The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-08-23
Thc CITY md the Sfnfe

When the fire Of 1888 swcJ,t away the great iusi-
ness portion of our city, there were many, very
many, who looked upon lc city rs doomed The
owners oflnrsc warehouses heavy stocks of goods
fine residences, and property of other kinds were
| mournfu, for they regarded themselves as ruined
beyond rccurcraton, and fora time made effort
to recover themselves. 1t was the first great ca
ianttty that had overcome the city in that genera
tion-thcyhad heard of disasters like it, but never
such destruction to visit Charleston. They be-
came merrcless for season; their strength van
lshcd, and Il careless rncrvation POSSESSED them.
But in time they began to see that their msfor-
tunes could bc aleviatcd; that strength of heart,
not weakness of mimi, requisite; that action
alone was necessary to put them where they We're
beforehand obcying the instinct, they threw of
their listlcssncss, and became diligcnt and cncr-
gctic. The result was the rebuilding Of the city,
with such vast improvements Us to ctusc express
sions from not Il few intmatnS that good had been
derived. There is no doubt that Charleston had
been benefited, rs the increase of trade and aug
mcntation of wealth soon showed. Many, who SUP
posed they to be poor for the balance of their
days, became opulcnt, and looked back upon their
fears with smiles. This great contiayrat;on was
new and sudden, anu could not then be understood;
but the spacious stores ndhandsomc houses which
afterwards occupied the ground where shantcs
only stoud, show the benefit of action stimulated
by calamity.
At the present time another misfortune heavier
than that alluded to above, but not sudden, has
come upon us, and what We have there said is i'll
tended rs lesson to teach lis now our duty-to en-
dcavor to make our people rise up and, Srasping
the difficulties as they did On that occasion, toss
them aside.
The first great and important matter to affect is
~ m tr hnc. iufn mi Ia
there few who, regardless of anything but
their own capricous whims, and who desire, with
out looking to consequences, that shall remain
are, the Intelligent mass not only wisi, but
insist returning at carly period as cir
cumstanccs will allow. And yet with all 'sthis
strong desire and apparent determination! We see
but Ettlc actual effort bcI, made TO farther this
momcnto'is project. Many gentlemen, with great
weight OF character, when being nOm;ra ted for
seats i'll the Convention, immediately decline while
more of them exhibit II luiewarmness IL tho l!lat
ter while the! fully feel the Necessity; that is de-
plora5le The only remedy for this which We can
sec, is through public meeting forming g. t:cie:
OF upright, worthy men, '.ho, loving the State With
first love, will sacrifice anything s;;; he, bros
pcrity. Let it be insisted that they attend tho
! Convention i'll September next, and altering tn,
Constitution II sut the cxigcnc:rs uf the times
and performing all other necessary acts, place he,
back il her position in the Unio:.. The will suc
cess dawn npoa us. and peace, an'l crIe. nnd quic
reign around us Efforts will then be made, wit!
success, to rcSai: former wcai:h-thc channels o.
business vii! overflow. and happiness will beam i,
every eye. Above all, we will Le as free ~ an,
other people i'll sltis broad and expanded Unio,:
with whom We shall vc in rcvcrcncmS and defend
ing it. When that day comes We will salute South
Carolina with Ell heart and nostcired exc not as
the stumbling Roman did, but by rcvcremtly knccl
ing AMI kissing the mother WHO gave us birth, ant
i'll whose hosom we hope to rest olr mortal body