Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-01-30

GENERAL HARRISON ON SLAvERY.-As
much has been said about The opinions Of
General Harrison, on Slavery. we have
thought it but just to make the following
extract from an Address delivered by him,
al Vincennes, Indiana, Two years since.
With regard to the present relations of
General Harrison towards Ihe 'ahuIitinn-
lists, we are uol satisfactorily informed, AS
various Statements on This subject have
heen published. some of Tho trading alb
clifton papers denounce bis nomination.
The Ch,rlesI.n Courier, an Administra-
tion paper, considers him at present, sound
oh the question of slavery. But his opin-
ions on the subject, gen orally, if he has no,
been isrrItresenrcd, are far from being
satisfactory.
81 insist that If The citizens OF tile non
slave-holdiug States can avail themselves
Of The article Of The Constitution, which
prohibits the restriction of speech, or the
press ln publish amy thing injurious TO the
rights rf The Slavehnlding STATES, that
they can 60 to The extreme that | have
menIon'd, and effect any thing further
which wiring or speaking could effect.
But, fellow-citizens, these are not the priu
ciples Of the Constitution. Such con.
struction would defeat one of the great
objects Of its formation, which was that of
securing the peace and harmony of the
States, which re'parlies oit. The ll-
erty Of speech and of the press, were given
as the mosi etiectual means to preserve To
each and every citizen their own rights,
and Id the States, The rights which apper-
tanned TO them, at the time Of their adop-
tion. 1t could never have been expected
that it would he used by the citizens of one
portion of the States, for the purpose Of
deprivins those Of ah6Iher Purtion, Of the
rights which they had reserved at the a.
dnp'ion of the Constitution, and 10 The ex-
| crcisc IF which, none hut themselves have
any concern or Interest. If slavery is an
evil, the evil is with them. IL there is
guilt in il, The guilt il theirs, not ours, since
| neither rhe States where il does not exist.
nnr the Government of the United States
can, without usurpation Of power, and The
violation of solemn compact, do anything
10 remove il without The consent Of those
who are Immediately interested. But
they will neither ask for aid, nor consent
to be aided whilst The illegal, prosecuting
and dangerous movements are in progress.
of which complain; The interest of all
concerned, requires that these should be
stopped Immediately. This can only he
done by The force of public opinion, and
that cantot too soon be brought into ope-
ration. Every movement which is made
by tile aboliionisls in The nun. .savehoiding
Srales, is viewed by our Southern breth-
rem, as an attack upon their rights, and
which, if persisted in. must in The end,
eradicate those feelings of attachment and
affection between the citizens of all the
States which was produced by a conmu-
nilv ofipIeres's and dangers in the War of
the Revolutions, which was the foundation
of our happy union. and by a continuance
Of which. il can alone he preserved. en-
treat yon then, to lrown upon the meas
nres which are to produce results 50 much
to be deprecated. The opinions which |
have now given, have omitted no oppor-
iunily for the last two years 10 lay before
The people Of my own State. have ta-
ken the liberty IN express them here. know
ing ,ha, even if they should unfortunately
not accord with yours, they would be
kindly received"
|