March 31, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
It is the part of the truly brave seldom to make an undue estimate of the dangers or difficulties before them, but to see things as they are, because passions are not permitted to pervert judgment. Their hopes and expectations are not beyond the warrant of events, and fears neither hide nor magnify the truth. Hence, when disasters come, the truly brave are neither surprised nor alarmed, and their will is ready to meet the disasters present. Indeed, their spirit and resolution rises higher, because a mightier task is before them, and the wrong inflicted by disaster inspires a deeper anger, indignation and resentment. These strong passions, kindled by opposition rouse and sustain them in resistance. All truly brave men, therefore, have been greatest when most pressed. Constancy is a virtue only known in trial and peril. The indomitable spirit of the Roman people was only seen when, after the loss of three pitched battles, their Senate rose up and thanked their defeated General he had not despaired of the Republic.
We, of the Confederate States, it seems, must soon prove that we are worthy of independence and liberty. We would have preferred to have won them more easily. Whether we would have kept them, if thus won, may be questionable. A vast portion of our people neither realized the characteristics of the Northern people, nor the dangers which long, like a gathering cloud, have impended over our existence and institutions. It has required red-handed war to teach us our true relations towards these people, and to force us into that antagonism necessary for a permanent separation. Some have clung to the hope of compromise and a reunion with them; and this vain, and (if realized) fatal hope, spread a spirit of inactivity and weakness over our arms. That delusion, we trust, is passed away; and the stern alternative of utter subjugation or independence is forced upon us. In this state of things, the people of the Confederate States make up their minds to meet their destiny. That destiny is either to be an enslaved and undone people forever, or to be free and self-existent. They have the choice, and fighting manfully is the only way to independence. The Northern people cannot give to conquered subjects rights which they have not themselves. They have set up a military despotism over themselves, and they have nothing else to offer us. The only difference between us and themselves would be this: their despotism is for their benefit – to conquer and overrun us; for us, it would be a hostile despotism without benefit. It is a despotism of a mob – ferocious, avaricious and fanatical – armed with hatred for us and our institutions. Submission to such a despotism must be destruction. Safety – liberty – existence itself, depends on our successful resistance to their domination. We can do it; and, with God’s help, we will do it. A strenuous will must stimulate our determinations, and excite our utmost efforts to give them a practical […..] result. It is the time for a display of energy and courage.