Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-10-02
From the Charleston Mercuru.

From the Charleston Mercury.
Mr.. Editor.-l have been informed, to
my surprise, that. in consequence of
short note, addressed TO nv fellow citizens
of the neighbnrhood in which live. "n
the Alb ofJuly last, am supposed 10 be
in favor of resistance by the aclion Of
South Carolina alone. Such an impress
sion is entirely erroneous. | expressed
a dozen years since, he same sentiments,
almost in the same words, aud was, at The
same time, as is well known, decidedly
opposed to resistance by single State
Bat shall nov. with your permission,
leave no doubt of the position in which !
wish 10 stand. and, in doing so, shall
mingle my opinion, and c"unsels with
those Of my (ellow-cilizens, to be weighed
for what they are worth, in "lhis great ar
gument.' y
The Tariff ! consider an act of insufie.
rable and iusulling oppression. which
ought 10 be borne only unlie i, can lie jn
diciouslv resisted. Blu, this resistance, in
my opinion, 10 be effective, must unite The
efforts of. at least, a large position Of Tho
sufferers. do moi think Que Slate ought
toresisr alone There will be neithe! con
fidence nor certainty in such a course
The people of one State, Standing alone
would not be heartily united among them.
selves. 1t might be different if The Stale
were alone in the suffering but Standing
in the midst nf common sufferers, much
more numerous than themselves, whose
arms were folded, The presence of these
would operate like 81 moral condemnation
oc their act and chill the warm blood.
though animeted in so good a cause. and
enfeeble The strong arm just raised 10
strike.
But, il is asked. flour fellow sufferers
will moi unite with US in resistance. shall
we base!y submit? We have no righ: to
anticipate that even. In my opinion. if
they do NOT. they will be insensible To
houor and TO shame, and equally so, 10
their interests and their danger. Bu We
dare moi cast this reproach upon then;
merely because they do MOI think fit To
adopt our measures and our lime. five
think they are tardy we must enireaI them
with brotherly zeal 10 quicken their step
If our measures benor acceptable,to ii;em.
let us modify them or adopt theirs, if they
lead TO the same end. Resistance be
a very solemn act. Ii il be raslily at.
tempted and fail, it will rivet our chains
and bring on US new burdens aud insGlts.s
Success in such great enterprises not
usually the result of a sudden thought or
the frui, Of single day, hut of wise aud
sober deliberaIion and protracred action.S
We are speaking Of the movement Of 'na.f
tiops--a successful resistance Nill probably
cost some years. The circumstances in
which we are placed cannot fail to remind
us of our first great act of resistance 10 op-
pressi n. Lei usIh hen boast less oftenand
less idly oflhe deeds Of our ancestors. ard
more faithfully initiate them. They did
not jump in single breath to their ron
clusion aud talk nf single handed resis.
tanc,.a They deliberated ling and wisely
united all who were under common sulie:
ring and in common danger. Let us do
as they did. Let associations be formed
in every Southern, and, il possible. in eve.
ry South Western Stale. aud lei Them
confer together and interchange views and
information; lei leading men, through
Committees and the. private correspun
dence collect, compare and Concentrate The
views Of like men 10 their respective
States, aud when ripe for il, aud noi be.
fore. let representatives from these States
neellin Convention. and circumstances
promise success, Iet them then deliberate
on the mode o! resistance and the meas.
ure of redress If NOT. still perseve.e; let
neither delay nor first failures. should they
happen. create despair or faintIiearted.
ness. Iuhtxible perseverance, rarely fails
iu good cause, and ours is one that mus
never he abandoned: Continue TO enligh
tenlhe public mind. rouse The public feel
ing, excite the public shame fbr the degra
dation to which we have been brought, lei
your eXertions he moi occasional aud de.
sultory, but oigatized aud inccssanl, avoid
especially all hlustering and pur in the
place oft sound sense and fnrcible reaso.
ming Your appeals TO yuur fellow citi.
zens may, nevertheless. be as impassion
edlas your sense Of injury and shame and
daneermay inspire, but they ought 70 be
chasleDed by regard to the moral sense
Of an enighled community. Add 10 The
proper functions of the newspaper press,
the circulation OF able and "! II chosen
trac's, and let Them be iot,nd in, every
hamlet and house in The South and Souih
Wesr.-Carry your exeriiuns into rhe
camp Of the enemy,-Thus did tho colo.