January 17, 1861, The Charleston Mercury
If there is any one thing more than another disheartening and disgusting, in the present juncture of affairs, it is the course of Southern politicians at Washington. In the past, their weak vacillations, their vain submissions, their short sighted selfishness, have reduced us to our present condition. Not the politicians or the people of the North have so far bound us, crippled us, plundered us. The politicians of the South have done the work. They were the guardians of our Southern rights in Congress, and the trust reposed in them they have abused – some from weakness – some from blindness – some through treachery. Verily it is pitiable. But the past is past. And were the same causes of Southern weakness and defeat buried with that past, it would be well for us all now: – and we should have no disposition at this tie to recall theses bitter facts, however fruitful they have been of present ills.
But, miserable to witness, they still exist – are still at work, marring and undermining our interest, and all our future prospects. Southern Senators, upon the floor of Congress, demean themselves by pitiable lamentations and lacrymose appeals to haughty, contemptuous, and openly threatening enemies – Republicans – Yankees.
It is
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not enough that they openly scout the Constitution
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not enough that they deny our territorial rights
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not enough that they rob us at their will
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not enough that they declare their intention to crush our own State institutions, industry and social organization
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not enough that they laugh us to scorn
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not enough still that they seize the sword, and in open Senate proclaim that with the sword they will subdue us to their will;
but Southern Senators, representing directly sovereign States, must fall to begging, kneeling, like very mendicants, for Yankee charity. If patriotism is buried in ambition and honor banished in terror, is there no pride left to stay meekness and stop their tongues? Is supplication, evasion, concession, submission, to be the eternal attitude and programme of Southern politicians? Yet, to look at Washington at this moment, it would seem so. From first to last, in this great Southern movement for independence, the Southern politicians have been but stumbling blocks in the way of Southern advancement. Vain schemes of compromise upon compromise, they have labored, concocted and offered to their scoffing enemies. And still they cling to their skirts and whine and weep. Away with their counsels and compromises! The people of the Southern States must look to themselves and not to their leaders in the rear rank.
For ourselves, we look to the Abolitionists for the deliverance of the South.