Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-12-19

would as willingly take up arms in defence of the
Government as they did against it. All they ask
is a hunting ground and resting place. '..
From De BOWS Review.
MEMORIES OF THE WAR.
Neither the Southern nor the Northern people
seem to have beenprepared for the startling events
which followed upon the election of Mr.. Lincoln
to the presidency. The South had threatened dis
solution so long, and had talked so much of the
right of secession from the Union, which they
threatened would occur on each fresh invasion of
thei rights, that the North had long since learned
to regard it as the old cry of wolff wolff in the
fable Yet the wolf did at last come, and as much
to the surprise of one section as the other.
We travelled to the North and witnessed many
of the exciting scenes which preceded that ever
memorable election. Weheard the angry and Bit
ter denunciation Of the South which was common,
and saw those vast professions for which there
seemed to be not space enough in the Cities which
took the name of 'wide-awake," and whose ban
ners and transparencies were inscribed with the
most terrible threatenings against our people
Still the more thoughtful and leading men with
whom we conversed, though they recognized and
lamented the danger, would never admit for mo-
ment that the South would do otherwise than sui
lenly protest and submit as she had ever done be-
fore, and the less considerate would grow angry up
on the mere suggestion, and boastingly assert that
the South could not be kicked out of the Union.
There were leading men, too, and men who con-
trolled powerful newspapers, who admitted the
justice of our complaints and the realities of our
danger, and said that if we desired to withdraw
from the Union they could not complain, and that
no serious distractions would be interposed A
distinguished leader even went 80 far as to say if
the Union upheld slavery, let the Union slide.
Even Mr.. Seward, who was recognized as the or
gan of Mr.. Lincoln, after the States began to Sc
cede, continued to protest that there was nothing
serious in it, that in few weeks harmony and Or
der would be restored again, that it was mere po
ltcal ruse, and the Presidentelect, himself turned
it all into merry joke, and never could laugh
enough in adyerting to it, or cease to find consoa-
ton that nobody was yet hurt. Even Southern
men who were at the North that summer, in their
Conversations were forced to admit that the chances
were very much against any action at home The
people had not recognized the presence of the dan
ger, and could not most probably, be prepared to
strike before it was too late. They would, there
fore, acquiesce. In this opinion all the merchants
who had heavy amounts due by the Southern peo-
pie, and of which disunion and war would prevent
the collection, seemed heartily to acquiesce, and,
so far from restricting their operations, they con-
tinued to make large consignments to their Gus
toners almost up to the commencement of hostil-
ties and it is screditabe to the Southern merchants
paid for when hostilities had ceased although the
amounts had once before been paid to their own
governments.
As an evidence Of how little the chances of war
were regarded; when we reached Washington
City on the return home, We were called upon to
address a large crowd of citizens, and when we
spoke of Southern armies being brought into the
field to resist Northern aggression and invasion, a
gentleman present in the audience who was Uni
ted States Senator from northwestern State rose
and expressed his regret at what had been said !;
for, in point of fact, an invasion of the South was
an impossiblity. Come what will" he said,
you may assure your people that when an army
attempts to cross your frontier to their harm it will
be resisted and kept back by stronger army Of
our own people," and yet this Senator was found
afterwards in command Of Northern regiment
devastating the South
We were in South Carolina when the news Of
the election of Lincoln was received, which seemed
to the last moment not to be seriously expected
We were in front of one Of the leading newspaper
Offices at Charleston when the people, Aocking to-
gether, read the announcement. 1t was eleven
O'Clock in the day, and no one knew what would be
done. The crowd grew larger and larger. In a
few moments some one cried out to raise the old
colonial flag, and it was understood that party
went in search of it. Before, however, it arrived,
others had prepared large white sheet on which
rude palmetto tree and lone star were daubed,
and as it rose alo and was unfured in the breeze,
shout went up to the skies which was answered
by the gathering of thousands. A moment after
it was announced that the Judge of the Federal
Court had refused to preside again, and that re-
garling the Union at an end, he and the other off,
GERS had resigned. Thus the ball of revolution
was set in motion. 1t was action without concert
and spontaneous. That night the whole city was
outofdoors, and great torchlght professions para
ded the streets and serenaded the officers. Being
visitor at the house of the Judge that evening,
we were called out by the crowd. Never were
there such times in that old city. We remained
there several weeks. All business was suspended.
Excited crowds were gathered at every corner, and
even on board the ships in the harbor, which were
addressed by more excited speakers. Palmetto
flags or lone star flags waved everywhere. Great
meetings were held in the public buildings, at
which throngs of ladies were seen, who waved
handkerchiefs and showered bouquets upon the
speakers. Delegations came down to meet them
from other towns, and even from other States and
such was the resistless character Of the current
that it was now evident to everybody at home that
South Carolina, at least, whatever other States
might do, would secede, and that at once, from
the Union.
Meanwhile, the other States to the south and
southwest ofher were equally active, and the peo-
7 pie everywhere seemed to be moving with one
spirit in what they regarded the hoGest of causes
l Public meetings and assemblies Of every kind
were held in all the villages and counties, at which
t the most exciting speeches were made.
3 ANaER.-Never get angry, 1t does no good
Some sins have seeming compensation or apollo
gy, present qualification of some Sort but anger
has none. A man feels no better for it 1t il
s really torment, and when the storm Of passion
has cleared it leaves one to see that he has been