Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-29

commit the State,saow to that determine.
ton; in o:her words itexcudes the idea that
the State will hive It in its power 10 adopt
any other measure The Legislature is re-
quired, as far as these proceedings can I'M
pose IN obligatioristo o call the Convention
together, and thatbody then is to put The
State, as soon as itscan, on the trial of separ-
ate independence.
In relation to thismeasure, and others con.
neeted with it, and which have been presented
MS alternatives, senothing 10 disguise
no opinion to retraet no sentiment TO sup
press. shall ut tleassb consistent with my
self. In setting forth our wrongs and en-.
deavoring to rouse sentiments of resentment
to them, and in preparing the public mind
| for measures of, efpetual resistance to the
encroachments oftheF ederal Government OH
Southern institutions, through the breaches
of violated Constellation, have endearored
to do nv duty to the best Of my ability. and
have no steps tc4takc backwards. What
steps forward is the;queston. Whilst mea-
sures were under consideration, in which the
slaveholding and Son-slave-holding States
were ut issue, l EXPRESSED myself freely but
with the circumspecrion of one who was vii
/ linz to let his remarks be carried out to their
conscoucnces- representatives OF the
planting Siates spoke out with signal unani-
mi,y in maintaining the resolutions OF three
different Legislatures. | am proud to say
that the resolutions5of South Carolina, COM
pared with some otbe.s. were in terms moder-
are, in tone firm, and in purpose deliberate.
All these resoiulioDsswere regarded as mutual
pledges and covenants for the Southern
States to make common cause, and 10 stand
by each other. The Southern members con-
ferred together. spoke together, and ut one
time would have s6een prepared to sink or
swim in common peril. They regarded
themselves as engaged in q common strug-
gle, and their destilfes as involved in CON-
mon fate. Fur fine, the minds Of all true
men of the South were lifted above the
miserable contentious of purity and the jeal-
ouses of neighboring strife. Under the in.
auence of this auSpicious state Vt things,
finished one OF my spetches with n high notc
from the Diomede ofsthc Old Thirteen-our
nriehbor GeorgiaA"Equaity or lndepcn-
dence." And say pow, if the other Southern
States had beconeMnited, they would have
MI de good this dechHtian. They have ii in
their power to make it good at any time; aud
tiey will be untrue fothemselycs and posteri-
tv irthcy do not. Ishal shrink from no trial
TINT may be efffectial. and shall only object
to such measuresfsssi sinmy opinion, must re-
suit in failure andagscamfiure. .lfmeasures
cannot be: devised elieye they cannet-
10 restore a lost eqIaliiy--an equality lost
10y measures brought forth to proptiate
Northern prejudice am willing TO take
measures for an honorable independence of
such States as by their conjunction can as
sumo the attitude, and invest themselves with
the attributes of n national sovereignty.
As this is grave conclusion. CIR cEe that
will 80 be regarded beyond this meeting, |
must submit the proposition upon which ii is
founded.
The Constitution of these States WIS in
tended by is express and delegated powers,
to impose limitations on the department of
the Federal Government. For some yeHrs
these limitations were observed in good
faith; ; and after j, was said that some of them
had been violated, it WAS thought that the
States by the interposition OF their sovereign
ties, could enforce an observance of them.
The securities of good faith have long since
disappeared, and the power of lie State to
intcrpose to project their reserved rights has
not and will not be recognized by the Federal
authority All the provisions of the Consti-
tuition intended for the protection OF a minor-
ty, have been perverted by artful conslruc-
iion or fraudulent compromise: under these
combined influences, the Southern States
nave not orlv lost their influence, but will
become worse than dependent provinces.
They will become prescribed political COM
mupitics-disfranchis from the high honors
Of the Federal Government, and with their
property and institutions liable to conilsca-
ton, and unprovoked invasion.
The Southern States can no longer be the
nurse of great statesmen. The ambition of
the eagles flight will be no longer seen-we
may have crows and ducklings, who will be
ready to be satisfied with the crumbs and
garbage Of Office. There are those who will
he willing to make an easy transition TO
degradatinn, by being candidates for the
secondary and subordinate Offices. Suppose
there were provision in the Constitution,
that no man from the South Atlantic States,
should be eligibleto the Presidency, it would
not change the present state of things Such
clause might as well be in the Constitution
for all practical purpose.
To conclude the proposition, the Federal
Government has become n dcspotsn, Of IN
interested majority. You will ask why have
not the other Southern States been ready to
ioin South Carolina, or rather to come into y
voluntary conjunction with themselves to de-
wise measures for their protection.
cannot better reply, than by quoting the
purport of remark, made by Drmostlenes,
in answer TO the rcproachrs OF E:chinea, upon
the disasters Of his administration.
He said he had 10 contend with The three
GREAT enemies of free States: sThc jealousy
of ncighboring States, the gold Of Philip be-
slowed on corrupt orators; the combined love
of pleasure and The charm of tranquility"
The Southern States have had some cle-
ments of distraction, destined, / hope, to be
temporary. The disunion of party, in refer
ence. TO federal politics, has been powerful ;
but unless am mistaken, must become less.
The Federal Government has Macedonian
party in the South-strong, for time,
through the influence of office and patronage.
The greatest enemy to the South has been
an indisposition to encounter the hazards of
change.
As it would be out of place to dwell longer
on topics that may not be Immediately con-
nected with the questions here to be discuss
ed-topics with which this assembly is as
r al,