Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-10-16

Your obliged fellow-citizen,
JOHN CUNNINGHAM.
Messrs. R. c.. Griffin, James Sheppard, Z. W.
Carwile, James H. Minis, Z. Andrews, R. G.
Dunonyant, Committee of Invitation.
Letter from Col. A. Y. Aidrich,
Or BARSwELL, IN REILLY TO REQUEST FOR
COPY OF HIS. SrEEcH:
BARSwELl C. H., Sept. 80, 1861.
Gentlemen 1T was my intention to CON-
ply with your earnest request and send you,
for publication, a copy of the speech which l
had the honor to make to 4 portion of the
patriotic people of Edgeield District, at
Dorn's, on the Goth September last. | find,
however, that my engagements will put it
entirely out of my power, and must beg
you TO believe, that nothing but urgent ne
cessity could make ne disappoint you. If
there is anything which have more at heart
now than all thingsel it is to prevent the
suicidal policy of immediate separate seces-
sion. States, like individuals, have no right
to commit suicide. That immediate separate
State secession will inflict entire ruin upon
South Carolina, have not the least doubt.
That calm endurantsSinr q little while, will
uuite the other Southern States, certainly
the Cotton States In solid phalanx against
the powers of the North, | am firmly per-
suaded. How much better then, is it to en-
hibit the calm courage of u firm people wait
ing for the time to strike, than the feverish
anxiety of n fanatic people, destroying them
selves because they are unable Immediately
to redress their wrongs. would not see my
State dishonored, but cannot consent to see
nv State destroyed for no good. If by de-
stroying South Carolina we could secure for
the other slave-holding States "indennity
for the past and security for the future" it
might be that we could make the sacrifice.
But to lose all for ourselves, and gain nothing
for our friends and allies, is an extent of de-
votion which can hardly be distinguished from
INSANITY. What are we asked to do? Rem
edr an evil! MOI Restore our rights? No!
Redress our wrongs? No! What then!
Make an exhibition of guiyotic resistance
which is neither demanded by our position or
our pledges. South Carolina is in the very
heart of the slave territory, and from her po-
siton will be the very last State to be affected
by The abolition phrensy. She has less at
stake than almost any other State in the
Confederacy. Her people are less likely to
emigrate with their men servants and maid
servants to the new territory, than any other
people in the Union. She has made no single
pledge on her statute book, but to cooperate
with her Southern sisters. She has said
much less than Virginia, Georgia and Missis-
sippi Why then this excitement? Is it be-
cause heated body, hastily convened with
out authority, deaf to counsel, bent upon
carrying out the policy of q few, disregarding
the counsel of the wise and experienced, have
determined upon course of action concev-
ed in passion and acted upon in excitement
Are the people to execute that policy calmly
and deliberately against the convictions of
their matured and better jud dgment? Can
this be wisdom! Can South Carolina lose
honor and character by refusing such lead !
1 think not, and | feel satisfied, that the great
body of the people will decide in like man
ner To the hasty and passionate action of
the self-constituted May Convention, must
be traced the present excitement and division
in the State, the people have now the oppor-
tunitv to check this spirit, In the election of
deputies to the Southern Congress, and l
hope they will embrace the occasion to allay
the party heat and strife which is fast growing
in the State.
The simple proposition before the people
now is, will separate secession by the State
of South Carolina, put us in any better posi-
ton than the one we now occupy? Ii it will,
the State ought to secede. If it will not, the
State ought not to secede. | repeat here,
what have said elsewhere, that the first im-
pulse of every true, brave, Southern heart, is
to throw off the government which oppresses
us, and if we listened 10 impulse rather than
reason, we would say, et US brave any danger
rather than endure these wrongs. But when
we come to reason the matter we see, that if
we exercise the calm courage which endures
until it is ready to strike, we run no risk of
defeat and will gain all our demands. Ag-
gression has progressedso so far now, that the
contest, on the question of slavery, is no
longer contest between the States rs States
and the Government, but between the people
of the North and the people of the South,
as two distinct races This is the distinct
issue. The Submissioists demand, that we
isolate the people of South Carolina from
this Southern race on his Southern issue,
Those opposed to separate secession demand
that we make common c,use with this South.
ern race, feeling con6de,t that together we
must share common victory. will not
! stop to show, that tho inevitable tendency oi