Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-12-05

plated legislation Of Congress against the
slaveholdins community, are destined, if
successful, to engraft principle on our
political Institutions, lraisht Wit, imminent
danger 10 every member Of the Republic
to The NcrlII more than 10 the Soulh; to
both. however. in prostralns The safeguards
of all rights, personal, suciaI and pnIiiical;
hut to the former, especially, in arroying
labor against capital.
If masters, in violation Of the Federal
Constitution aud laws, may be prevented
from. recovering their fugitive or stolen
slaves; iftthe transfer of persons and pro-
perry. except under degrading restrictions,
be denied them; what protection for their
rights will remain. when the Northern
States. by territorial asgrandizemenI, un.
warran,ulny acquired, shall have secured
an undisppted ascendancy in the councils
Of the nation. TO force on such result
is now obviously the aim of the enemy. and
the non extensinn o. slavery furnishes a
plausible plea to cover their real design.
If the plantation Slales did not possess Que
slave, the records Of the Slate and federal
governments would exhibit substantially
Ilha same reckless determination 10 control
aud regulate Southern property; to exact
arbitrarily the proceeds Of the labor of the
richer, TO be expended for the beneli: Of the
naturally poorer Division Of the Union. In
the consummatiou Of 80 alarming a pur-
puse, even Southern politicians are unwlt.
lingly or designedy lending their aid
Party predictions are, in too many in
stances, stronger than principles; the high
or Offices 10 the gift Of commonwealth
sought with less ardor than humble stations
at the disposal Of federal funclionaries !;
the acts of The Slales, in which the real in.
leress of The people are involved, are view
ed as of subordinate importance, and the
guarantees and compromises of the consli-
tuition are unadapled 10 tine moral cond-
tion aud political advancement of The age.
There is bnt one remedy for the disease
that porleuds desolallOu and ruin 10 our
country, The maintenance in their o'igi.
nal purity Of the federative priuci Piles OF
the government, each State and every de-.
paHment or ibe federal authorities respcc-
lively combining themselves within their cou
sllutiona orbits, aud between the States
tI,e eSlinsu;shment Of adverse feelings, the
rrHays H. fiTT .speHsd6iTsT caahGafit6nJ J"HrH56'Sfs III H56'Sfs
con!pderacy cannot he preserved by the
people aud the General and State Govern.
menls, which pas, and passing events would
seem 10 indicate then The period when the
legacy Of common ancestry shall cease 10
be enjoyed. is already al hand.
r., Il ft,.,tt . ,o
South has al last bceu aroused from its
criminal le,hargy TO a knowledge of the
dangers of its position. For the first time
in our political history, party aIIinities are
becoming merged in the higher obligation
of corporation for the sake of safely, or
for participation in common fate.
OF the two exre'lienls advocated by
those whose common interests have heen
assailed, The project Of a Southern conven.
ton is, in my view, undoubtedly 10 be pie
, lerred, where there exists reasonable
certainly fits assembling under suficien,
= guarantees for united and harmonious ac.
lion. In the realization Of this result, we
have at least reasonable grounds of assu.
rance. therefore hail with satisfaction
tho proposition Of Mississippi, for The con
vention oflhe people Of the Southern
States, aud ardenIly hope that it will meel
with a wanh and unanimous response
The paramount object is the preservation
Of the Unioo, in cunfnrniiy TO the priu-
ciples OF tie constitution Of The United
r States. lflhat cannot be altaincd-which
| am willing 10 believe-then let it be
resolved to project and defend. at all haz-
ards. The freedom, sovereignty, and Jude.
peudence oi the members Which compose
it. In the latter alternative, should SO
dire a necessity be forced upon the south
il must not essay To penetrate The future,
but at once commit 10 God its cause and
its destiny.
+ With view TO second aud further the
objects embraced in This prnposition Of our
sister State, through the legislative chan.
ucs Of authority. suggestive expediency
Of empowering. by stature, the Governor
either to convoke the Legislature, if nnl
in session. or TO issue wrils Of election
for a couvenlion Of the people, should the
lNilmot Provsn, or any kindred measure,
affecting he rig hts aud honor Of the Slate,
receive the formal enactment of Congress,
| would invite your special notice 10 the
offence Of introducing and circulating,
within our limits papers calculated 10 dis.
,urb the peace Of the State; also to The fac,
ofthc extensive dissemination Of highly
iufammaury essays and letters, intended
10 awaken Jealousy in the minds of our
citizens, and of offensive pictorial repre-,
scnIalions, calculated TO attract The allcn.
lion Of the colored population.
II is not unlrrquenly conceded. lha,
every law Of Congress, conslilutionally
enacted, is Of supreme authority. This
is IN error, the existence Of which The leg
isIarive history OF the Republic, and an
accurate perception of the relations bea
tween The States and their common agent
. satisfactorily establishes. The regulation
of commerce belongs exclusively TO Con.
aress; yet, by The quarantine laws of the
States, thai power is virtually abroguicd
The laws Gf several of the southern states
pruhibrin, the iuaress Of colored cooks
and stewards 1910 their borders, are enbra,
ced in tbe same category. The right Of the
States 10 resort to preventive Legislation
IN eases involving the security of health