Military Aid to Virginia.Charleston, South Carolina, Mercury [Democratic](28 November 1859)
We are satisfied that every intelligent man in the South has been completely
disgusted at the broad and pathetic farce that has been played off before the
public about the hanging of that hoary villain, "OLD BROWN." From the 500
invaders in possession of Harper's Ferry and the 1000 negros carried off to the
mountains of Pennsylvania -- from the further invasions and threats of invasion
-- the arsons and fears of arson -- the marches and counter-marches of the
ponies and cessations of ponies -- Governor Wise, the energetic, and his
troops -- down to the final climax of military aid offered by Governor GIST of
South Carolina to the Governor of Virginia, for the purpose of making certain
the aforesaid hanging of OLD BROWN, & Co.
-- it is a tissue of disgrace, exaggeration and invention sufficient to
stir the gall of any Southerner, who has regard for the dignity and
responsibility of the Southern people.
To us it really looks as if those in possession of the telegraph were in
league to ridicule the South and make us a laughing stock to ourselves and
before the world.
We sincerely trust that our Legislature, which meets today, will bear
this in mind, and take no action whatever in regard to ourselves or our
institution, that may even have the appearance of being prompted by the
Virginia farce and its terrorism.
We have made these remarks as introductory to the following authoritative
statement of the Columbia Guardian, concerning a telegraphic despatch which
inadvertently, and contrary to our intention, appeared in our columns on
Saturday:
GOVERNOR GIST'S TENDER OF AID TO VIRGINIA.
We are authorized and have been requested to state that the telegraphic
announcement, that Gov. Gist had tendered military aid to
Gov. Wise, is incorrect.
Gov. Gist has been restrained from doing so only by the
conviction that Virginia is abundantly able to take care of herself.
Should her exigency ever become such as to require aid from other States,
we know no one who would more cordially extend it than the present Chief
Magistrate of South Carolina.
In such case, the promptings of a high spirit and of unimpeachable fidelity
to the great cause of Southern Rights, would be warmly seconded by grateful
recollection of the active sympathy of Virginia with South
Carolina in her nullification contest, and of the noble declaration of her then
Governor (Floyd), that a march into South Carolina, for the purpose of
invading her soil, should not be permitted through Virginia,
except over the dead bodies of her sons.
There is much in common between Virginia and
South Carolina.
Each has illustrated the most earnest devotion to principle, and even
repudiated the pleas of mere bare expediency.
It will be well for them, now as of yore, to strike hands in the maintenance
of constitutional right, and of the just equality and sovereignty of
States.
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