Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-03-31

q. ~. L.
8 pend on The, votes Of those States. And
hence the leaders insthem are tolerated by
4 many of the leaders and their followers lD
the ayeholding States, 10 openly can
: yassing for the vote Of the Abolitionisisby
acting iu unison with them, int reference.
Ito question, on the decision of which the
safety of their own section, and that oi the
Union, itself may depend. Butwhlle It's
seen thai the Presidential election may be
secured by counting The Abolition votes, 1t
is attfe same time seen, that II may DC
lost, if the consequence should De the loss
,'tofthe vote Of The sIaveholding States; and
shence the leaders are forced 10 attempt 10
:. secure the former withou, losing the later:
i The game is difficult one; but as difficult
J as i, is, they do not despair ofsuccess, with
the powerful instrument, which they have
under their control. They have, in the
first place, lha, of the party press. through
which mighty influence is exerIed over
public opinion. The line of policy adop
led is. for the party press 10 observe a
profound silence on this great and vital
question:; OF, IL they speak at all, so speak.
as TO give false direction 10 public opln-
ion. Acting in conformity to this policy,
of the two leading organs at the seat OF
Government, one never alludes TO the
question, 50 that as far as It's remarks are
concerned, no QUE could suppose that II
was The cause of the least agitation or
feeling in any portion Of the Uuion. The
tother. occasionally alludes TO it, when 1t
canuo, well avoid doing so; but only To
paliate The conduct Of those who assail US
: by confouuding them with our defenders
"a agita,ors, and holding both up equally
to public censurc. 1t is calculated, by
pursuing this course, that the people Of. the
slaveholdips STATES will be ptGuiei, and
in a state of Indifference, until another aud
still more powerful instrument eau be
& brought into play, by whickft is hoped
that Shareholders and Aboitionists will DO
coerced TO join iu nominating and supper.
ting the same candidstefor The Presidency.
I aIlude 10 what is called National Con-
ven,ion, or Caucus, for nominating candl-
dates for the Presidency and Vice-Presi-
i1eucy. Already the machinery has been
put up in motion, in order 10 coerce the
oldest aud most populous Of the slave
holding States; and no doubt. will, 10 Cue
season, be pu, in motion 10 effect the same
,-ubiect in all Of them. Should it succeed
should party machinery for Presideu,
making prove srroug enough 10 force the
slaveholdius States lo.join in a convention
10 nominate aud support candidate who
will be acceptable to the Abulitionisls.
T they will have committed the most suicidal
act that people ever perpetrated. lsay
acceptable; for il is clear that the non
slave holding States will oulnumDer in
Convention lie slaveholding, aud thar no
one who is not acceptable 10 the Abolition
isis can receive their votes, aad OF course,
The votes Of the States where they hold
the balance; and that no other will be
nomiualed, or il nominated, be elected.
And yet, there are not few in the slave
holding States, men of standing and inllu.
5ence, SO blinded BY party feelings, or the,
prospect ofpersohal gain or advancement
9by tue success OF their party, who adVo-
cafe q siep which lnusl prove so fatal TO
their portion of the Onion, under existing
circumstances. Can party folly orrather
madness, 60 farlher9
AS TO myself, | have ever been opposed
to such Conventions; because they are
irresponsible bodies. not known TO- the
Constitution; and because they, in effect,
sci aside the Constitution with its com
promises, in reference 10 so important a
subject as the election Of the Chief Magis-
.trate Of The Union. lhold it far safer and
every way preferable to leave the election
where the Constitution has placed il; to
The Electoral College to choose; and if that
fails to make a choice, 10 the House o:
Representatives, voling by States, 10 elect
the President from the three candidates,
having The highest votes. But, if l had
no objection ~ such Conventions, under
ordinary circumstances, would regard
The objection, as fatal, under the existing.
when all parties of the nou slaveho!dins
States are united against US, on The most
vital of all questions, and when 10 60 into
ono would be, in effect surrender on our
part. AS both parties there have united lie
divesl US of our just and equal rights 10
the public domains, it is time that both
parties with US should unite in resistance
10 so great an outrage: Let US show, al
least, as much spirit in defending our
rights and honor, as they have evinced 10
assailing them. Let US, when our safety
is concerned, show at least as firm de.
termination, and as much unanimily, as
they do, with no other interest on their
part but the Temporary one of succeeding
in the Presidential contest. Hence fer
ward. let all party distinction among US
cease. SO long as This aggression on our
rights and honor shall continue, on the
part OF the nou slaveholding States. Let
US profit by the example of the Abolition
party, who, as small as they are, have
acquired so much influence by the course
they have pursued. AS they make the
destruction of our domestic institution the
paramount question, so lei US make on
our part, It's safety the paramount cues
tion. lie, US regard; every man oil our
party, " no stands up in its defence; and
every one as against US, who does not,
un,ii aooression ceaSea In 10 time and