Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-02-14
From the Washington Union.
ADDRESS OF THE .
SOUTHERN DELEGATES IN CONGRESS TO
THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
We, whose names are hereunlo annexed,
address you in discharge OF what we be-
-~lieve 10 be solemn duty on The most i'm
porlaut subject ever presented for your
consideration. We alIude 10 the conflict
between the TWO great sections Of the
Union, growing out of difference of feel
ing aud opinion in reference TO the relation
existing between the two races. the Euro
mean and African, which inhabit the South
ern section, and the acts of aggression and
encroachmen,s TO which it has led.
The conflict commenced not long after
the acknowledgment Of our independence.
and has gradually, increased until it has
arrayed the grea, body of The North against
The South on This most vital subject, In
!he progress of this conflict, aggression has
followed aggression, and encroachment en-
, croachmeut, until they have reached a
point when regard for your peace and
snfety will not permit US 10 remain logger
silent. The object of this address is 10
lSl give YOU clear, correct, but brief account
/ ssofslhewhole series OF agsressinns and seaE
cfoachmen,s .is.-s-
ment ofihe dangers 10 which they expose
YOU. Our object in making itsis not TO
cause excitement, but 10 put you IN ioil
possession of all the facts and circu1lstau-
ces necessary 10 full and just conception
of deep seated disease, which threatens
great danger to you and the whole body
politic. We act on The impression. that
in popular government like ours. true
conceprion of the actual character and
state of disease is indispensable TO eject
ing cure.
We have made it joint address, be-
cause we believe that the magnitude ofthe
subjec, required that it should assume the
most i'm porrant and solemn form.
Not to 20 further hack, the difference OF
opinion and feeling in reference to The re-
lation between the two races. disclosed
in The convention that framed the Consul
tuition. and constituted one Of the greatest
difficulties in forming it. After many ell
forts. it was overcome by compromise,
which provided in the first place, that
REPRESENTATIVES and direct taxes shall he
apportioned among the States according 10
their respective members; and that, in as
certaipiug the number Of each, 1--WE slaves
shall be estimated as three. In The next,
that slaves escaping into States where
slavery does not exist, shall not be dis
charged from servitude. bu, shall be de.
livered up on claim of the party TO whom
their labor or service is due. In The third
place, that Congress shall not prohibit he
importation Of slaves before the year l6OS;
but tax not exceeding ten dollars may
be imposed on each imported. And finally
that no capituletion or direc, tax shall be
laid, but 10 proportion to federal numbers;
and that no amendment of the Const,u-
ton, prior to 1903, shall effect this provi~
sion, nor that relating to the importation of
slaves.
So satisfactory were these provisions.
that the second. relative 10 the delivering
up of fugitive slaves, was adopted unani'
mously; and all the rest, except the third.
relative 10 the importation Of slaves until
1908, with almos, equal unanimity. They
recognise the existence of slavery, and
make a specific provision for lis protection
where il was supposed 10 be the most ex-
posed. They go further. and incorporate
il, as an important element, IN determining
the relative weight VI Tue ee'eTdl otuteo
in the Government Of the Union, and the
respective burden they should bear in lay.
ing capitation and direct taxes. ltwas well
understood al the time, that without them
the Constitution would not have been
adopted by the Southern States, and of
course that they constituted elements so
essential TO The system that it never would
have existed without them. The Northern
States, knowing allhis, ratified the Con-
sti.ution. thereby pledgiug their faith, in
the most solemn manner, sacredly to OBJ
:. serve them. How that faith has been
kept, and that pledge redeemed, we shall
next proceed TO show.
With few exceptions of no great import
ance, the South had no cause 10 complain
prior to the year ls19-a year, it is 10 be
feared, destined TO mark train Of events
bringing with them many and great, and
fatal disasters on the country, and its insti'
tutions. With it commenced The agilaline
debate on the question Of the admission o
Missouri into The Union. We shall pas: