Year: 1861

THE WHIRLWIND.


The following are extracts from private let.
ter written by leading citizen Of Charleston,
to friend in Philadelphia;


You ask me for my candid opinion of our con
diton, and will venture TO give it to you. I
could not publicly utter the sentiments of this
letter without risking my life. The leaders of
the Convention, like their prototypes of the
French Revolution, are beginning to be terri.
fed at the fruits of the seed they have sown;
but, as yet the time for reaction is not here
The peop1' have been infuriated through the
efforts Of the politicians, and now, like Paris
ian mob, are pushing their captains and lieu.
tenants into the very midst of danger. What
may bring these men to their senses is the tax
system they have adopted. When a per capita
sum is levied upon negro slaves, those who be-
gan and have driven forward this miserable
business will feel, in their own purses, that
which is now affecting men in my situation.
They will be brought to their senses; for it
stands to reason that we can no more maintain
permanent military force without immense
and burdensome taxation, than we can eat our
own cotton, or trade with Europe with Uncle
Sans fleet in our harbor


1t is impossible for this state of things to con.
tinue without colsion-and when that comes,
pou hcip peOpicl lHe rivalry DeUWeen
Charleston and Savannah has always been
great, but that which was merely commercial
competition and jealousy before secession, is
now dread and anger. When our port is closed,
Savannah may be kept open-a result that is
not unlikely, considering that a large number
Of moderate men are returned to the Conven.
ton which is to assemble in that city.


think the Republicans in Congress can af.
ford to come down from their elevation-par.
ticularly in view of the condition of those in
the cotton States who, like myself, look upon
the entire course of the fire eaters with horror
When we have been fully surrounded by star.
walton, taxation, and other troubles, it may be
too late to turn the tide now surging on all
sides. Anything practical from the Republi-
cans would be used with excellent effect.


Much as l have read of foolish conduct,
have never seen anything 80 silly and childish
as that Of the men who control our Conven-
ton. They are not statesmen; they are lu.
natics, and seem to have no thought of the
morrow. Their whole design is one of haste
and hate; and even you, who have your opin.
ion of our fire. eaters, would be surprised to see
how much more indiscreet and inexperienced
they are than you have believed them to be.
These men appear to forget that, while they
may prevent an American man-ofwar from
crossing our bar and coming into our port, and
enforcing the United States laws, they at the
same time exclude all commerce from us. The
agitation made few days ago. that the en-.
trance to the port should be destroyed, is a part
Of their foolish policy. If, like the Russians at
Sebastopol, we fill our harbor with obstacles,
we therefore not only defy the Government, but
starve ourselves. our people seem to be on a
frolic, and probably when they get sober will
also get sane.


The Mssissippians as well as some in this
State, Alabama, and Georgia, look to success.
of just debts. What a shameful position for an
honest man, and an American, to take How
can such people obtain credit from civilized
Europe, when they refuse to fulfil their Just OBJ.
legations to their own countrymen?


1t is clear, that unless the Federal Govern.
ment shows its teeth, and tells these men that
it will enforce the laws made in pursuance of
the Constitution, they will 60 on until they wrap
the whole Of the Gulf States in q general con.
hagration.


forbear describing what our condition in
South Carolina would then be. How would
they get on in Georgia. with minority inside
party in favor Of the Union, suspected by the
majority, and all their movements watched, not
to speak of other horrible reflections, that the
negroes themselves may catch the alarm, and
that thousanos heretofore dependent upon the
North for supplies Of produce, pork, beef &C.,
will be unable to get these necessaries of life ?
1t is my daily prayer, however, that as the
storm approaches, and seems to be inevitable,
some good man in the Republican party will
rise up in his place in Congress, and, at the
risk flosing his political position, offer such
concessions as will enable us to live on happily
and peacefully for years together. can assure
you that if this is done, many who favored Sc.
cession at the start, but who now see that it is
likely to end in a general wreck, will be so
glad to escape, and will join with me in thanks
to God that we have been rescued from inde-
scribable horror.