Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-10-30

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verliser,' willconsider lllis also colnmu-
cation for its eolmns.
JUSTICE. /.
October 81, 1874
49,, From the Nashville Union.
Mr.. PIcKENs' SPEECH AT SHELByvILL.
In the several notices which we have
heretofore published in the form Of letters
and Communications, touching the late
great.democratic mass meeting al Shelby
vile, Bedford county-no report, not even
the substances ofthe speeches, made BY
the distinguished guests from other States
who were present OH the occasion, have
been given. Among other prominent
citizens from abroad who were present by
invitation, the Hon. F. w. PIckENs. Of
SQulh Carolina. may be mentioned as
one who. signally distinguished himself by
the eloquence, power, force. argument and
ability of the address which he delivered
to the vast assembly Of people who were
collected together as attentive auditors on
the occasion. A friend has had The kind
ness 10 prepare from his notes, taken on
the spot, The following outline of Mr..
Pickens' remarks on two of the subjects
which he discussed-Annexaion. and the
slauderous charge of Disunion, brought by
MIR. Clay and his faclious followers against
the Southern aud Southwestern democra-
cy. The subjects Of the tariff, dislribu.
tiou, bank. assumption of State deb's, &C.,
were oil handled by Mr.. Pickens with tha,
f.Ip0rnasc and irufh
which has given him so distinguished
reputation as a statesman, both in Con-
gress and before The people. Alter dis:
cussing these subjects, he took up the sub
jecls Of Annexation and Disunion, and The
following is the report of our friend-on
the accuracy Of which we have the most
implicit reliance-of the subtanceof what
he esaid of those subjects. He sets The
policy of Annexation in its true light, and
repels the slandcrous charge Of disunion
with the force and dignity becoming a
southern statesman and patriot.
SPEECH.
OStke Hon F. w. PIcKESs. of South
Carolina, being the substance Of so much
of his address before the Democratic
Mass Meeting Of The citizens Of Iennes
see, at Shelbyrille. Bedford county, in
this State, on the 18th dag Of August
1914, as related TO the subjects Of A,,
neration Of fTeras to the United States,
and the charge Of Disunion.
MIR. Pickens said, the question Of the
annexation OF Texas next claimed his at
,ention. He considered it NOT as party or
sectionaiquestion, bul as national one in
all its aspects, There is no class of our
citizens, not portion Of this glorious
Republic, whose happiness, and interests
will not be promoted by its accomplish
ment. The North, South, East and West
are all interested in i,-he considered It's in-
fuence on The commerce and m manufactures
Of the country, as affording a great aud
growing market for our surplus productions.
In' a military point Of view, it would af-
ford protection to the country al its most
vulnerable points, and increased security
TO the domestic institutions oflhe South;
that il would be the means Of consolidat-
ing the Union, and extending the bies-
sings Of free government and liberal insti.
futions.
lie went into a history Of the country
referring to the solemn obligations, con
tnined in the treaty of 1903, 10 the govern
ment of France aud The people of Texas,
thai as soon as possible they should he in
corporated into the Union, and IN the
mean time, be protected in the enjoyment
Of their property, liberty and religion
bul that these had been violated in the
surrender of The country 10 foreign and
despoiic government, without their con-
seni-deiaiied The history ofi,s great slrug
gle for liberty aud independence, and its
glorious consummation on the field of San
yacin,o. In CONCLUSIVE argument. and
by .an;appeal tosthe established laws OF
nations, he established the right of Texas
as the righ,ful government, de jure as well
as de tdcto-ihe doctrines which denied
that The government Of Texas, founded as
it was upon the will of lhe people, was a
righful government, had never been, re.
conized on the American continent that
the struggle of that gallant people was
consecrated by the principles of cur own
revolutionary struggle, and that Texas
having for:eight long years maintained its
independence, Mexico had lost her claims,
and no. earthly power could lawfully in
terferero prevent the Union,
He quoted from Mr. Clay'slelter.on the
subject, and answered at length the argu-
sInent, that it would be jusi cause for war
on the part Of Mexico; compared bis opin-