Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-04-18

position was fepndiateu py lie LtSisialnte'-
But within the last TWO years the Legislature oi
that State has given the most unequivocai eVi-
dences of the dangerous prugress of opinion in
that State. The free soil agitation is moved
with the force Of party organization. 1t has
its pxponenrs in the Senate, and will make the
proceedings of that body scene for its nggres'
siuus. The federal government is To become
the vehicle ofincendiaiy assaults OIL some oi The
parties to it.
This is not, il is true. the universal sentiment
at the Noilh. There are many liberal minded
men who 20 for protecting the constitutional
rights of The South. 1t was with pleasure, he
alluded 10 the liberal policy of Mr.. Webster on
this subject. Or very trying occasion
this distinguished Statesman maintained. that
Southern slaves rs a mass could not be betlered
by emancipation that Congress, instead OF
interfering with, ought 10 pass laws sanct,on'ng
the constitutional provisions for the protection oil
shareholders. But even he, Influenced ty the
feelinL Of his constituents, has suid that
slavery should not exist one inch beyond the
slaueholding States No Representative, how
distinguished soever, who is liberal in his views
can 20 back to his State, and resist the strong
current of popular Indignation agnins, slavery.
They who have attempted it, have been sacrlfl-
ced. And this anti-slavery feeling is still rap
idly an the increase. In a short lime the free
soil party will be The predominant parry al the
North.
So mach for the North!
How stands the question in the Northwes'
tern S,ates7 The very best men from tbs sec.
lion. who ore disposed to adhere fsilhfnlly 10
the spirit the constitution in protecting SonIh-
ern rights, were originally fi"m The slave
States. Much the largest portion of these
Northwestern States. under the operation o.
the Ordinance of 1887, belong naturally and
really 10 the frse soil party. Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan and Wisconsin among the States,
aud Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska Territories
are and will be non-slaveholling. willis only
Arkansas and Louisian fall within the limits
allowed 10 slavery,
Tile general popular sentiment nlnong all
these Sta,es1s. that the constitution should be
changed in order to extend The area of frce>
dom ;-,la, in its original FORM ii is not suited
to the country in its present. advanced and grO,0'
ing State.
Added to these, another powerful influence
is n, work in the free sol" States. II ia the
Press: conducted with great power aud ability.
and sustained by large moneyed interests. Its
influence is ,rernendous-not only from The
ability and moneyed power which control it,
but likewise from the great lacl evnced in liz
management Al! Southern Newspapers are
cautiously excluded from the reading circle
In a Largo Raa.ling Room ii Ntas6Ihg f5h-no, a
paper South of the Potomac is tn be obtained.
In another, n New Orleans Paper is taken ::
which may be accounted for by the fact, that
the city Of New Orleans is in character very
cosmopolitan, and. that j, lakes its politics. in
asrcat measure, from the States lying north Of
The waters Of lhe Mississippi, with which that
city, by means of an extensive trade, is in con-
stant communication.
Ano,he. powerful influence in favor Of the
a. free s,a,es,' is the patronage Of Ihe Presi-
dent, wh, has the distribution Of S40000000
in tho way of bes,owing Offices, appointments
o,c-much the largest portion Of which are
given al The North and in The North-West.-
All aspirunts for the Presldeucy-and they are
becoming extremely eommon-will more or less
comply with or accommodate themselves 10 the
preiudices of nonslavehclding maj joriiy.
These are the general elements ol power by
which the free States" can control the legs.
la,ion of the countiyi but The Wifmot Prori.
so. they are likely to acquire spfeifc power,
which will greatly increase their influence
There is no doubt that The (ree-soi party, are
determined to carry ont, if possible, the princi.
pies of Ills odous measure. Nothing but this
prevented, at the late Session OF Congress
government, being given 10 The newly acquired
Territory. The Northern men would assent 10
nothing that did not fully acknowledg sc the prn.
cipes they contend for. They have gained
boldness by their success in attaching the VIII.
mot Proviso TO the Oregon Bill. That event.
" IS 10 Dc IedTeuI WIZ Pio'e ia'di w SouHtih
rights. Since the passage of that Bill, the free
soil men do not scruple 10 bring forward the
most insulting propositions. Giddings gol up
u Resolution and obtained for il "a votes, that
all persons in The District of Columbia. iucu.
ding slaucs themselves, should decide whether or
not The slaves in that Disricl shonld be free.
Tie fact. therefore, tint dangers threaten,he
South, cannot be avoided. Is the real Issue
likely to come up2 1t was 20 thought. mud
Southern move was mnde in Congress- which
resulted in the Southern address. TO Mr..
Downes, of Louisiana, belongs. perhaps. the
honor of FIRST SUI gestimg Southern Meeting.
But MIR. Stephens, Of Georgia, frhm Parlia-
mentary courtesy. was made Chairman OF the
Committee Ia which the subject was REFEREED
being the mover Of thnt Committee. /, was a
source Of cordial feeling. that he was made
Chairman 1t was highly desirable ,ha, an ad-
dress on the subject should have come from
member from Georgia. State from ils local
situation and interests, deeply concerned in the
issue. But il so happened that the task of
drawing the address devolved on Mr.. Calhoun.
His experienre and abilities eminenly fitted
him for such an office. He was sinccrey lie.
sirous in ccquitting himself Of The duty, to pro-
duce unanimily; and hence the original drnft
NOT at all too strong in tonc-underwent 9ari
Gus notifications. Both it's author and the adj
L.. L..