce is the representative OF the
central district Of South Carolina. We of the cap
ita Of the State are his immediate constituents
We cannot permit such letter to pass unrebuked
With Mr.. BoyceS motives and intentions we have
no concern. The tendency of the letter is 10 lnSt
feelings of submission, and suggest the wish for
reconstruction. Its logic is more directly opposed
to secession and separate Confcderacv than IN
favor of the measure, remedy proposed IN our
extreme distress 1t is full of gloomy dcSpond dency,
and is calculated to create dissatisfaction with our
Ow government and to reconcile us to that of the
enemy, and to diSpirit our army in the field The
committee, with these views, recommend the adop-
ton of the following resolutions:
ResOLre6, That the opinions ard sentiments OF
the Hon. w. w. BOyce in his published letter to
the President of the Confederate States, regard
ed as the suggestions of a tmOrOus despair, which,
if needed, can but lead to dishonor and rum.
ReS0tUea That if 1t be true that the Northern
States must of necessity, mot only make their in
Ritutions but ours" aso and that even the achieve
n,ent of our independence will be but the inaugura-
lion Of military deSpotism, and the overthrow Of
cur libertes-then the teachings of our iuStrious
statesmen for more than thirty years have been a
ielusion and Snare-then the withdrawal Of this
State from political union with the States Of the
North, was high and fearful crime, and all, who,
by their counsels in past times, have contributed to
its accomplishment, not excepting Mr.. Boyce him
self, are psrtakers 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 of the morning
to reunion with people whose hands are red
with the blood of our kindred-whose baseness
grows and multples the contest proceeds; who,
with the intelligence of the civilized man. have all
the vices of the barbarian and have been less ele.
waited by the ennobng Influences of christianity
than any Of the natiOn Of the earth; fate SO full
Of herrOr that rather than yield to it VIC prefer to