Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-08-07
ALBANY, Ca, July 4th, 1851.
FoR TIE ADVERTISER.
UHHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE RESOLUTIONS
oP TIVE CHARLESTON MEETING 20


TIE first impulse upon reading them over
carefully is painful modification that citizens OF
South Carolina,-the movers and leaders of that
meeting most Of them known to be good men
and true-should have felt themselves constralu-
cd to hold the meeting at all; or to announce to
the world by set of Resolutions, their opinions
and feelings, and the position they desire to occu-
py upon the great question now at issue and
shortly to be decided in regard to the nature OF
our Federal Government, and the destiny OF tho
Southern portion of the Union. The question
itself is not destitute Of the most grave and mo-
mentous Importance; nor is it at all doubtful as
to the course the people of the State desire tc
announce they will pursue, in order to the fu'
ture preservation of themselves and their institu'
tions And it seems to be agreed on all sides in
this State that South Carolina ought not to re-
main in this Union. The Southern Rights Asso'
catons have formally announced in Convention
that failing to obtain cooperation from Other
Southern States, they will advise and insist that
rather than submit to past aggresslons OF tho
Northern States, through the agency of the
Federal Government, we will, in order to secure
their deliverancc, put the question at issue to tho
test of decision by the secession of South Carroll
na alone Upon this declaration thus formally
and solcnnly made, and publicly promulgated al
over this Union, the State seemed TO stand and
pause, with an ardent hope and desire, that tho
emergency of the crisis, the justice of our cause
and the necessity of scf-prcscrvation, would sur
mount mpcdimcnts Of merely local concern, and
bring to our side and to our aid, the cooperation
of some or al OF the Southern States, whose
fate hangs upon the same issue, and whose desti
ny is involved in common with ourselves upor
its determination.
The propricty and expcdiency of the course
thus proposed for South Carolina, is now and
has been, since May last, the subject of though
and discussion throughout the whole Southern
country.
The Southern Rights Associations have not
since the adjournment of the Convention. taker
any formal action upon the proceedings of tht
Convention, but have left the principles and po
sitions then assumed and announced, to work
their way to the appreciation Of the Southern
people, upon their own merits, through the ord
nary channels of the public press; and such is
or should say tcaS the state of the question, il
deep, active, and intelligent thought and discus
sion, when the Charleston Meeting was called
and held.
But for what purpose was that meeting called
and held? Was it to inlorse the principles an
nounced by the Convention in may la$t2 No
so o;-the Charleston Meeting agreed with tho
Convention in all things except one, and that is
on putting the question at issue to the test by
separate secession on failure Of obtaining Co.
operation.
Then the whole and sole object Of the Char
lesion Meeting was, nop, and before we know
whether we can obtain cooperation or not, SIM
ply to announce 10 the world, that ire do not in,
tend to seccdc alone; and if we fail to receive co,
operation, then we intend, firmly, and manfuy
to God only knows what, but suppose
4" submit"
But there is another view Of the matter moro
sickcnimg to the heart than even silent submission
itself. 1t is this: The meeting was gotten up
to denouncc separate State secession and after
doing that, in terms satisfactory to themselves,
and invoking cooperation in the way they
thought best calculated to procure it, yet the
meeting had not the boldness to say, that failing
in cooperation they would submit, and continue
TO remain in the Union, hoping for some lucky
kick from the Federal Government that would
drive them, with the whole South, out together
Be it remembered, that the whole question
now at issue between the Convention held in
May last and the Charleston Meeting, is, what
sllall we arow that we will do, i'll the event we
cannot obtain cooperation.
The Convention has vcnturcd 10 say, that VIC
will rely upon the sovereignty of the State gov
ernmcnt and scccde alone: The Charleston
Meeting say, they "dcprccate" separate scecs-
sion, but are silent as to what they will do. If
they do not scccdc alone, of course they submit
--wc have no authority to draw any other infer
cncc from their resolutions.
Then VIC have come to this That the dcsccn-
dants Of the old chivalry Of South Carolina, i'll
tending given purpose i'll given event, are
ashamed or afraid openly to avow that purpose
to the world, lest, forsooth, those who hold do
minion over them should bring them to strict
reckoning for their temerity!
A time-serving, cringing spirit never yet won
4 decd worthy single paragraph in the history
Of struggles for civil liberty. Such spirit, is,
indeed, equally the fnotstool and minister, Of the
violated liberties of the governed, for the case,
comfort and commands of the rulers.
That our people should be afraid to speak
when they should speak, what they intend to do
before any danger is at hand, is q more fearful
md portentous omen to the liberties of the South,
han actual submission to acknowledged wrong
When ovcrawcd by superior forec-and yet such
seems the awful fact
But why was the meeting called Was it
simply to get up and organize party to send out
;ergeants and drummcrs to recruit majority,
o compel the separate secession Associations to