Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-10-02

ana aTTraYatcS lie very evils, winch Wnel
inflicted, excited the desire to, resist Be
, cause we are not permitted TO take our slav
property to California, we can see no reason
why we should deny ourselves the right o
removing them to Georgia or Mississippi.
That portion of our feIlow-citizens wh'
urge secession, because they are not permitted
to take their slaves to California (whcrc the,
would in no likelihood takcgthcm) seem t.
forget in their zeal for the plan of separat
secession that they will infict the same in
justice upon us, who are Co-operationists, BY
refusing us the privilege offtaking ours tc
the west, where there is a Likelihood, thai
many of us may desire to go,and where oul
friends and kindred have gone before. On,
purpose and desire is 10 separate from oul
enemies of>thc North, and not.at the sacrifice
Of separation from our friends of the
South.
But in Republic the willIof the majority
of the sovereign people sahc law Of The
land, and whenever that Willis constitution
ally ascerained, and dconstitulionally express
ed, We recognize the moral lpbligation upon
a minority to obey.
Thatthe relative strengthen the Secession
and Cooperation parties in this State hasyet
been submitted to any certain fest, is wholly
inadmissible and altogether unsupported by
facts.
The vote taken for delegates to the Con-
vention, was unprecedently small, and it is
estimated that not more tll:!Isonc-third OF; the
voting population of the State, exercised fhc
elective franchise. We regard the question
of secession not as tic cause ola party or
an individual, but the common cause of every
man in Carolina. If two-thitds of our fellow
citizens of the State. seriously and 4deliber-
atcy desire South Charoliha to withdraw
singly, from the Union, d1ht herself upon
hef sovereignty, they have but TO express
their wish in legal form to sensure our nc
quiesccncc as good and 9ellow-members
Of the Republic.
We announce without circnity our desire
for general election, us themost available
test Of the popular sentiment. If the Co.
operationists are in minotiry throughout
the State, I'VE desire to knowit, in order that
we may render ready homageto the majority
feature of Democratic Government.
If the Secessionists hayeitfle minority, TO
which they j claim, they incur no peril To-
their faith by subjecting their strengthto the
test required. If they hayesnot the constis
tutional majority, they havs no manner of
right to secedc. r e -, - -.
With view to preserve He spirit of the,
aais aioSyi5f feeliae fee pE=
tion, it is respectfully suggested that the Con-
vcnlion elect shall meet mt an early day, and
make an appeal from the people Git is be-
licved that the mhole people will concur in
the appeal, and therefore the word people is
uscd) Of this State, TO the sovereign people
of each of the slave-holding States, Gan ap-
peal which We submit, has never yet been
made) and urge and solicit them to unite
with lis in dissolving the "poltical bands
which have connected us" with the free-soil
States of the North. If in the discretion of
the Convention it is deemed advisable, let
also firm and able men, of its own selection,
bc commissioned to 60 and reason with our
brethren Then in order that the sentiment
Of our people may not continue a matter of
opinion, but be reduced to The certainty oil
knowled ge-that they may deliberately sur
vcy every obstacle in the path OF Secession,
and measure their strength of means, and
determination of spirit, to encounter and
overcome them; let any future action by the
Convention be suspended, until after the next
election of members to the House of Rep
rcsentativcs and the expiration of its first
session.
By this arrangement the plan Of separate
secession could be nationally discussed, in q
tone and temper of kindness and respect
(Which deccncy makes imperative where the
difference of opinion is honest and sincere)
before the people, whose concern alone it is.
If such persons as we may select, rs the
opponents of our views and principles arc
fairly beaten before the people, i've engage
to acquicsce chcer(ully, and we furthermore
pledge ourselves to abide and sustain the
action of two-thirls Of the soverei On people
! of South Carolina, 4" whether the same shall
be for secession from the Union. with or
without the cooperation of the other South
crn States"
However nnesscntial to the discnthrawl-
mcnt of South Carolina, our Secession
friends may effect to esteem the cooperation
of one or more Southern States, they all ad-
nit, that union among our people is indis-
pcnsiblc to the success of their plar. To
The attainment of this union, we point the
way: and if the overture is declined, We
submit that, the following deductions can be,
neither fairly disprovcn or reasonable denied
ist. That the Secession party do not
themselves believe that they have the con-
stitutiona majority for change of Constiu:
ton. And
end. That their object is, not the deliver.
ancc of South Carolina from federal bondage
but the party control and management of The
State.
We deprccatc divisions MS much rs any
men. ard desire TO avoid them; but not al
the cost of an entire abandonment Of oul
principles and convictions. We regard the
delegates to the Convention, but rs the
o,rncrs Of the estate. The fee simple is ir
us; Ohe people, they cannot aicnatc, they
cannot waste"
TO the end then, that the sentiment of the
people may be accurately asccrtained and
deliberately expressed, and in exercise of the
rieht which pertains to us politically as sover
cigns, in reference 10 our agents; be it there
furc
Rcso7rcd That the delegates to the State
Convention, from Edgefeld, be, and are here
by instructed, that prior to the first day o
January, 1853, they give no vote for, or conn
tcnancc to, any ordinance or measure, whicl
has for it's object the separate secession o
the State of South Carolina from the Amer
lean Confederacy.
Respectfully submitted,
ID 9 RR00kS