Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-05-07
NO..lA.

sLa-y-
not contend for full share of social rights asoi
! What but the extremity, weakness and ioiiy
conld induce any one 10 think that such propso-
silons as these could be listened to by people
so intelligent as the Southern States7 Furlhei;
the emancipaiors generally declare thnt it ~
their intention TO effect their object (althongHS
their acts contradict the assertlon) by no otnef;
means than by convincing the shareholders tnae
the immediate emancipation Of the slaves 10
called for both BY moral obligation and sound
policy. An unhedsrd youth, at the lnomenf OF
leaving tindreJ. in many Instances. before. ne
has left ir) his theological seminary undertakes
TO give lectures upon morals TO the couptrymen
of Wvtha Tucker. Pendleton, and Lowndes:
and LESSONS Of political wisdom to States. whose
affairs have 20 recently been directed BY Jei-
firson and Madison. Macon and Cfaivford.-
Is It possible that instances Of greater ranity and
prostitution could be exhibited? But the course
pursued Jg the emancip0tors is unconstitutional.
[ do not say that there are any words IN the
Constitution which forbid the discussions they
are engaged; know that there are not. And
there il even an artc' e which secures 10 The cti.
zens the right to express aud publish their o.
pinions ithnnt restriction But in the con.
s,rucion Of the Constitution it is ALWAYS neces-
sary 10 refer TO The circumstances nndcr which
il was framed. and to ascertain i.3 meaning ny
a comparison Of its provisionswith each other,
and with the previous siinntion OF The several
States who were parties to it. In portion OF
these. slavery was recognised, & thcytonk care
to have the right secured 10 them, to follow and
reclaim such of them rs were fugitlves 10 other
Sfates The laws Of Congress, passed undor
this power. have provided punishment 10 my,
who shall oppose or interrupt The exercise OF
this right Now .can any one believe that the
instrument, which contains provisions OF this
kind, which authorizes master 10 pursue bis
slave into another Stale. take him back, and
provides punishment for any citizen or: cltl-
zens of that State who should oppose him,
should, at the SAME time, authorize the latterto
assemble together, to pass resolutions aud adopt
addresses. not only to encourage the slaves to
leave their masters, but to cut their throats be-
fore they do so7
ri insist that. iflhe citizens of the non-slare:
holding States can avail themselves Of the arti-
Gle of the Constitution which prohibits the re-
striction of speech or the press, to publish any
thing furious to the rights of the slaveholding
States that they can go To the e1tremc That
lave mentioned, and effect any thing further
which writing or speaking could effect. But.
these are not the principles OF
the Constitution Such 4 construction would
defeut one of the great objects of lis formation,
which was, that Of securing the peace and har'
mnny of the States which were parties to it
The liberty o: speech and Of the press, were
asixen as the most efiectual means 10 ~ eserve
to The States, the rights 9b ef 'mm a. ~,
them, ut the time OF their-nSSn, u sa,,,J
neser haze been expected Moiii ,e0aI DE- n,. I'LL
The citizens of one portion at the Ihe ,,,,.
pose of depriring those q fanolhr portion of u..
rights ohich ikey had rcserred at the adoption Of
the Constellation, and in exercise Of uhich, none
but themscl' cs haze any concern, Of interest. II
slarerui is an erii, the eril is ,riM them i there
is guii IN il, tie guilt is theirs, not ours-sincc
neither the States ,eherc it docs not cziSt nor the
Government Of the United States can, ,rithout
usurpalion efpo,cer and the Oiolation q a solemn
compact, do any thing tn rcmore it, ,cithom the
consent of those ,rho arc Immediately Interested
Bu, they will neither ask for aid nor consent
to be aidei whilst the illegal, prosecuting, and
dangerous movements are in progi ess, which
Icompain ;,he interest ofall llconcernedrequires
that these should be stopped immediaely.---
This can only be done by the force of public
opinion, and that cannot TOO soon be brought
into operation. Every movement which is
made by the abolitonsts in the nonslaveholding
States, is viewed by our Southern brethren
rs an attack upon their rights and which, ifper-
sistedin, mllslinthe eend eradicate those feelinge
of attachment and affection, between the citi-
zens ofalI the States, which was produced by
acommunity of interest and dangers in the war
of the Revolution, which was the foundation Of
our happy Union. and by continuance OF
which il can alone be preserved. Ientreatyou.
then, 10 frown upon measures which are TO
producc results so much to be deprecated
The opinion which | have now given, have
omitted no opportunity for the last two years
olay before the people Of my own State. 1
have taken the liberty to express them here
knowing that even ifthey should unfortunately
not accord with yours, they would be kindly
received"
What motive can Gen. H. have to falsify all
that he has heretofore said on this .subject-,o
disgrace and dshomor 10 himself He can have
none, as he is pleged not to be again can
didate. -,
But it is said that if he is not an abotionist,
that the abolitiouists support him. II IS not
true. As far as know, there is but one abo-
tion paper in the Union that is not opposed
10 him ;.and that is NOT more tbnn neutral. ."Z
BUT to but this charge forever at the rest,
aboIitonsts, at a late Convention, have deter.
mined to support neither ofthc candidates; and
huve started candidates oftheir own. !:
In the Chevot speech, Gen. Harrison. ad.
vances the opinion, that on the application of
tile slave States, Congress may appropriate
the public land to the purpose Of emancipation.
Tn this | know he is in error-but it is an error
into which Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.. Madison
have fallen; and most harmless error. No
such application will ever he made by the slave
States : and ril should, there is no great dan.
ger in those stntes being aided with money OH
their own application. !
/ do no, know Gen. Harrison personally;
only know him through the history of the
country. Ifthat history be true, ii is absurdto
deny him high qualities. It's too late in the
day, to deny military talents to man who, to say
nothing of any thing else, has received an
unanimous vote Of thanks from Congress, the
appreciation Of Madison, and of tho honcred
Shelby, whe served in the same eampalgns
! with him. Ihave been very much struck WIN ~