Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1865-11-28
SOUTH CAROLINA.

an address to the people of his native State,
from which we make the following extract
The beauty of the language employed in this
address, is only equalled by the lofty senti-
ments to which it gives expression:
For years past it has been the boast of our
State that there was but one party within her
limits. Commendable aud Vital as that state
Of affairs was during the war, it is SCARCELY,
II at all, less so now Every association Of
the past, every duty of the present, every
hope OF the future, bid us still to stand
shoulder to shoulder" The work before US
demands all the patriotism, all the courage,
all the endurance Of our whole people Let
no party strife, no minor issues, no petty pol-
itics divert us from the great and pressinr
work of the hour-that Of terminating, as far
as possible, our PROSTATE and bleeding State.
and rehabitqting her as speedily as NAV be
with the forms, the rights aud tho sanctity of
government and of law.
The bark which was launched few wears
ago, amid such joyous acclamations, which
was treighted with such precious hopes, and
which was waited on by such earnest PRAYERS.
has suffered shipwreck 1t hehooves MS, as
wise men to build of it's broken timbe $. as
best we may, raft. whenever we may hope
to reach g haven OF rest aud safety.
1t may be that when the forms of govern
ment are restored and freedom of speech al
lowed to us, your late Convention will be SUBJ
jecteq to harsh criticism and its action inn
pugnBd. Should such, uulappiy, be the
case, remember that you, the people of South
Carolina, accepted this Convention as part
and parcel of the terms of your surrender
The President had no shauow of authority.
| admlt-under the Constitution of the Uni
ted States-tO order Convention in this or
any other State; but, Il conqueror, he had
the right to offer, if not to dictate terms
The terms offered by him you have accepted,
and you are bound by every dictate Of honor
and manliness to abide by them honestly and
to keep in good faith the pledges you have
given. do not myself concur fully in all
the measures adopted by the Convention but
shall cheerfaly acquiesce in the action it
took TO carry out faithfully tho terms agreed
on, aud | willingly accord to it high praise
for the manner in which it discharged its ar
duous and unwelcome Ebors. No similar
body ever represented more largely than it
did the dignity, the learning, the Virtue and
the patriotism Of the State, and / am sure
that it YRS actuated by pure and high mo-
tlves. Entertaining these views, think that
1T is our duty to sustain the action of the
ConveptloA in recognizing the abolition Of
slavery, to support the President Of the Uni
ted States so long as he mapiicsts q DISPOSE
ton to restore all the rights as a sovereign
State and To give to sur newly elected g
erpor cordial cooperation IN his grave and
responsible duties. Above all, let us stand
by our Stata-her record is honorable, her
escutckeon umtarnished. Here is our coun-
try-the land Of our nativity, the home of
our affection. Here all ouv hopes should
centre; here we have worshipped the God of
our fathers; here, amid chsrred and black
encd ruins, are the spots we once fonIly call
ed our homes; and here we buried the ashes
of our kindred. All these sacred ties bind
US to our State, and they are intensified by
her suffering and her desolation
And. as a child, when soaring sounds tnoIcst,
Lungs clOsC an'i closer to tlIc mothers breast:
So the loud torrent and the Yhiwind's ruar
But bind I'D to our native land the more.
trust that you will pardon me for thus
venturins to counsel yQn Believe ME, that
1t is in no presumpttous feeling that do so,
but solely in an honest, sincere and humble
hope OF contributing my mite to the welfare
and honor Of our State. What have said
has been evoked by yqqr recent manitesta-
tlons of kindness to ing. This shall cherish
as one OF the prOudeSt recqlleotions of nv
ilte, for it assures me of your belief that I
have tried to do my duty. 1t only remains
tor me, III bidding you farewell, to say, that
whenever the State needs my services she
has only to command and l shall obey.