Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-08-21
Cen. Hamilton's Letter to the Blufton
9 Meeting.
SAVANNAH. kAue.S. 1914.

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Gentlemen: / did not receive Your kind
and most gratifying favor of the 22d ult.,
inviting me. .toaa public dinner 10 be given
TO the HONORABLE r. 3. Rhett, at Blufiion,
ON the 3lsl of the same month, until yes
terday: za.-...
/ very much regret that my absence at
that period all short visit 10 New York
precluded the possibility of my participa:
ling in this meriled tribute of honor and
respect 10 your distinguished Representa-
tive, whose ability and zeal. 10 support OF
your rights and interests, enti,le him to The
highest tokens of your confidence and os-
teeni.
You do me no more honor than justice
in supposing that cherish, for my old
Congressional District Of Beaufort and
Collelon, the most graceful recolleciion.-
Called. 1922, when was comparatively
young man, and unknown 10 large p6r-
lion of your citizens, 10 succeed the lamen.
ted Lowndes, {uor to fll his place: for.
alas! who could have performed this Of
fee. received from the commencement
of my service, for period OF seven years,
the most unbounded and unvaryinS proofs
Of your support, Which survived, aud were
sustained during my administration, as
Governor Of South Carolina, in the midst
of those trying events which preceded, and
which terminated in the great act OF State
fnrerposi,ion, which compelled and led to
The "Compromise" Of 1888.
With these feelings you Will, | ann sure,
pardon the few remarks which am about
make, especially as they come from ain old
friend, who al the proper iime' is prepared
to 20 ''as far as the farlhest," !" in supper.
of measures and principles held in COM
mon by ourselves. ntheconfidence. there
fore, which has always sutsisIed between
es. permit me TO observe that Judging from
The recent exponenls of the public senlf.
meats of Beaufort District, as furnished
by your late meeting at Blnhlon, | should
infer you are not only far in advance of
The feeling in the other Southern States,
bGl that, likewise, Of your own State.
make this declaration with a per(scr know
ledge. that in NO part Of the United States
is a higher loyalty cherished for the Con
silution, or more keen sensibiffty felt for
the prosperity and glory Of tho whole courf-
try, than by the good people Of Beaufort
and ColeIon. They love the Union for
the blessings Il has conferred, not for the
abuses Try which II has been desecrated
and dishonofed.
Sincerely 'desirous that my old Consres-
siona District should not lead in a "forlorn
hope" which may not be successful, I can
moi bu, express my beliefthat S. Carolina
is not no,o ready for seperate action, nor
the Southern States for Southern Con-
ventinn.
Ihave always thought that Immediately
after the passage of the Tariff of 1912, the
Legislature Of South Carolina should have
been convened, and a Convention of her
people called, TO whom the question of inn
mediate Stats interposi.ion should have
been submitted.
You are aware that offered iu the Con-
venlion which accepted the. compromise
resolution solemnly reaffirming this high,
sovereign right, and declaring that our ad.
herence TO the ''compromise" was limited
alone by the good faith with which 1t
might ha maintained hy tho Gnue-"n-oe.
o. the Union. But this moment for effi-
cirnt action was permitted 10 pass by, and
or avowed reliance was placed on justice
being done TO The South through the paci-
lic legislation of Congress. Although !
have not much hope of any relief from this
source, yet think we are bound to defer
to the wishes OF our friends in the other
Southern Staies; and await the issue Of
The Presidential election. In other words,
we oush, to take no course calculated 10
embarrassour Democratic friends through
out The Union, or to deprive Us Of their
sympathy. lie, UT in one word, without
enc cry OF disunion, bring forth our cohorts
TO The field, and battle valiantly for the
nominations at Baltimore If victorious,
we shall eultle ourselves 10 the gratitude
Of our allies, and all may be saf, and if
defeated, our ranks willremain unbroken,
our principle of confederation inviolate,
and the most powerful and talented oppo-
sitinn to this country has ever seen, or
ganized for efficient action.
Although Mr.. Polk carries his doctrines
Of discrimination father than accorls with
your opinions and my own, yet we must
be content for the present in The broad fact.
hat his views in: relation 10 the subject of
protection are somodiffed by the revenue
principle, as to- be exceedingly moderate,
whilst the party which supports Mr.. Clay,
have just about me same notion Of modera-
ton in reference to levying gofimposts, that
a'bliud man has of colors.'
My views, therefore; withgeat Difference
for the opinions of others, Of the line of
policy to be pursued at present, by the
South. Is to organize the great party Of the
Democracy Of the Uuion-from the Poto.
mac 10 the Sabine. Letus establish anti
tariff and annexation associations, with
active committeesof correspondence, with
The essential object Of fuuiting to and with
the South, the friends Of free trade and
annexation. everywhere. We shalrget up
a momentumof public opinion, even if MIR.