Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-07-31
FOR THE ADVERTISER.

ty is absolutely indispensable 10 our success.
Although some have assumed that South Cnro!i-
M may sustain herself in her present cxigency,
solitary and alone, none arc SO rash as to deny
tho mpossibility of her doing SO without the
united wisdom and action of her own citizens.
The one is possible, the other impossible. For
tunatcly for our State, our able men have gene
rally interchanged freely their counscls with each
other. and uniting upon some common ground,
guided us safely through every political crisis,
No one would deprecate more than ], to see our
leading men so ambitious and injudcious as to
erect, each for himself, his individual standard
and which having erected it, pride of opinion
would induce him to maintain, by nhamatory ap-
pcals to the people. Such would be dishonora-
bic to them, ruinous to the State and deep stain
upon her fair history. South Carolina is not
place for demagogucs, and l would gladly hope
that the conservative character Of her govern
mcnt will ever protect her against them. 1t is
with the profoHndcst admiration, therefore, that
7 view the present course Of Judge BUTLER and
his frcnds-submitting to Misrepresentation and
insidious attacks upon their motivcs,-ra.hcr than
undertake vlndication Of themselves, lest it
should involve our citizens in party strifcs and
chickering's. l pity the soul. that cannot apprc-
ciate such patriotism, but deluIes himself into
the belief that Judge BUTLER is not able to vim
dicatc his course triumphantly before his coun-
try Surely no one has been more devoted to
his State, or more consistent in his course than
this distinguished gentleman.
In 1919, tic Southern Delegates in Congress,
under the lead Of Mr.. CALHOUN, met in Council
to advise upon the most efficient remedy of the
great evils Of which We, and the whole South
now complain. The result of their joint wisdom
and deliberations, YVES given by alr. CALHOUN,
and subscribed to at the time by Judge BUTLER
and our Representatives in Congress, in the fol-
lowing words.
"Wo then arc of the opinion, that the first
and indispensable step, without which nothing
can be done, and with which every thing may
be, is to be united among yourselves"
Here we see how much Mr.. CALHOUN and
Judge BUTLER, relied upon the cooperation of
the Southern States with each other 10 effect q
remedy of the identical evil of which we now
complain But shortly after this Mr.. CALHOUN
died, and the evil continuing. it devolvcd upon
our Statesmen, still to use their efforts to secure
Us against the aggrcssions Of the North.
The consequence was they became the advo-
Gates of dissolution Of the Union, for the pur-
pose of recognizing ourselves into Southern
Confederacy. This project was unanimously ap-
proved of by the whole State, and our Senators
returned to the last Session Of Congress, its open
and avowed advocates. In fact, Mr.. RHETT was
elected Senator by our last Legislature, because
of his bold advocacy of this measure, and on ac-
count of which he was denounced by Mr.. Clay.
And consistent with the pledge Of the State,
not to lead, but to tollo,0, tho Legislature ap-
-.l laicapannn Il, iirairsinni.
But although Mr.. RuErr had been 80 conspicu-
Gus an advocate Of this great project, upon his
return from Congress, he suddenly places him
self in the lead of the Scccssionsts, and is so
ultra rs to say VIC do not need cooperation, and
so bold as to threaten to force it if necessary Is
this the conduct of wise Statesman, or Of o
practical man? To dissolve this Union and form
Southern Confcdcracy is not the work Of day.
1t is great and magnificent adventure in behalf
of our liberties and institutions. And now when
it has beer advocated as the settled policy Of the
State, but little more than twelve months VIC are
told to discard it MS not important In truth tits
worth the labours of many years; it is as great
and as essential 10 us, as was the achievement Of
the American Revolution, TO the interest Of our
ancestors; and il formed with proper estimate
of the comfy and goodwill tha: should subsls
between it's members, it would prove lasting
victory over the enemies of our country. The
assertion of Mr.. RHETr that we do not need or
that we will force cooperation, sounds to me
moro like the maudlin vauntings of braGgart,
than the lessons Of either patriotism or wisdom,
and forces me to refer it to his weakness, to
avoid malignipg his motives; for in any eTcnt it
could only result in his incuring the dcnuncation
of the South as lie did that of the North, but with
out any reward. In truth South Carolina can
have no sympathy with any mon or measures
that would hinder that union and cooperation Of
the Southern States, which Mr.. CALHOUN and his
distinguished associates have taught us to regard
as the first and indispensable step on this great
question" The remarks of the brave and patri-
otic G. NJ. TRour in reference to notification,
may be easily applied to 'hc present question.
Carolina (said hey had a perfect right to do
as she did but as we do not always wisely what
VIC have right to do blamed Carolina for not
acting in concert with those States having idcn-
tical interests; if shc he'd done so, certain and
complete triumph of the Constitution would have
been the result"
But in tho present case it is not only wise, but
consistent in South Carolina to "act in concert
with those having identical interests" It is her
declared policy The publication in the Charles
ton Mercury, of an extract from Judge But
LER's speech, delivered in 1880, is entirely i'm
pertinent to the present issue. The object then
was to intcrpcse the sovereignty OF the State to
prohibit the abuses and usurpations of the gov
crnmcnt. South Carolina contemplated no rero-
luton or remodeling of the government; but
held up AID acted under the egis of the Consti-