The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-10-01
MIR. BEEcHER AND GOV. PlcKENs.

lSShISso oOit AOl QLllSfuShe4-
Fictitious interest to their narratives o'e' "i'0
dull and proliz, by introducing living cnaraoVei'
and describing contemporary events Vi 60
nationsl importance! Novelists have oiIei '"Aei,
the license TO introduce (usually toi purposes "
satire) living characters, but genGraiiy ulioei
assumed names But to introduce mon n'inh'
who played prominent part only nVe VI Ola '0@-7
ago, and describe the events IN winch 'i'eS "ete
principal actors more than this, 20 represent.
them as giving reasons foi their act'oiS' an0 -
course in nine cases ont of ten put language "',.
sentiments in their mouths, TO which the! "ou'''
not subscribe, is course OF procedure WINCH We
are at loss to characterize in language express
ing the indignation we feal yet at tae sai'' '''''
temperate, as BELTS the unbiased critic.
We are of the fow who have pahehtiy anu hop.-
fully followed Mr. HENRY WARD BEEcHER' through
all te prolixity and preaching OF the lor's
| chapters; thus far published IN tue Ne'o L""
| Ledqer, of "Norwood or Village Lilo IN Ne" Eng
land" We have sympathized with him again ant.
again, when we found him in palpable strai1 oi
not knowing what to do for the next weeks copy
| or how to dispose of his characters. we haFe ho
doubt many Of his unprofcssionai feaaerS na'V
have been greatly puzzled to know why ie"
weeks ago. for no cause that could be reasonaoiy
assigned. Parson BUELL's wife was killed on anu
her funeral obseouies minutey chlonicled, wnea
the said lady had never before been naMsu III '''e
course Of the story. The true eApana'o,i' VIC
take it. was that Parson BEEchER did not Ieei very
bright, and BoNNER's devil being clamorous ror
| "copy," he sat down and prosed TO: two OF three
hours over Mrs. BUELL. and her h'lsDsnds great
affliction at the loss of so estimahle Il vile.
A similar predicament doubtless suggested
| "changing the venue" to Charleston. Inc SUD
hero, Mr.. HEYwooD, an "F. F. w." who haa peeh
residing in Norwood, land but recently been re
fused" by the heroine, Miss WENTWORTH, IN he oi
desperation goes to Charleston, in the spring OF
1861. There is no Satisfactory explanations gwen
for 80 rash step on the part of This Southern
gentleman with Northern principles de ls Ioroeo
here, nolens uotens, because it suIis MI bshoHEh
to fill two or three chapters with the siege Oh for'
Sumter at little outlay of thought or LABOR.
In Chapter XII, Mr.. HEYwoop commences hls
letter detailing events in Charleston IN Marcn,
1861. Ho has letters to Governor PIoKENs and
other notabiltes. and naturally at once gains their
confidence. Governor P and General BEAuREdAkD
reveal their most secret plans ard Interior pur-
poses to the unsympathizing bresst OF this Flr-
ginia Unionist.
Under date of April 10 he writes:
oI am informed to-day BY Gov. Pickens that ne
has word from the Government at Wasnngtom
that provsi )ns are to be sent to Fort sumner at al
| hazards and that he has communlca the same
to his Government at Montgomery. Ihere Is
Crest excitement. I urged the plan already men
toned Anderson cannot hold o1t many DAYS;
Starvation will give the. fort into their hands fu
as soon as artillery can. Unless oloodsneo is
needed for some political purpose, cannot imagine
swarms with troops arriving with every train,
while those hitherto camping here have peeh aus
tributed to the forts and batteries: BUSINESS Is
almost dead. 1t seems like military holiday.
| The current for secession and Southern ~, ne
public rushes like mighty stream. Nothing
| can stay it, and nothing resist. 1t amounts,
not to a phrenzy, yet to an irresistible enthu-
siasm. Every one is exhilarated. The most e3-
trsyepant pictures are drawn of the future OF thus
new empire. Last night I heard several OF the
loading men and managers of affairs discussing
| the prospect. 'Bombard the tort-commlt the
State irrevocably by shedding blood. Tho Gov
ernment 1T Washington cannot DO less then than
to Threaten coercion. The first step In tnat o.
