Palmetto Song: Alluding to secession

In November of 1860, someone wrote a poem, “Palmetto Song”, for The Charleston Daily Courier, which alluded to South Carolina fighting for its state’s rights. The poem illustrates just how upset the state was that Lincoln had just been elected as president, and how they felt that their rights were going to be encroached upon.

            The poem begins by alluding to the state armory, the Palmetto, and calling the citizens of South Carolina to rise up and defend their rights. The author poses the question “shall we bend to the power that threatens our peace, or stand for our country ‘till being shall cease?” This is interesting because this line hints at the extreme possibility of South Carolina seceding from the United States. The author is asking the readers whether they want to give up their rights and stay in the Union, or defend what is already in place. This poem was written just a few months before South Carolina seceded, and it shows just how passionate some people were about secession.

            Secession and war seemed to be the only answers to the problem according to this poem. The author believed that oppression was coming and wrote “if oppression must come, with giant-like strides to endanger thy right…we dread not the tyrant, we fear not his might. ‘Neath our banner will rally with hope for one star, ‘God armeth the patriot’ amid the dread war.” These lines show how South Carolinians viewed themselves during the war. They viewed themselves as people who were oppressed by the government, and they felt the only way to overcome their oppression was to go against Lincoln and the government. This is interesting because the South always claimed to be oppressed and the weaker man, yet they fully supported oppressing a whole race. This poem illustrates the double standard the South had in regards to their views on oppression. It was all right for the South to oppress African Americans, but it was terrible for the government to try to end slavery, which somehow translated into oppression to southerners.

            The poems primary focus is on this idea that South Carolina and the institution of slavery are being threatened by the government, and the only way to solve the problem is to fight. The author believed that it was necessary for the people of South Carolina to defend the states’ rights.  The author referenced the Palmetto armory again at the end of poem, claiming that the Palmetto is “the pride of [the South Carolina] story.” The references to the armory could cause one to believe that the author felt that violence was the only way to end the conflict between the South and the Union. The author also acknowledged the possibility that South Carolina might not win the battle against the U.S. government. There were only two outcomes of the war according to the author, “like freemen we’ll stand, or we’ll perish in glory.” There did not seem to be room for compromise according to the author, but either way it ended the soldiers would be considered heroes. The soldiers would be heroes if they defeated the Union, or they would be heroes if they lost the battle. If they died in battle, then that was all right since they had fought on the “right” side.

            This poem helped to give insight into how the people of South Carolina were feeling before secession. It was easier to understand how they felt by reading a poem someone wrote, rather than reading a textbook, because there was more emotion to it. It was also interesting to read because it showed just how tense the situation was just a few short months before the South started to secede. Poetry from the time is a good way to see exactly how people were feeling and reacting to the situation that surrounded them.

"Palmetto Song." The Charleston Daily Courier 12 November 1860.  Print.