He was too well aware of the source
from which they originated to awaken any fears, and instead of
daunting his energy they only increased it, and brought to his aid
the valuable services of the Hon. James L. Petigru, a gentleman of
whom it is said, (notwithstanding his eminence at the bar,) that had
it not been for his purity of character, his opinions in opposition
to the State would have long since consigned him to a traitor's
exile. The truth was-and much against Mr. Petigru's popularity in
his own State-that he was a man of sound logic, practical judgment,
and legal discrimination. Thus endowed with the requisite qualities
of a good statesman, and pursuing a true course to create a
conservative influence in the State, he failed to become popular
beyond his legal sphere. Had he espoused that most popular of all
doctrines in South Carolina-nullification and secession-and carried
abstraction to distraction, James L. Petigru would have added
another "Roman name" to that which has already passed from South
Carolina's field of action.
The consul did his duty, but effected nothing; and such was the
opposition manifested by the officials who were interested in the
spoils of law, and politicians who could not see any thing important
beyond secession, that there was no prospect of it. And, as the last
resort, he appealed to the Judiciary through the "habeas corpus,"
the result of which we shall show in a subsequent chapter.
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