Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-05-22
FORTY-NlNTH INSTAlLMENT
(Thursday, December 6. 1860.
Meetino of the People.

Notwithstanding an inclement, cold
and bitter day-a white day'-a
large multitude of the people Of York
district came to town on Monday, last,
to hear and applaud words Of counsel
and persuasion. touching the political
crisis, from our distinguished fellow
citizens. James Chestnut, Jr., and Isaac
w. Hayne. At the very worst, 1t was
a grand rally: and we can only regret
that every man and woman in the dis
trict could not be present to join in
and enjoy the patriotic festival.
At twelve o'clock, the meeting con-
vened in the court house and was
called to order by our senator, Col.
r. G.. McCaw. Messrs. l. y. Withers,
Samuel w. Melton and I. d. Wither-
spoon were appointed secretaries. In
few spirited and pertinent remarks,
Col. McCaw, chairman, explained the
object of the meeting and introduced
the Hon. James Chestnut.
The auditory, by their hearty ap-
plause, reciprocated the pleasure eX-
pressed by Col. Chestnut in appearing
before them Introducing himself
| this handsomely, the orator proceed
ed to the argument of the great ques-
ton now before our people, and made
a thoroughly eloquent, persuasive and
convincing appeal, both to the heads
and hearts of his hearers. In the
emergency now presented, secession,
immediate and if necessary, separate.
was the best mode for securing CO.
operation. No pause should be made.
In the Union, many arguments might
exist to strengthen the position of 9TH
er states, in opposition to resistance.
| With no Union to save, the alterna-
| tive will be presented to them, to unite
either with the north or the south;
and no sane man can doubt that,
aroused as they now are, the states
will not long debate" but will take
Ades with their friends, and form a
solid phalnax, going all together.
Col. Chestnut did not regard the
election of Lincoln a cause for dis
union. 1t only justifies secession. The
causes are deeper, existing far back
in the history Of the government;
antagonisims against which the faith
ers of the republic could not provide,
founded in that peculiar character of
the Puritan mind, which will not
fashion after any model save It's
own pattern-a character which mas
now become inveterate, and in obedi-
ence to whose selfish and absurd no.
tions, it is impossible for free peo-
pie to live. To be convinced of this,
we have only to look to the means
by which northern men have en-
deavored to carry out their selfish
purposes. They have flooded the
south with incendiary publications;
they have taught the lessons of an
tagonism from the rostrum, by lee
lures, in their schools. from the pull
pit, and by every other method pos
sible, and they openly declare their
intention to employ the government,
it's patronage, the courts, the laws,
chinery, for the same end; and hav-
ing the reins of power, to punish as
traitors all who dare to oppose. Col.
Chestnut here read an extract from a
recent speech Of Senator Wilson, de-
claring that the heel Of the north"
was upon the neck of the south. and
would grind the slave power tol
powder" He asked how such men
"By arms" was echoed again, again
and again. throughout the hall.
In reply to the covert act argu-
ment Col. Chestnut asked if any man,
could be so mad as to wait until the
torch was actually applied? with
the assassin's torch upon our persons,
shall we wait until the steel pierces us
to the heart" No! Each state must
act To delay is death! Action will
put lever in the grasp Of the south,
with which to lift up every down.
trodden son of the soil: will send
iii OuSllOul oul uoIutIo di NiSS'iiN
flash which will set ablaze the whole
land, and light up the hills and the
valleys. as the clans gather togeth-
er and march to the onslaught!
Georgia is moving; Alabama isl
moving: Mississippi is moving; Flor
ida is moving; Louisiana-she had
been assured by the leading spirit
there-urged us forward-and North
Carolina, slow to decide, then prompt
to act. with the memories of old
Mecklenburg still alive, would not
and could not, lag behind.
Can we maintain a separate gov
ernment? We now contribute $780,
600 of bounties. annually. to north |
ern fisheries: we pay 40 millions by
customs. 30 millions to manufacture |
ers: 60 millions by travel: 40 mil
lions for teachers; 10 millions to
brokers and agents; we contribute 80
millions of capital: and, in all. we
pay 100000 to Il government |
from which we gain comparatively |
nothing. besides the immense contri- |
button dragged from us by the un-
equal operation of coasting trade. Il |
contribution beyond calculation in
numbers. TO support a separate gov
ernment in the south we have the la
Dor which produces $200,0GO.O00 an
nually BY laying imports, we would
have $5O,OO0.O00. If we appropri- |
ate free trade. a tariff of 20 per cent
would yield $4O.OOO.OOO: and at 10
per cent. we would have $20,000.000 |
amply sufficient for al the purposes
of Il southern government. Our in
dustry need not pause. The young
men only need fight: for there are