Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-06-06
From The Chars. Mercury.
THE MEETING OF DELEGATES.

From The Chars. Msrcury.
THE MEETING OF DELEGATES.
We give below, a paper submitted by
the Hon. F. w. PIcKENs, 10 the recent
meeting of Delegates at Columbia. This
proposition, tosclhe, with sundry resolu-
tons, presented by other delegates, Was
referred TO committee Of twenty-one, but
after consideration, it was deemed unne-
qessary at present to 60 SO deeply into the
nuestion. or to enter upon 80 lengthy an
exposition. The tone and spirit of the
address were highly commended, and we
believe met with the hearty and cordial
sympathy of the entire meeting. and at the
request of several Of the members we have
procured it from the author, who has kind
ly consented to its publication.
The country has just past through war
that has covered our arms with glory; and
the acquisition of vast foreign territory is
severely testing the capacity Of the Fede-
raj Compact for expansion. IL the same
p1triotic spirit of justice and compromise,
that animated those who formed that com.
pact, could again pervade those whose
duty it is 10 preserve it, then there would
be no difficulty in the questions that arise.
The simple principles that are involved
in a confederation Of equal and indepen-
dent States, are capable of being enlarged
and expanded, so as TO embrace almost a
boundIess extent Of territory, and great
variety OF interests, provided that the COM
mon Government Of the whole carefully
abstain from all interference with the local
interests Of the States, or the pursuits of
the people as kdiviaAals. So soon as it
deviates from This course, it creates strug-
gle for sectional power and ascendency,
which disturbs the harmony that ought TO
exist between equals and endangers the
preservation of,he compact itself.
Every people have their criterion by
which to judge Of liberty; and after peo-
pie have become educated, under the
standard they have formed, they are bound
10 preserve it; and ifthey submit to its vio-
laton they finally become sell-abused and
sink into degradation.
In former ages. the great struggle was to
acquire and defend personal rights, but
we have long since passed that stage, in
the progress Of civil liberty. The great
struggle now is to preserve and defend The
separate interests and ghts of independent
communities. Bound togethor as we are
under our Constitution, liberty is as much
violated by interfering with the separate
interests of our independent communities,
as it was formerly by the acts Of despotism
trampling over the personal rights of free
men. Liberty is itself progressive, and
enlarges and expands with progressive civil
lization. Qpr system is more complicated
and refined, to suit higher grade Of gene
raj intelligence, than has heretofore been
dffused among any people.
The war that has been waged upon our
local aud domestic institutions, waged as
ii has been by our co-partners in the con.
federacy, is war upon civil liberty as it
exists under our great charter Of rights. In
regard to the abstract question that may
beInvolved in domestic serYitude, South
,Catplina has no defence to. make She
tribunal before Which the
spieadihgs4 can bel made upon such an issue,
have her own sovereign will. 1t is enough
for US to know that this institution has been
inherited by us from brave and virtuous
ancestry, and that in the progress of events,
it has become identified with the political
power and existence Of the State itself.
South Carolina acceded as State TO the
Federal Compact with this institution as it
low exists. We acceded as States who
we're TO be equals and co-partners. And
fany rights or interests be acquired over
lew and foreign territories, they accrue to
he Federal Government, by virtue Of the
,onjoined sovereignty of the States, which
hat Government was created to represent.
And if lis power be exercised SO as to ex-
:lude any portion of the co-partners from
he rights and interests they acquired, it is
violation Of the original terms Of the
ompact; and fpersisted in, is virtual
hange of the Government, and we are not
ound to abide it. The Constitution, un-
cr which the Federal Government acts,
as created by States alone, and can be
uended or abrogated only by the States
States. Knowing these things. we
,uld be untrue TO The great principles of
III lluCtlS do lnCJ ShiSt ouobS5o ot 10, u
were to submit 10 any change or infrac-
Of the original terms of compact. save
ugh The mode and manner prescribed
by The Instrument itself.
Inthis point ofHiew the subject becomes
one of much greater magnitude than any
thing involved in the abstract question that
grows out OF domestic servitude. 1t is a
question that involves the political indie.
pendence and the highest constitutional
attributes Of the State as State. We
would be faithless guardians of the trust
reposed in US by confding people, if we
were to stand by and quietly see them de-
privcd of any rights as equals Of the people
of any other State in this Coniederacy.
1t is a fatal error to suppose that this
Union can be preserved by the power Of
numbers, and The force Of arms.
It's Justice, truth, and fair exercise Of
the powers granted under the Federal
Compact, that can alone save this Union.
Give us these. and there is no battle field
where the flag of the Union shall wave but
where some SON of South Carolina shall
fall in its defence. as they have heretofore
80. fnroi0p land