Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-06-19
against South Carolina for boldly

incensed against South Carolina for boldly
struggling in cause, which they have solcmnly
declared to be Just and righteous, and which in
few years, they look upon as inevitable?- p
Tho natural and civil relations subsisting be-
tween the various Southern States, and the ma
ture of. the controversy now between the North
and the South, utterly negatives any such con-
cluson. Such conduct would, in our jud gment
be contrary to reason and experience.
But further. The Southern States, far from
believing themselves involved in the contest by
South Carolina. will be forced to regard them
selves as part authors of The conflict. For is it
not in The power of these States BY their combl-
ned efforts in Congress, to prevent any struggle
Who believes that, if as body, Southern mem
bers in Congress, should sternly resist coercion
by the General Government, that force would
be employed Should the North, against the
remoustrances of the whole South, forcibly re-
sist the secession of South Carolina-what
would be the inevitable result1 The certain
and sudden dissolution Of this Union. lhe
Southern States, therefore, hold this issue conf
pletcly in their own power; and Knowing and
feeling that the cause we espouse is just: that
our common wrongs. to redress which prompts
our action, are grievous and severe; and that
each State has the right, for causes deemed by it
sufficient, peaccably to withdraw from the Union
they could never regard South Carolina as
as smoothing them in a contest with the Gene
raj Government "without cause" Unless by
the most strange Inconsistency and suicidal poll
cy, they will consider themselves identified with
us in this great issue These States will render
US aid, and at no distant day, join us in South
ern Confederacy. They will certainly withhold
all aid and sympathy from the Government in
its attempts at coercion. 1t would be highly
unjust and ungcnerous to our sister States to
suppose them capable of any other course.
How row the other Southern States could
look upon South Carolina in this contest as ac-
tuated by "faetious and selfish motives" is to
US wholly inconceivabc. To indulge such be-
lief is to have poor opinion of the spirit and in
tell:gencc: of the Southern people, or to take
very superficial view of the Southern cause
In that cause as we arc led to regard 1t. arc in
volved great and everlasting principles, which lie
AT the bottom Of Southern freedom and safety
The sorereignty and independence Of the indi-
vidual States-the inst:ist;cn Of slaOcry-thc
subject of taxation these are the watchworis
in the Southern camp. On these issues, rest the
all in all Of the Southern States To maintain
them to the utmost Of our strength. with our
blood and our treasure. is an imperative duty, to
neglect which, is to involve ourselves in ruin.
The other Southern States feel the growing
importance of these issues. They know they
can never give in to the ascendency of Northern
power, without losing their freedom and indie.
Pehdencei without giving up their institution of
slavery; without subjecting themselves to an
odious system of taxation that knows no bounds
Of exaction, but the measure of production
without, in word, creating for themselves, a
wretched state of bondage, that has no parallel
except in Russian serfdon, or Mexican peon-
sge. ~ ;4r' p Ej-,4 > "a
In defending these great rights and interests,;
on which rests all their hopes of future happ-
ness and liberty, could the Southern States
accuse South Carolina Of s.fac.ious and selfish
motives f's cohla'they, to CRAFTY mere whm,
an idle caprice, side with the Government
against her in struggle involving their very cx-
istence as g free pcople2 Credut Judcus Apel-
Ia, non ego. 1t partakes too strongly Of the ex-
travagancc of phrcnzy 10 be believed Of any
people, and least Of all, of the high minded
and generous race Of men that inhabit these
Southern States. Butwc conclude by saying,
that though all other people submit to slavery,
we would have South Carolina still contend for
liberty. RUTLEDGE.
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