Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-04-23
Miscellaneous.
SPEECH MIR. CALHOUN,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

v
Wha, picture is presented TO the mind
in contemplating the present state ofthinss
in England! We behold a small island,
in the German ocean, under the absolute
control of few hundred thousand individ-
uals, holding in unlimited subjeclion not
less than one hundred ard fifty millions OF
human beings, dispersed over every part
OF the globe, making not less than two
hundred 10 each ofthe dominant class; and
yet that class propagating maxim, with
more than missionary zeal, that strikes at
the foundation of this mighty power l
would say to her and other powers impelled
by like madness. You are attempting
what will prove impossible. You lay
down maxim which you would limit in
its application, so as to suit your own
safety and convenience. Vain hope in
this inquiing and investigating age. You
cannot make a monopoly of a principle so
as to vend it for your own benefit. 1t
will be carried out to IT'S ultimate results,
when its reaction will be terrific on your
social and political condition. Already
it begins 10 show its fruits. The subject
mass of your population, under the name
of Charlis,s, are now clarnoring for the
benefit ofthc maxim, as applied to them
selves. They demand practically, in
their case, the benefit Of the principle you
propagate at distance; and for so doing
are Gu, down without mercy. My object
is not 10 ceusure the course adopted to-
wards them. Ii is not for me to Judge
what your safety may require. / am sim
ply showing that the maxim OIL which
you profess to act in relation 10 the West
India colonies, and which you must apply
to ourc case, in order 10 sustain your decision
begins to be applied to your own at home.
Ii is only the beginning. Already il is
passing into a higher and more intellectu-
al class, who are applying it 10 the present
social and political condition Of Europe
A body ofmen, not incousiderabIe either
for numbers OF talents, on the continent Of
Europe, and particularly in France, are
busy in making such application. They
are men not of character 10 stop shorI,
or be inundated by fiual results. Already
they proclaim that social or political slave
Of the great mass of society TO the small
governing class, is worse than domestic
lavery-lhat which exists within the
southern portion otour Union, in its mil
desl aud most mitigatied form. In illus
tralion, | will read an extract from The
Paris correspondence the National Intel
Iigencer, saidto be Mr.. Walsh, taken from
the work of the Able Lamannais:
1.-THE Able exclaims In good sooth, I
am not in the least astonished that so
manv, viewing only the material side of
things and the presen, separated from the
future, should. in the midst Of our boased
civilization. regret the ancient domestic
slavery. Thirty-three millions of French
men, true serfs of this era, crouch igno-
miniously under The domination of two
hundred shousand privileged masters. and
supreme dispensers of their lot. Such is
the fruit of our struggles for halfa century
Slaves, arise and break your chains lei
them no longer degrade in you the uame
OF man! Eighteen centuries of Christian
i,y have elapsed, and we still live under
the pagan system. :"
To this | add another extract, taken
from another of'he public journals, which
will give some idea what are the fruits OF
slaevry in the form so vehemen,ly de.
uounced by the Able:
England and Ircland.-It's enough to
make ones heart bleed, if all were true,
in the winter pictures drawn orihe starved,
suffering condition Of the peasantry in rhe
boss-their cabins inundated with rains
aud mud-the bodies of the laborers satu.
rated with wet, sleeping on fireless hearths,
aud peat at the exorbitant price of a pen.
ny sod too exorbitant to cook the very
few potatoes they may have. Parallel to
these scenes the English operatives are
stated 10 be reduced 10 dire extremity, aud
around these dark and gloomy spots, we
have narratives Of the luxurious and
voluptuous life led by The favored few o.
the gentry aud nobility"
II such is the condition of what the
Abbe calls "tbe serfs of this era" in the
most civilized country in Europe, we.
may our domestic slave, in tho midst o
plenty, and under the guardian care of a
master, identified with him in interest
rejoice al his comparative happy condition
The exaggerated picture, drawn by the
most iufuria,ed Abolilionist, can fnd
nothing in the whole region of the South
10 equal this picture Of misery aud want,
and yet it is Great Britain, wherein such a
contrast Of wrctchedness and voluptunus
ness exists, that wages such unrelentins
hostility against domestic slavery! She
wars against herself. The maxim she
now pushes against others, will, in turn, bt
pushed against her. She is preparing tht
way for universal discord, within ant
without. Tho movement began witt
Wilber(orcc, aud other misguided mer
like him, who, although humane anc
benevolent, looked at the surface Of things
with little knowledge Of the springs o
human action, or the principles on which
the existing social and political fabrice o
Europe resls; aud, may add, like al
| o,ber enthusiasts without much reoard