The South Carolina State Library occasionally features oversized volumes from the A. S. Salley and Rare Book Collections. Be sure to check out the current display featuring the October-December 1861 volume of The Charleston Mercury.
The Charleston Mercury, a historic newspaper founded in 1819 in Charleston, South Carolina, held a formidable presence in the antebellum South. Renowned for its advocacy of states' rights, nullification, and later secession, it became a pivotal voice in the region. Notably, during the secession crisis preceding the Civil War, the Charleston Mercury emerged as a leading proponent of South Carolina's withdrawal from the Union.
Throughout the Civil War, The Charleston Mercury served as a staunch supporter of the Confederacy, disseminating news, commentary, and propaganda to its readership. The paper closed in 1868 due to financial challenges exacerbated by the war's aftermath.
