Governor Magrath, of
South Carolina, has issued an address to the people of that State, calling upon them to rise and resist the progress of
Sherman through the
State.
We give some extracts from it:
Persons not willing to fight must leave.
I call upon every man to lay aside selfish considerations, and prepare to do his duty to his State.
Let the suggestions of case and comfort become inglorious and unworthy; let those ends only be honorable which conduce to the defeat of the foe; let all who falter now, or hesitate, be henceforth marked.
All who have lived under the protection of the
State, who have flourished under its laws, and shared its prosperity, will gladly arm to protect it from subjection.
If any seek escape from duty and danger at this time, let them depart.
The hour approaches when all who are true to the
State will be found in the ranks of those who arm in its defence.
There is no room in the
State but for one class of men; they are the men who will fight in her cause.
Property to be removed.
Remove your property from the reach of the enemy, carry what you can to a place of safety; then quickly rally and return to the field.
What you cannot carry, destroy.
Whatever you leave that will be of use to your foe, what he will not need, that will he destroy.
Indulge no sickly hope that you will be spared by submission; terror will but whet his revenge.
Think not that your property will be respected, and afterward recovered.
No such feeling prompts him. You leave it but to support and sustain him; you save it but to help him on his course.
Destroy what you cannot remove.
He will make your return to your homes over a charred and blackened road; prepare you the same way for him as he advances.
Let him read everywhere and in everything that in this State, from one portion of it to the other, there is but one purpose and fixed resolve — that purpose is to meet him at every point; fight him at every road; that resolve is to undergo all suffering, submit to every sacrifice, welcome any fate, sooner than subjection by his army, or submission to his terms.
Foreigners to go in the ranks or leave.
It is said there are some who think they are not bound to fight with us; who affect a desire not to forfeit what they call their allegiance to some foreign Power.
It may be that there are some who hitherto have been misled.
I will not believe that there lives in
South Carolina now any man who, having been under the protection of the
State, and treated as that State treats its own citizens, will, at this time, attempt to find in this affected zeal for an allegiance he has practically abjured an excuse for the succor he is bound to render.
If there are such, let them depart.
They shall not remain here and be the cold witnesses of the sufferings which others endure, while they are secure from danger.
If they remain, they will do so with the full knowledge that the
State expects and intends that every man shall do his duty.
The Intentions of the enemy.
You have not invaded their soil, nor sacked their cities, nor wasted their fields, nor murdered their relatives, nor violated their wives and daughters.
They pretend not to the plea of visiting upon you the terrible punishment of retaliation.
They claim a right to reduce you to subjection — to hold you in bondage — to strip you of more than life, when they deprive you of the privileges dearer than existence.
Rise, then, with the truth before you, that the cause in which you are to arm is the cause of Justice and of Right!
Strike with the belief strong in your hearts that the cause of Justice and of Right is the cause which a Power superior to the hosts seeking to oppress you will not suffer to be overthrown.--And even upon the soil of the
State in which this monstrous tyranny was first defied shall it meet the fate it deserves, while imperishable honor will be awarded those who contributed to that great consummation, in which humanity will rejoice.