recrion will bring every cotton-growinR State to
our side. IF the conflict begins, even the border
States raust como TO this SIDE. Against such 4
front no war will eve be m..de.' Turning to me-
one of the gentlemen said You shrink at the
shedding Of blood Is it not better by the loss Of
few lives, and the consolidation thereby OF hf-
teen States, to prevent war. thai bytemporizing
| to go at length into conflict which, though not
doubtful in issue. will sacrifice hundreds and it
may be thoueends OF lives Even humanity wou!d
dictate decisive measures. 81 i
'I replied: Il think, gentlemen, that you mis-
take the whole feeling of the North II the flag Is
fred upon there will be war. If there is war; yop
must prepare yourselves for long and torrible
one The South will not yield easily. The North
will be even more tenacious
"Some of the gentlemen were curious to know
more of my opinion OF the North, which gave.
But the majority laughed to scorn the idea OF
Northern courage. What is most singular ID, that
the men who most doubt Northern fighting quail
ties were themselves from the North, or were born
OF Northern parents One or two fiery spirits de-
clared that with thousand picked men they could
march from Charleston to New York; that there
were, more ;inE number IN the North VINO w9uid
greet them than would fight, and that in less than
| year peace would be established. Tho meeting
broke up and as we walked together again, and
| with warmth, urged upon Governor Pichens to use
his influence to prevent actual hostilities
plainly '" disclosed, 5 / am am treated with SO
in the most secret councils Of secession.
But 80 it is. He replied to my importantly :
Haywood, honor your idehtyto your con-
respecting the North. Yet, you are Southern, and
you will be obliged to join US. Events will prove
stronger than mems Wills.
"'But not, 1 trust, than mens principles
'''All honest men agree in principles. It is the
application of principles that createska difference
OF opinion upon public affairs. For instance: You
believe in justice and 30 do l. But what is just
That is the question between the North and South
We believe in humanity. But which is the surest
way Of being humane? Sometimes fort earanco
is more humane than peace. To fire upon SUM
ter will prevent civil war. You think not
1t is not difference OF principles, but OF ludg-
ment You believe that the happiness of the
population will'be consulted by unity of national
life. We believe that two nations are better than
one. We agree as to the principle, viz. the duty
Of seeking the happiness OF the people. We differ
as to means only. say that you are one of us: l
mean that your sympathies go with the land OF
your birth. Events are trauspiring that will draw
the lines, and all men will have to choose sides.
The time is close at hand. 1t will be impossible
for you, when you see that the rupture cannot be
prevented, to take sides against your father and
kindred, against your State, against all your COM
futurel Your honor and your affection will COM
pei the right course. And it is this certainty Which
induces me 10 confde in you.
"He then laid open to me the whole inside view,
and confess that my heart sank within me, as ne
closed, and felt gloomy certainty that the ma
tion was rent in twain.
"There are,' said he among the active and In
fuential men in the South three classes. First,
the old politicians, who do not want secession,
and threaten it only to secure for the soqt Ger
tain further concessions which shall prolong its
political ascendency They are dull and selfish
men. They foresee nothing ard plan nothing ex-
cept the possession OF political power.
"'Next is the great middle class, containing the
active young men, and most Of the families OF
wealth throughout the South. They threaten Sc
cession and even welcome it, but with distinct
understanding among themselves that it If the me
shortest road to reconstructed Union. They all
hold to the sntiquated superstition of single na
ton. When once the South is organized, and its
government recognized, then, they reason, will be-
gin process Of disntegraion of the Northern
Union, and of the absorption of its particles by
the Southern Union One b. one the Northwest
ern States will dissolve their connection with their
Government, and come under our new Constitu-
ton. Pennsylvania will not be long in following
New York will not consent to see her commerce
pass to Baltimore and Charleston. New England
which has been the frebrand Of the continent, may
shoulder and go to ashes among her own rocks
| We will have none Of her Eler young men will
emigrate, maryland conform TO the customs OF the
South. In fifty years she viii beas little heard OF