The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-01-06

West. 1t is in vain to avoid contest r
How significant are these predictions o
1886. when read by the light of the Pres
idential Canvass of 1860, and the lurit
glare of all that has followed in its wake
His speech on the Fertilization Bill, il
May, 1886, attracted much attention from
the vigorous exposition of the real nature
of the changes going on in the Govern
ment, which he contended were virtua
alterations of the nature of the Govern
ment itself. At this day it has a high
additional value from its predictions, since
realized, as to the changes which woulc
be produced in naval warfare by the ap
plication of steam power. During the
same year he was among tho first who
advocated tho independence of Texas, in
opposition to the views expressed by Gov
McDufie, and others of the dominant par
ty of South Carolina and elsewhere; and
in 1887 made one of the first speeches in
Congress in favor cf the Independent
Treasury Scheme.
A series of speeches delivered by him
from this time to 184l, on the relation oi
the Government to Banks, and the
Banking System, and on the subject of Ex
changes, excited widespread commentan
admiration in the great commercial and
financial centres of the Union, and may
be read at this day with pleasure and
profit. The Report made by him as
Chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Relations, in 1910, on the burning of the
Steamboat Caroline, and the demand
made by the British for Mcleod, exhbi.
ted his views of our Foreign relations,
and created sensation both hero and in
England.
lie continued in Congress, an active
participant in all leading debates, till the
4th March, 1S43, when he was elected to
fill the unexpired term of Major Jeter in
the State Senate.
He was q member of tho State Conven-
ton of 1852, and drew its Ordinance
affirming the right of Secession, reported
by g Committee composed of Chancellor
Wardlaw, Robert W. Barnwell and him.
self.
On the election of Mr.. Buchanan to the
Presidency, he accepted the Mission to St.
Petersburg, having previously declined
the Mission to France, rendered him by
President Tyler, and the Mission to Eng
land, rendered him by President Polk.
During his residence as American Minis
ter in St. Petersburg, he jealousy guarded
the honor and dignity of his country, and
vigiIantly watched its interests, so far as
these came, or could come, within the
scope of his duties or powers; and the
Legation was the seat of an elegant hos
pitality, embellished by all that female
grace and ingenuity could devise to re-
mind American visitors to the ice-bound
Capital Of all tho Russias, of the de-
lights of our own more temperate cline.
But his heart amid all the ostentation
and gaiety of diplomatic life, was with his
home and people in the sunny South; and
the John Brown Raid, the disruption of
the Democratic party under the bold lead
of Yancey, in which party Mr.. Pickens
had long thought was the last hope of
Constitutional Union, and the increasing
excitement of domestic politics, .admon-
ished all who believed with him, their
primary allegiance due to their State and
not to the Federal Government; that the
prologue which had lasted for thirty years
was Fastening rapidly to o close ; that the
black curtain which had shut down like
pail between the seer-lke eyes of Calhoun
and the future, was about to be raised
upon the first scene of the Grand Drama
whose denouement no mortal could FORE
tell; that the conflict of opinions which
had descended from Jefferson and Hamil-
ton to Calhoun and Webster, to Pickens
and Fessenden, was now being debated for
the last time as conflict of opinion be-
tween Wigfall and Johnson ; and that be-
yond the Atlantic was no place for them
whose solemn duty and high privilege
it was to be where, if other conflict sue
ceeded the conflict of opinion, they could
meet their enemy at the gate. He re-
signed his position as Minister to Russia,
came to Washington, settled his accounts
with the Department, and reached Caro-
lima amid the excitement which prevailed
in November, 1860.
The times were darkening, and events,
more unmistakable than the fitful beating
of the public pulse, proclaimed in tones
too audible to be misunderstood, that
those who had just been chosen by the
people of Carolina to select q fit occupant
for the Executive Chair, were called upon
to make that selection under circumstan-
ces more momcntous, and at time more
big with fate, than had ever fallen to the
lot of the representatives of the people.
Names of good mon and true, of civil and
military fame, of National as we'll as
State reputation, were presented, but the
loud voice of popular acclaim, on the 10Th
December, 1860, four days before the State
formally sundcrcd the bonds which bound
her to she American Union, waited the
returned Minister from Russia into that
high office which then required for the
discharge of it's Herculean duties and re-
sponsibiities, faculties not second to those