Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-03-31
81
NO.l0

state oil things, IL is not q matter for wonder
that afeourse Of policy, so well calculated
to concilate arpar:y like the Abolitiouists
as thar of excluding slavery from the terri.
tories, should be eagerly embraced by both
parties, in the non:slaye holding States,
when by securing: their support. each cal.
culates on winning the rich and glitterinR
prize of the Presidency! In this is TO be
found the; motive aud object of The present
crusade against our domestic ins.itGtion.
on the part Of political leaders and their
parlizans in those States. ~
1t would be a great mistake 10 suppose
that il is lheless dangerous, because itorig-
mates mainlyin mere party considerations,
III connection with elections. II will bs:o;,
that account but the more so, unless. h.
deed, it should be me. by us with pronii,.
titude and nnanimity. The atsorbina
overriding interest, felt'by both parties 10 Z,
carry'.ihe. elections, especially this Pregi.
denliaE. would give such an impulse %
their efforts 10 conciiate The Abolitionisfs.
at our expense, if we should look on will,
apparent Indifference, as would euIis,;fn
their :favpr The large portion offhe non.
slaveholdins States,' estimated al seyen-
tenths OF the whole, which are as vet We'll
affected towards US, and utterly disheartep
the small but intelligent class, which, as
yet, is perfectly sound. The:for,ner would
conclude, in that csse, that we ourselves
were ready TO yield and surrender our do
mestic institution, asihdeiensible; and that
the don-slaveholding Slales! might carry
their determination into full effect, without
hazard TO the Constitution or the Union.
or even disturbing ihe harmony and pence
of the country. Iudeed, such has already
been our aRPareat Indifference, that these
opinions have been expressed, eyen'on tfIe
floor Of Congress. But,,if @e should he,
as we ough,l-if we, BY our 'prompriIdds.
energy, aud unanimity, prove thai. we stand
ready to defend our rights, aud to maiutaii,
our, perfect equality. as members Of. the
Union,1 he the conse1uences What they
may: and that the immediate and necss.
sary effect Of counting Abolition votes; rbv
either party, would be 10. lose ours; avery
different: result would certainly follow.
That large portion of the non .sl ayehoIdinr
States, who, although they consider slave
ry: as an EVIL. are NOT disposed To ;y;:oolate
Elhe Gonstitutfoni sna mGctif Iessto siiiidans.
ger lis overthrow, and with il the Unidh;
itself' would take sides with us, aIafinstt
our assailants = while the sound Dor
tion, who are already with us, would raj
ly to the rescue. The necessary effect.
would be, 1hat,th party leaders aud their:
'followersr who expect TO receive the Presi-
DENTAL election, by the aid Of the Aboii.
tionisls, seeing their hopes blasted by,the
loss Of our votes, Would drop their couts-
ship, and leave the party, reduced to insis-
ni6cance, with scorn, The end would be,
should we act in the ii1arlner indicated. :.
the rally Of a new party yjin The non.slavs:
holding States, more powerful than either.
of the old, who, on thfs great question; :
would be faithful 10 all of the:comp promises
and obligations Of the Constitution, and
who by uniting with US, would put final
stop to the farther agitation of this DANGER
GUS question. Such would be the certain
effect of meeting, with promptitude and
unanimity, the Determination of The nohi )
slaveholdiug States 10 appropriate alIthe,r
territories TO their own use. That il has
not yet been SO met is certain; and the
next question is: Why has it not been,
and what is the cause Of this apparent In;
difference in reference TO danger 80 men. !.
acing, if moi promptly and uni,edly met
on,our part? - .., i
Iu answering this;important question, Z
am happy 10 say, that have seen no
reason to attribute this want of promp,f--,
Jude aud unanimity 10 any division ofsehE
timent; or real Indifference, on The partnf
the people Of the slaveho1ding Staies;' or
their delegatesin Congress-. On The con.
trary, as far as my observation extends,
there is not one Of their members of Con-
gress. who has given any certain Indication
Of either Ga the trying quesliopsfcon-
necled with the<Wilnot proviso,; The Soles
of the members from the slaveholding
States, at The, last and present sessions,
wero unanimous. To explain what i,
really the cause, must again recur- to
whs: has already been stated; lhenabsorb-
ing interest felt iu the electioh, especially
the Presidential, and the controlling infu-
ence which party leaders and their follow. e
ers exercise over them. The great strug-
gle between the parties is..which shall
succeed in electing its candidate /; in con-.
sequence of which the Presideutiale) e) eclion
has become the paramount question: All
others are held subordinate 10 It .by ,t.a
leaders aud their followers. ltJ,epeods ony
them to determine whether ar,y aues,;sr
shall be admitted into 'the iss .ue betssaT
,hs parties, in the Presidential contest oift
whether it shall be- parts. lily or r1stissd +, s
excluded. Whethersit SD all be "a t,tho
other, is decided entirely 'in refe,emeto its
favorable or unfaporatle bernms ,onsshe
contest, without lookiu ITO Il ae hishet con-
sidera,ions ofi,s. effects on the prospective,
the institutions; Or safety os shes country-.
Nothing can: more :stron ely 5lInstra,e; The.
truth ofsWhat have asserfeds than tho.
course Of The, parties ltia aaiadoe 70 the,
question which now Claims your atteniiod.
Although none can he. more ultimately,
connected, with tie peace and saisiSa
the Unioni il is Iept i'put5 or ,be lissira lie.