Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-02-27
lIANNION
UNDER THE Gu1sE OF PRUDENCE.


Our caption expresses whatw regard as
the true nature Of thesprincipal opposition to
Carolina resistance. We;write with refer
ence to the faction, which takes that ground,
within our own borders. There are some,
perhaps. who object to the States moving
on, in THE course she has already begun, from
a morbid. desire to save. the Union-some,
(but this number is very smulD from fearful
anticipation of being summoned to the battle
field, and some, from conFiction that this
course may not lead to a triumphant termi-
nation. But the greater number of these
dissenters, we fear, areinfnenced to'this'op-
position by selishness, that cannot bringit-
self to adopt any line ~ofsaction that may,
perchance, Illustrate its, petty purposes OF
present emolument. Blinded by. the God
of this world" they cannot perceive how an
additional tax-contributionftoith common
treasury for the common aredl and the common
defence, is to help them and their con-
cerns," as they meanly express it. They
cannot, for moment, admit the idea, that a
temporary and partial sacrifice of their dear
profits, or of their idolized cotton.bags, can,
by any manner of means, result in long
succession Of prosperous years: Absorbed
in the eager pursuit of peG they are utterly
unwilling to stay, for any purpose, the
schemes they are planning to fleece the un-
wary, and dcfraud the simple. Oppressors
themselves, they, perhaps pssuhwittingly, sym
pathisc with oppression. In a word, they
prove themselves dead to. every motive of
political truth and public honor.
And these men have cunning, 9TH part
of their trade,) and they devise plausible tales
to lul the righteous indignation of free-born
souls and, untortanately many do not see
that beneath the ample folds of Wsdom's
garb they have assumed, the acLovES FOOT"
is concealed. ~.se!
How humiliating is the reflection that, eren
,oith us, Mammon has, at last, dared to array
himself against Patriotism! What falling
off of our fair fame! We have but to go
eighteen years into the past, to reach point
in our history, when our people flocked to-
getfer around the shrine of Freedom, with
clean hands and pure hearts, and sworc an oath
before high heaven, ncverto brook opprcs-
sion. And he, who had then dared to whis-
per the groveling suggestions of personal
sclfshness, would have %been'h held accursed
forever. more. And can.itsbe, that, in this
brief period, the Carolinian has changed his
nature! Have these eighteen winters suffi-
ced to afreeze the genial current of his
soul!" No, no! thank God, this change has
not yet come over any considerable number
of our people. Even Tie small faction,
which feels its bancful influence, is partly de-
luded. Would that we could excuse them
all thus!, But this would be to exercise leni-
ency at the cost Of trdth:z Personal observa.
ton and information obi SIed from Others,
nurv sva no ..
advance these contracted dgviews, deserve Sc
we're condemnation, as well as eommiseration.
They evidently seek to make private expedi-.
cncy, the tourh-stone by which,to test 1.-The
orthodoxy of any public measure. They
discourse to us such admirable and elevated
logic as this: 81, myself, am doing we'll
enough in my business--my gains are accru-
ing with charming regularity shall be rich
before die. Any public action that tends to
impede my individual progress in the race of
Riches, is unjust to me, and therefore it must
be impolitic. The publictact of South Caro-
lima, in seeding from the Union, may have
that effect. Thcreforeit it is both unjust and
impolitic." How powerful the argument!
How elevated the tone! tits indeed sadden-
ing to think that some few, even of the good
and true men of our State, show disposi-
ton to chime in with this contemplate whin-
ing; thereby, giving it encouragement and
attaching toit degree of Importance, which.
otherwise, it had never known. Men of hon
or! pause, in Heavens name, and consider
the direful consequences of warming into
life this heartless viper, that malciously his
ses and strikes at every thing that approaches
to disturb its petty, insignificant reign. Adjure
the oathsome thing and come out from its
companionship at once. Let it not be said
in South Carolina that the time is drawing
near, when the terrified cries of sordid Ava
rice are to drown the urgent calls of patriot
ism. Suffer the contracted views of those,
who hold their purse-string with a tighter
grasp than they do their honor and religion,
to gain the ascendaney, and we are, indeed
and in truth, 4 'fettered race" There will
be no necessity for armies and navics to COM
pei us to bear the yoke will, meckncss. We
will have become slaves by our own decree
slaves, not only of consolidated despotism,
but slaves Of Mammon and the Devil.
-e>-
WOMAN.