Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-09-01
From the Charleston Mercuru.

MT. EDITOR: {: Allow us 10 call tue aIlcn-
ton of the people of The Slave States,
through your columns, to the following ex-
tracts from Two valuable Stale Documents,
for The purpose Of showing The primary
ground Of opposition 10 the introduction of
the Wilmol Proviso before Congress. 1t
will appear from these extracts 10 be the
common voice Of Georgia and South Car
olina, that Congress has no right even to
discuss the question, still less 10 pass upon
that subject, over which il has not The least
jurisdiction. SO thai, without even per-
milting ourselves to discuss The merits Of
the proposition contained in the Wilmot
Proviso, however confident we may be Of
the strength and justice of our side Of The
argument, its very Introduction is the mat.
ter upon which we should direct the con.
cenIraled opposition Of the whole South.
The first extract is taken from the Re-
port Of The Special Committee Of the SEN
ate of this State, on Mr.. Ramsay's Reso-
Iutions, adopted by both branches of the
Legislature on The 10Th December, 1927.
GAS to that part of the duty Of The Com
miuee which solicils an inquiry whether
Congress can extend its legislation 10 the
means Of meliorating The condition of the
free, colored, or slave population Of The U.
Srales, your Committee have no hesitation
in saying that this is subject on which
there can be no reasoning between Suuth
Carolina and any other Government. 1t
is question altogether of FEELING.
Should Congress claim power 10 discuss
and to take any vote upon any question
connected with the domestic slavery ofthe
Southern States, (excepling it be to devise
the means Of prohibiting The slave trade,
the only power which it has by The terms
of The Constitution, iii is not for your Com
miltee to prescribe what course ought TO
be adopted 10 counteract the evil and dan
gerous tendency Of public discussions Of
this nature. The minds of your citizens
are already made up, that if such discus
sions appertain as matter ofright to Con.
sress, it will be neither more nor less than
The commencement Of system, by which
tho peculiur policy Of South Carolina, up.
on which are predicated her resources and
her prosperity, will be shaken 10 lis very
foundations. Your Committee forbear 10
dwell on this subject: it is a subject on
which no citizen of South Carolina needs
instruction. One common feeling inspires
us all with firm determination not 10 sub.
init to a species Of legislation which would
| light up such fires of intestine commolion
10 our borders, as ultimately 10 consume
our country"
ZTho-.,ext is- from tho Report adopted by
the Legislature of the State of Georgia, on
the Resolutions of South Carolina aud
Ohio, on the 10Th December, 1928.
"ln relation 10 the right of Congress to
interfere either directly or indirectly with
the subject Of slavery, as SO recognised by
the laws of this Slate, your Committee
deem it improper and unnecessary 10. .enIer
into discussion.
"This State never can, and never will,
so far compromit her interests OH a subject
Of such deep and vital concern to her self
preservation as 10 suffer This question to be
brought into discussion. Non interference
on this subjec, was the sine qua non on the
part of the SIaveholding States informing
the Union and entering into the Federal
Compact. As The Southern States would
then. so they must now or herafter, consid-
er any attempt to interfere with this delicate
subject an aggression having tendency
to produce revolt and Instruction Of the
most hideous character"
There is mos, comfortable assurances
derived from these papers, 10 wit: that
Georgia aud South Carolina, united by
nature in local and physical position, are
determined never 10 be separated in their
moral, social, and political rights and
feelings in reference to this most vital
subject.
SPECTATORS.