The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-08-27

) BroeS IrepOsLerOuS luea-,n6 Su
gestion is criminal, the demand un jus
wicked, monstrous, damnable. Sha
we feed the curse of slavery TO NAL
them rich at our expense? Pay thes
whelps for the privilege of COZ
verting them into decent, honest, NJ
right men 2"
Such WAS the abuse heaped upon
sensitive and high strung people be
cause there existed among them an in
stltution originally planted there large
ly by New England traders and North
ern slave dealers. The consequence
was that men who believed thorough,
in the abstract wrongfulness of SLAYER,
rushed to its defense when the attacl
upon it took the form of an attacl
upon all that the South revered.
Besides the Kansas affair and the
Helper book we have also Johr
Brown's raid to widen the breach. IL
is true he was only fanatical old man
notorious as horse thief and assassin,
but his purpose was to free the slaves
even at the cost of the lives of their
masters, and who could tell how many
more of his stamp would join him?
His plan failed, he was captured, tried
at Charlestown, Va, condemned TO
death, and executed Dec. 9, 1869. Upon
the day of his execution motion for
out of respect to the
sacredness of the day was lost in the
State Senate of Massachusetts by only
three votes. Julian Hawthorne in his
history OF the United States, published
in 1898, says of him, "The North un-
derstood hlm, felt with him, pitied
him, and glored in him; and his name
and story were better known to this
nation than that of any other man of
that age"
The year 1860 was election year. The
four tickets in the field and their plat
forms were
The Cotton States nominee, John
Y. Breckenridge, of KY, on the prin-
clple that the Congress of the United
States had no power TO abolish slavery
in the Territories, or to prohibit its in
PRODUCTION into any of Them, nor any
}ower to destroy and impair the right
Of property in slaves by any legislation
whatever.
The Northern Democratic nominee,
stephen A. Douglas, on the platform
Of abiding by the decisions of the
supreme court of the United States on
he questions of constitutional law.
The Black Republican nominee,
Abraham Lincoln, with platform de-
,laring freedom to be the normal con-
iition of the Territories, and protest
ng especial attachment to the union
If the States.
The platform of the Constitutional
Union party had " The Constitution of
he Country, the Union of the States,
md the Enforcement of the Laws as
is planks, and John Bell, of Tennessee,
IS its representative.
Lincoln was the successful candidate,
hough he did not receive majority of
he popular vote. He was elected by
majority of the electoral college, be-
cause every Northern State except
New Jersey voted for him and every
southern Stale voted against him. In
Congress the North had 1873 votes and
he South 100 if unanimous. Under
hese circumstances, with an anti
slavery President, and with it the
purpose of the North to abolish slavery,
ler principal means of support, the
)nly hope of the South lay in quietly
lrawing ont of an agreement made
)nly for mutual benefit. The conven.
ion which met in Columbia Dec. IL,
1860, was assembled in recognition of
his fact. At that time both North and
South were agreed as to the right to
,ecede. New York had reserved it to
herself on her adoption of the Federal
On four separate Occa-
,ions Massachusetts had threatened to
exercise the right. The New York
Tribune Oh the eve of hOstilities de-
clared Whenever a portion of this
Union, large enough to form an lnde-
pendent, self-sustaining nation shall
see lit to say automatically to the resi-
due, we want to get away from you,
we shall say, and we trust self-respect,
if not regard for the principle of self
government, will cOnstrain the residue
of the American people to say, Co."
In order to preserve peace South
Carolina sent commissioners to Wash
ington to consult with Buchanan as to
the best means of avoiding q hostile
collision between herself and the Fed
eral government. The commissioners
expressed their firm belief that no at
tack would be made on the forts in
Charleston until friendly arrange
ment had been made, provided no re-
Inducements be sent into the forts.
The President gave orders accordingly
TO Major Anderson, and added, 4" An
attack on or attempt to take possession
of either one of them will be regarded
as an act of hostility, and you may then
put your command into either of them"
Major Anderson removed his troops to
Fort Sumter, Immediately after the
passing of the ordinance of secession.
When Buchanan, reminded of his
pledge and asked to order Major An
derson back to Fort Moultrie, refused
to do 80, Mr.. Floyd, of Virginia, the
Secretary of War, in view of the Pres.
ident's violation of faith and the at.
tempt TO make him party to it, with
drew from the cabinet in high state
of Indignation. Buchanan not only
did not order Anderson back to Fort
Moultrie, but went 80 far as to SEND
the Star of the West with reinforce.
ments. AS 1t was taking the channe
for Sumter, Jan. 8, 1861, a battery or
Morris Island manned by Citadel ca
diets fred upon her and she ran out tt
sea with all speed.
Immediately after the Inauguration
of Lincoln the Confederate government