The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-10-03
In South Carolina In 1851



have "a ,a4' vita he vast ma 9ri,y
u the people the excitement, whlcn va
kept at white heat, va. the excitement d:
hopeful aud c9L8dent enthusiasm. y
DOUBTS a. ~ the righteousness u he.
cause or It's successful issue repre--e1
their exuberant spirits. The fu.ure va
rosy with the promise If a new era f..
the South. Cotton. real but wfOnge1
king. was % get his own a. last h.
World would now pay trl5u.e ~ him
tribute hitherto stolen by the populou-
interruptions greedy North Charleston.
long fret.e1 5y the conviction that sc
had been Kept ~ New York from hei
rigAtful heritage of preemineuce, was 70
Ne the great commercial emporium If IT,
western continent. A. one moment u
the struggle. the accession Of Aarylal4
" the CDnfederacy wa " some regarded
with dl-fayor from he appreheu-io ths'
Baltimore might prove a dangerous rival
~ Charleston. Slavery freei from tn
e1asperating and damaging az t2ti9u- .
which il had long been subject. wa .
obtain guarantees Of everlasting security
and have ample room for indefinite eIpap
sion. Indeed, there were not wau.ir2
fanatics who expected - conquer tn
North and reconstruct the Union, wit
slavery a. the organic law Of the eutir'
country one Of the most Intelligent an .
Influential physicians Of the city serious
Is assured me. on one occasion. that vii
in ten years the South would plaut slay.
cry In every State Of the Old Union.
There were, however, not few COG
heads and sad hearts that saw and fe.
things more clearly and truly. In the.
opinion, wild frenzy had seized L.
Southern mind, and the future coul
bring nothing but calamity. In the est
mate Of such calm reasoners. TIE fr,'
hostile shot would sound the doom Of
slavery. Ii We an institution that coul5
not endure tue stress and CONFUSION Of
war. what else might come, who cOuld
tell? Foremost among these sad di-sen-
tients was that able, brilliant. maguani
nous lawyer. easily and long the head II
the South Carolina bar, James L. Petigru
For some years | was near neighoor u
his Ia Broad Street, and though nv per
sonal acquaintance with hin was very
slight. had learned 10 cherish a high al
miration for him. He was Away. on the
side of justice, moderation- and kindness.
II any poor, suspected, or matreated
stranger needed friend, Mr. Petigru was
ready 70 throw over him the cloak Of HI
great reputation. Advanced now in
years, and for long time out Of relation
to the controlling political views Of hi>
native Stale, he could do nothing in this
new exigeucy, and attempted nothing
But though he took no public stand, il
was well understood that in private h
gave free vent to very vigorous expires
sions of sorrow, wrath, and despair over
what was going on about him. An
other gentleman, Of high character and
varied accomplishments. who kept cool
head and saw straight and clear amidst
the raging storm. was the Hon George
S. Bryan. A little mot Of his, dropped in
a chance conversation, has stuck in my
memory ever since. We were speaking
of certain convention, and interchang-
ing congratulations that it had adjourned
Yes, said Mr.. Bryan, with sad signif-
canoe, but the press never adiourns.
Mr.. Petigru and Mr.. Bryan were mem
bers, believe, of the yestry of old St.
Michael's Church, and one Sunday. when
the rector 0niIUef the us;iai P-a?er &c:
the President Of the United States, they
both rose and left the house. The incl
dent made genuine sensation. - october
-4fldH'ic.