Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-09-11
TIE CONSEQUENCES OF INACTION.

Southern States, if South Carolina fails to act
through her present Convention 1t is inevitably
certain, that our friends and the advocates of our
principles will be dishearened and disbandcd-t
is certain that our foes will raise mighty shout OF
trinmpl-that they will confirm apd increase their
ascendancy in those States where they are already
predominant-that they will gain such aid and
comfort in those States where our friends are
bravcly cOntcsling the field with them as to carry
them into power beyond doubt. And all this,
we submit, is fairly deducible from what every one
knows of human nature and Of the motives that
influence human action.
1t is evident that South Carolina has occupied
leading position among the Slave States for many
Years, and that she is now regarded, by the friends
of Southern Independence, rs the guiding Star
upon which illeir strongest hopes are centred. 1t
cannot be doubted, that she is now understood by
those friends, to have assumed the attitude of RE-
sIsTANcE On THE SCORE OF FAST GRIEVANCES.
They have been stimulated TO great e1ertions by
this belief, accompanied with conviction of
Carolina unRnching spirit and energy tits Caro-
lina's advanced position that has enabled them to
succeed in bringing alarge portion of the Southern
people to the point of declaring their determination
to SUSTAIN sECEDING STATE AGAINST ANY CO.
ERclvE MEASURE of Federal power. This is evi.
dent; because, but for this contemplated action Of
South Carolina, there could have been no pretence
to make this issue. Had they supposed that we
were soliciting their sympathy and assistance in
an ideal struggle-had they imagined that the de-
sign of our proceedings was simply 10 draw forth
from them an ayowal of support while we intend
cd doing nothing that really needed such support
who does not believe that we would have been
laughed to scorn!
And if now we resolve in Convention to dc
nothing, will it not be tie same as addressing then
thus" You have mistaken us, good friends, and
all the world around has been mistaken in thei
judgement of our intentions. We "marched uT
the HILL" it is very true-but now, you perceive
we "march back again" There is nothing in
consistent in this!!! We only designed splendit
'ruse,' by which to elicit your sympathy and ad
miration long enough to secure one great end
which end was to draw from you a declaration o
your resolve support South Carolina in secession
That being secured to very large extent, we nov
return you our thanks for having enabled us tt
manufacture for our children this beautiful fancy
piece of history-we moreover respectfully SAL
that we have no further use for your active sym
pathes until some other foul aggression calls upol
lis TO act this handsome game over and then WI
will expect you to be ready to signify your suppor
in the same enthusiastic manner, Of course Ii
the mean time, as some Of our farmers are fearful
Of being cut off from part Of their profits and n
some of our moneyed men declare that the sensi
tiveness of their capital will be considerabl,
shocked by any movement in defence of our rights
we think it best to take, Of our o,pn accord, tia
position which ouE Georgia friends have been re
luctantly compelled to occupy by the superior Gun
ming and craft of Conn, STEPHENS and TooMDs.
Perhaps different language might be used-bu
it would come to this at last. and what, we ask
would it all amount TO, but submission! In wha
other light could we present it to our Southern
friends! With what other coloring. could w
transmit the deed to posterity! Whethertss spiri
the act itself would stand forth ofccsssr Is Saa
passive acquiescence. Tosay that we were think
ing resistance, while acting submission, would b,
q poor refuge from the contempt of our fellow-men
If "actions speak louder than WORDS" mer
thoughts would be, in the comparison, as moaning
zcphyrs to the cataract's roar: -
Imagine then that from our Convention goe
forth voice, proclaiming-" South Carolina ha
submitted-the old Guard hns recoiled-the lant
Of CALHOUN has yielded, notonly can inch" bu
an ell Of " her rights rs sovereign member o
this Confederacy"-- flagship of the South ha
struck her colors." Who can doubt the effect o
this terrible announcement upon the cause o
Southern independence. The tears of our deludet
friends would fall, but to water the tree of Con
solida,ion, whose roots have already penetrated 81
deeply our Southern soil. Their watch.frcs woult
Dc neglected in the amazcment and confusion o
the hour-Federalists and Unionists would seiz
the auspcicus moment for n successful charge
the contest for Southern independence would b.
cnded-nnd the great Clay Omnibus, decked ou
as car of victory. would roll over our down
troddcn country, amid the iiendsh shouts Of North
ern fanatics and Southern traitors. After the dus
of its progress had blown away, the defeated pa
triols Of the South woald meet together to deplort
the fatality that hung over the beloved land o
their nativity, and TO consult to the best COURSE
now 10 he pursued Rather than be trodden unde
foot in disgrace, they would resolve to fight thei
adversarics with their own weapons. They would
meet them in the Presidential campaign in supper
Of the nominee who approximated nearest to thei
principles. The party links, which had almos
been snapped asunder, (even by the threatened ac
ton of Carolna) would be completely repaired
national associations would be formed-new pre-
judices and new preferences would wear away by
degrees the remembrance of our grievous wrongs
the desire of Southern Confederacy would
vanish before the cxlravagant glare of the usur.
ping Central Governmcnt-and in less than ten
years the Union wouH become Grcd tact-State
sovereignty, an empty name. To rally again a
Southern Party with the right Of secession for its
basis land no other foundation would either be
Constitutional or successfully would be closely akin
to the impossibilities. To dream Of the quiet and
peaccahle establishment of q Southern Confcdera-
cy (now within onr reacl) would be the vision of
Il brainless head. The Macedonian party OF the
South (and by this we mean all who are bought by
Federal gold, scluced by Federal patronage, or
dazzled by Federal magnifccnce) is even now
rapidly increasing among us, us every ones expe-
riencc will testify. Upon the submission of South
Carolina. it would raise its impious head in the
broad light of day, covered with Gorgon terrors.
To-. -b1ncl, Lcinr rnmovpd who