Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-07-31
A FEW WORDS TO THE CO-OpERATIOEISTs


our error but make proper amends for it.
A FEW WORDS TO THE C0-0pERATI0NlSTS.
THE indication, from almost all quarters Of the
State are cheeringly strong in favor of our pro-
crossing in the course of resistance already nstitu.
ted Day after day we receive items of intel!i-
gcncc to this effect. Scarcely one mail in ten
brings news of nm opposite character. We have
examined the few South Carolina Newspapers
which differ with lis in politics, and so seldom do
we discover on their pages anything 20 prove that
they are sustained by the people OF the State that
really our sympathics have been somewhat excited
towards them. On the o:Ec. hand, the Secession
Papers, from the mountains to the sca-board, TEEN
constantly with abundant proofs Of the true senti-
men, of the evcr-gallant people of South Carolina.
And this sentiment is one Of deep hostility to Fcde.
raj Rule, connected with fiSed determination TO
free themselves from it, by the on!y procedure
which will be, at the same time, right md efec-
tual-..he procedure of Constitutional Secession.
The rapidly increasing unanimity of our people,
on this great NATTER is destined to exercise pow
crful influence upon this era of American history.
|
to the hearts of our enemies. Ru; ie Joyous sun
light to the souls of all true Southern Patriots.
Friends of the Cooperation party! let us reason
together with all manner of kindness. Were your
policy decidedly in the asccrdcncv CT this time in
the State, would you not think il unreasonable
in your opponents, no: only to withhold the in
Aucnce of their consent, but 70 seek, by flaming
| u:,,;1 Jn,, ~, f-aa
voice of the great body of their fcl!ow-ciizens'
And is not this precisely villa: you are doing now'
We fear it is.
1t docs not occur TO us tha. you have any i'm
proper motives in doing this. 1t may very well be
that you are actla:ed by the pnrest intentions.
But the effects produced by your unavailing e1er-
tions at this stage Of the contest, may not be the
less fatal to your State. Without designing it,
you may foment bitter discord and strife at home.
Youmay even encourage, indirectly, treason in the
camp. One of your own number has been among
the first to inform the State that there is already
q spirit of rebellion abroad among us. We have
all along feared that there might be few rene
gades in the end. But that they were to be found
such aamhs t4aRAiEs 8FshsS fF apd and
their disloyal whims, we had not before imagined.
We have not the slightest idea that this is so rs
yet and we trust in God it may never be- Yet
the bare suggestion Of such thing is sufficient TO
starile every good man into a sense of the awful
ruin and disgrace, which such spirit might pos
sibly work out, unless crushed at once with the
contempt and scorn it merits. II it has come TO
this tina. such vile treason mus. be pandcred to by
South Carolinians, then we mry as well .car down
the Palmetto, burn the records of The PAST and
prepare for the lowest political degradation. Ex-
pect to win over an ARNOLD by complaisance and
concessions, 1t is worse :han idle Tou only
keep alive the serpent By such miaistra,ions.
Smother it at the beginning by unmitiga!cd con-
demnation, or it may grow 10 be renco.ons ripcr
| in your bosom.-But, while there possibly may b.
on the one side, few individuals, bad enough to
yield to this wicked spirit, look unrn the ether vide
of you, and you will there find thrac-fnur;hs of
your State pressing on for their Independence. by
direct, STRAIGHTFORWARD measures. They desire 10
turn neither to the righ, hand nor the left, until
this fond desire of their hearts shall have been
accomplished While they solicit ard earnestly
hope for the cooperation Of other Slutes yet they
ore resolved to carry their crn Smte, clone, if it
must be, out Of this unequal Union. Here then
is small faction, supposed 10 be ready for muiny
on the one hand and on The other, THE MASSES OF
THE STATE, burning to secure their rights and
vindicnte their freedom.
Friends Of the Cooperation party, what will
you do! We will not ask you to choose between
the two; for we are constrained to believe that
most of you regard that petty faction Of recusants
with tho same adherence, which is felt by the se.
cessionists. But We ask You, in friendly mood,
will you clog the onward course of the latter,
when, to do so, you find yourselves compelled to
use arguments which, if they have any effect, must
tend 10 strengthen the hands and increase the
ranks Of the former! 1t is surely we'll demonstra
ted that you cannot decrease the numbers of the
Secessionists-it is above contradiction indeed,
that they arc rapidly gaining acceasions in every
part Of the State. You have exhausted the vari-
rous terms "folly," "madness," "delirium,"
"reckessness," &C., in application to them, but
they arc still determined. You have appealed to
their fears and their interests in the strongest erms
and yet they are undaunted. You have presented
many worthy and distinguished names, in long
and powerful array, to sway them in their opin-
ions, and yet they increase in n tcn-fo!d ratio
Bethink you, friends, there is significance in all
this. Beware, lest you miscaculate the depth
and force Of that feeling which some Of ycu twelve
months ago, fost red and encouraged Beware lest
in after years, You find that what you had termed |
" recElcssness" and INSANITY" was in reality the
influence OF an Almighty Providence, moving
upon the hearts of generous race. and impclIing
them to the execution Of high purpose In the
progress OF our holy religion, such epi,hcts were
applied to the agents employed in its advancement.
May not the same happen to those destined TO
prosecute the cause of true Liberty!
We appeal, then, ardcnlly and kindly to those
among us, who style themselves Co.operationiss.
asking them, as an act of brotherly Justice and
filial piety, to join the dominant party in the
State. 1t is the only possible method of obtaining
that perfection of unaninity, which will enable
us to ride out the storm that may avail, us. That
this junction will make South Carolina as one
man, we have not The slightest shadow of doubt.
For, without the councnance of the respectability
talent and position, Of which the co.opera,ionists
are unquestionably possessed, this last and least
fragment Of faction would withdraw, from the