Press enter after choosing selection

A Curious Letter--disunion In 1858

A Curious Letter--disunion In 1858 image
Parent Issue
Day
16
Month
August
Year
1861
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Uno ol the soldiors oi' tilo 3d ! chusetts regiment picked np n ourious manuscript letter in Humpton, Virginia. It provecí to be written to a genítemau in thut vieinity by Ex-Congieasman Garnett, of Virginia, and was doled "Ellenwood, Aug. 27, 1858." Tho diadofeure ivhich it makws of South Carolina politica thfue years ugo, is extremely interesting by thelight of subsequeut events, as will be seen by tiie lollowing extract: " I cunnot cor.clude without a word about the demonstrutions which have justly supprined you frura Keitt and Hammond. Peihups it will surprise you inore that I was perfeotly pwpared íor ihern. South Carolina politics are going through a complete revuluiion since Mr. Ualhoun's time. They til eail thomselves Disunionists - vow that the Federal Government is corrupt a.d oppressive, and tliat tho be.st tliing pos si'ble would be to get r;d of it. But then they suy they uannot dissolve alone thut Soulh Carolina ciin't lead - and that being in the Union she should go in for lier share of the plunder, keep up, they say, a splendid govcrnrnen;, fine army, navy, &c, and let the South take its" shai'e. They probably know very little about the Constitution, but they take care not to inquire into it, for if they did, its limitolion mijfht prove very troublesoino in this grab game. Along witli this view of Statu policy, you will see how readily a like ptlicy inay grow up atnong individuáis for patronage, and I had soiíie opporlunity ot convincing i.iyself lust winter, that the lust for offico was hotter in Soutli Carolina than they have ever charged it was in Virginia. " I do not mean to say that all SoiUh Caroliniiius take there views, or thut they have iufluenced all of ihe dek'gation ; but a party is stoadily growing up in that State with these opinions. It. is already strong, it' not dominant, uiid I fear the rcsult will be a regular spnils party. So far as Hammond and Keilt ure concerned, l balevo both honest, and I arn sure that neilhtr would be surprised at youi" comments. Yet yon are right, and they have gone, and probably will go, tnueh larther than they dreum oí. Botb are ond oí praise, ospecially K;itt. He vvas much tlattered by the President last session, and both he and Hammond have been tickled by the praise of their liberaiity and oonseïvatism. Hammond iaauuin oi genius, but erotihety, believes in table-turning, homceopathy, &c. Neither of thein knovv any hing about the Constitution, undthey never wül kiiow." t" One of theuriter's schoulmntes was alwaya beliind with his lessons, Upon ono occasion, hia teacher in an acudemy in which he had inanaged to obtain an entrancc, wa endeavoring tr explain a qnention in arithnietic to hiin. He was asked, " Suppose you had one hyndred pounds, and vrero to give away eighty pounds, how vvould you ascertain how niuoh you had reinuining V His reply set tho teacher and scholars in a roor, tor, with his own peculiar, drawling tone, he esclaimed, ' Why, I'd oount it !" J53C" A yoiuig lady in company, who had been ' fishing ior compliment1' very unsuecessfiilly, was surprised by tho young gentleman who sat beside her, affect innately putting h's arm nround her neck and kissing her. Filled with indignationhe ungrily demanded why he was insulted " Aly dear ! dy," said the young man '.'.sping with excitement, " L hopo I have not offended. Really, I supposcd that thoso who fished for compliment would pt ob-. j ject to taking thern in tmatXs,"

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus