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

two propositions. The hrst ls, "hether Sc
cpssion be the only alternative now lcft to
the Snu I,ern States? The second is, wheth-
pr. in the event Of the other slaVeholdlng
States remaining in the Union, it will be-
come the duty Of South Carolina, forthwith,
to secede, on the ascertainment of that fact
The only full and fitting reply to inquiries of
such grave import, must be found in con-
sideriion of the objects contemplated by
secession, and of its probable efficacy in ac-
complishing those objects.-The leading OBJ
,ject to be attained by secession. will he ad-
mitted to be the preservation of the insli:u-
tion of African slavery, unimpaired and un.
molested. 1t comprehends the quiet and
undisturbed enjoyment of this species OF
property, as we'll rs ;he means of making it
profitable and desirable These condi ions
are necessary to save fifteen hundred millions
of property, the most profitable in the world,
and the source of countless blessings to
mankind. from becoming nuisance and
curse. They are amply secured in the Con-
stitu;ion, and that instrument would never
have obtained the approval of South Caroli-
ma and other Southern States, without such
security. But these stipulations and COM
pacts have not been carried out, in go"d
faith. bv the Northern States, but have been
violated and utterly diSregarded. We com
pail especially, that slaves fleeing to the
non >lavehulding States are not delivered to
their owners, on their demand that the pro-
per,y of fifteen States is excluded from coun-
tries which belong to all the States: and
thar the subject of slavery itself. is made the
tnpic of vehement and misclievous discus
sion in the Northern States, and in Congress-
They are we'll founded complain!s-ac that
are pllp bic violations of The Constitution,
and would in my opinit n. any of them. JUS
,ify the secession of the Southern States.
They imp1ir the security and the value of
property in slaves. The experience of eight
wears of anxious hope and apprehension have
brought me TO the conclusion, that these
complaints will never be removed or redress
ed by any exercise Of the means provided
bv the Constitution. How can South Caro-
lima reform public opinion in Massachusetts
or Ohio? BY what poient instrument can
she disrnchan the public opinion of the
North, or break the spell which holds in ah-
soute sway, the intellect of he Nor,h Our
appeals TO their justice have been unheeded.
and our remonstrances condemned. We
cannot disguise the fact that the guarantees
of the Constitution in favor Of slavery. are
mockeries. They are openly repudiated by
those who yielded them TO the demand of
the South, as the basis Of Il union with them.
individuals may submit to wrong without
the loss of character, or self.respect, but such
submission by nations brings dishonor and
degradation.-It implies both weakness and
pusillarimity, and invites aggression, as we'll
AZ inci.es contempt. The Federal Govern
ment cannot and would not ii it could, con-
strain these Northern States to the discharge
of their duty. 1t has neither furc inns nor
funrtonarirs, to reach the evil. The great
function of government. in modern times is
the protection of property. Properly in
81 .ves, of all other property. can least ell
dure aggression, and most needs the arm of
government. A government that fails either
from its weakness or lis will, to protect this
| property from domestic as well rs foreign
foes, does not deserve the obedience or the
rep ct of freeman.
A government that not only fails to pro-
ect, but is.ac ually hostile 10 the properly Of
fifteen States, is a snonstrous despotisni, and
20 overthrow il is to pill down a huge nui-
sance. The Ultimate abolition of slavery
mus, b. the result, unless the slaveholdlng
States have the spirit 10 take Their rights
under their own protection. The estai;!isl'-
mcnt of u contcdrEcy of slaveholding States.
it need not embrace all the slaveholding
States, is, Gas solemnly believe,) the only
measure that promises security, or even hope
to The South | hold that the slaves of
South Carolina are of infinitely greater value
to her than this Union or any Union. And
when the enormous evils of which we COM
plain, and which have specified, can be re-
dressed by the secession of South C..rolinn
alone, am without hesitation. and Instantly
in favor Of it, whatever other States may do,
and whatever consequences may follow.
Let Us, then, see if our complaints, or any
of them would be removed, or redrcssed by
the secession of South Carolina alone-hc
other slavcholding States remaining in the
Union.-Wouh the prospect Of recovering
fugitive slaves be better? They may now
BE-, and now are recovered. sumnlarily and
certainly, when they are fnuEd in fifteen
States. The difficulty of reclaiming them
in Gcorgigr, or any other savehoding State.
is no greater than it is in the different dis
lTlclS Ol our OWL Slale. TJdcU W lHeSc
Stnlcs afford TO us all the fncili'ies that are
enjoyed by is own citizens. They are ap-
propriate and ample. Our only complaint i.
that the non->avehoding States not only re-
fuse to aid us, hut actually obsirurt us in our
endeavors to reclaim our property, when ac-
cident or crime places it within their limits
They only violate the stipulation Of tie
Constitution on this subject. These States
do not now, and will not ever deliver up fu-
gilive slaves. 1t will rot be contruverled
that secession would Place the Srate seced-
ing, in tie rela ion of Il foreign State towards
all the other States Of The Union. 1t would
be at once the REIMBURSEMENT of all the rights
rs well as the duties, that now exist between
them. They would be, to all intents and
purposes, us independent of each other, us
are France and Great Britain. In the absence
of II treaty on the subject, one foreign State
has no right to require another to deliver up
fugitive slaves. or fugi i've felons. The | w
OF nations does not enjoin it, and it is in no
Instance done, without the requirements of IL
treaty. Why is ii, that Of the twenty-five
Thousand fugitive slaves now in Canada-a
country bordering on the United States one
has never been recovered by his owner! Why
is Canada a place of refuge for slaves who
flee from their owners in the South? l, is
because il is Il fureign country, and the trea-
ties between Great Britain and the United
States, are silent on the subject. Would not