April 12, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
Never, in the world’s history, has any people entered into combat with a higher spirit or a more satisfied, settled, concentrated purpose of achieving independence and respect, than the people now assembled in military force about the harbor of Charleston. Quiet, orderly, prayerful, the unmistakable, irreversible resolve is present. No vain regrets escape the lips of even the women of Carolina. No words of remonstrance fall from the mouth of disqualified age–while the face of manhood is sternly lit with the guadia certaminis. We fear not that the legitimacy of these men of ‘to those of ‘ will not be fully proven, and that the legacy of MOULTRIE and MARION will not be triumphantly maintained. With a deeper sense of wrong, there is the same devotion to duty, the same indignation against the tools of power sent to cleave down their liberties. If anything mars the sober joy with which the bloody arbitrament is welcomed, it is that we shall have to deal with these men and not with their masters. But the issue as made shall be met–and again, as in the Revolution, it will be seen how superior is patriotic valor to hireling skill, and that brave men, fighting on their own soil, for their dearest rights, are invincible. We rejoice that our people, as one man, with serene spirit, are ready for the solemn reckoning with our enemies at hand, and advance upon their great destiny with hearts that, knowing neither doubt of the right, nor fear of consequences, feel sure of success.