Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-08-14

Stae, ana lalllpef WIFI us IlistltuuoiIs anu inteh
nal affairs, until it annul the commonest privile-
rcs of its citizens, and disturb the whole order Of
society.
agree, in part, with distinguished gentlemen
who maintain, that the great struggle of mankind
now, is not for their personal, but for their pot-
cal rights, or for the rights of States and COM
munitics. This is entirely true in regard to Re-
publics and to the liberal monarchy Of Great
Britain, but to no other Governments. The con-
test i, more apparent now, than it was in any
preceding age, because, there is more republican
freedom now than there was formerly, and the
Representative system derived from England, and
the ideas of constitutional liberty imbibcd from
the same abundant fountain Of wisdom and law,
and first, in written FORMS fully reduced to prac-
tice by our revolutionary ancestors, have rresen-
ted to the world, the only true conception of a
bcncfcent Republic
In all Republics and Democracics, where Off
ccs and distinctions have been attanablc by the
masses, the notion of universal equality has pre-
anism, as also, disposition to repose unlimited
power in the majority. In countries from which
slavery has been excluded, the inclination to So
cialism is greater and moro apparent than in
slavcholding communities. This natural pro-
clivity of men is easily discernble in the history
of our own country as well as that Of Greece
and Rome.
Our fathers were wise men. They were sem
sibly impressed with the wisdom Of the English
| Constitution, and they saw as much to dread in
fierce and reckless Democracy, controlled only
by the will of blind and selfish majority, as
they apprchcnded from the most absolute tyran-
n.y. They, therefore, established a written con-
stitution as compact among the Statcs-as q
restraint upon the excited and interested maiori-
ties that might arise, and as protection for their
poscrity in all time to come. All Republics
hitherto had been failures, and to prevent their
own from sharing like fate, it was their chief
aim TO make sure provision.
In my opinion, the great contest in Republics
will be between the friends Of q constitution and
the advocates of consolidation, or of the unlimi-
ted power of majoritics. That is certainly the
complexion of the struggle now sustained in this
country.
But the Constitution of the United States,
though nominally of force, has, long ago. ceased
to protect as. It has afforded no check to the
progress of aggression, and to the spirit Of mon
opoly and plunder.
From the first establishment of our Indepen-
dcncc, even down to 1916, the commerce of the
Southern States and their general prosperity, far
exceeded the commerce and prosperity Of the
Northern States and the decline Of the former
can be ascriLed only to the delcterous influence
of Government. The steadily growing majori-
ty of the North has successfully pursued q sys-
tenn of measures, raising the taxes exclusively
from duties OH imports, and thus giving birth to a
high Tariff for the encouragement of manufac-
lures. 1t has devised and fostered a grand
scheme OF Internal improvements. It built up
and sustained an enormous Banking institution
at Philadelphia, to promote the trade and riches
of the North and East. 1t is sacrificing the pub
lie lands, with the two-fold view Of strengthen
ing itself by immigration, and Of forming pie
text 70: higher import duties. II has ingeni-
ously contrvcd measures for the collection Of the
revenues at the North, although mostly paid BY
the South, and for making all the principal Gov
ernmcnt, disbursements in the Northern States
measures, which have reduced Our hourishing
cities to deserted hamlcts, where poverty has ia
ken the place of opulcncc, and where weeds are
growing, in rank luxuriancc, over the places
once adorned by the gardens, and pleasure
ounds, and ornamcntcd walks of The noble and
viruous men and women of other days.
Such violations though, of the spirit Of the
Constitution might be tolerated, and we might be
reduced to poverty, without being covered with
infimy but it is now boldly avowcd TO be the
leading policy Of Tic Northern section to render
our property valuclcss by circumscribing the i'll
sttuiion of slavery and it is likewise forcibly in
dieatcd, that there is design III that quarter,
equally fixed, of manumitting our slaves, in d.
rect opposition 70 that grca. principal of conces-
sion and forbcarancc, without which the Govern
meut would never have been formed. Senators
and Legislators declare, that the obligations of
their religion and conscience are above their
oaths of Office, and they laugh at the extreme ir-
rtaton of Southern gentlemen, and the manly
scrupcs of their own honorable colleagues.
In this relentless war against our institutions,
the old party divisions are often entirely broken
down, and Wing" and Democrat" are
frequently unknown in the political struggles of
the country. The contest is between the abol-
tionists and the consolidaonists on the one side,
and the friends of Constitutional liberty on the
other. The churches Of the three greatest de-
nominations of Protestant Christians are divided
families are divided, and the whole country is
virtually divided.
Thus it is plain, that the sections are ctcrnaly
separated, not only by the ordinary local prcju-
diccs and feelings common to Northerns and
Southerns situated as we are, but by their inter-
ests, and by the institution of slavery and that
the Northern people have majority constantly
increasing, and while the Union lasts, destined,
forever, to increase, in wealth, numbers and
power. The Southern portion Of the Uni.n is
,nJ,,.oJ 30 ,,o,l.,occ oo1 n bo, Novar tnnun