Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-06-26
THE ARGUMENT OF CAPT, BROOKS,

=
As we intimated in our last an intention of re-
plying to the argument of Capt. BRooKs, we will
proceed to make one or two observations accord
ipgly Will secession avenge the insult or injustice
which we all admit has been done us!'' This
might be answered, after the Scotch fashion, by
asking another question, viz: Will it not do so!
But we undertake to answer directly. We say
then, "lt WILL Even supposing that we neither
inurc adversaries nor benefit ourselves pecuni-
atiy we will have become freed. by this act, from
all connexion with the most loathsome and oflen-
sive allies. We will have robbed our most malig.
nant foes of the fendish delight they anticipate
from seeing us crushed by their direct and immc.
diafe agency We will have snatched from them
all pretext of authority, under which, in the Union,
they expect to drive on their purpose ofdestructon
steadily and uninterruptedly. We will have flung
a bold defiance into their very teeth, astounding
them with the conviction that they must either
stay their assaults for the future, or prosecute
them at tile point Of the bayonet. We will have
sckened their very souls with blank disappoint-
ment and chagrin, seeing that their long cherished
schemes for our destruction have been go suddenly
upset. Will there be no revenge in this! That
they will feel it as such, is sufficiently proved by
the fact that they threaten and rave at the bare
suggestion of such an act on our part.
But, in it's consequences, there is much reason to
believe that this act will achieve complete and
dire revenge. If war result from it, (and such is
The opinion of Mr.. BARNwELL,) q union of the
South may be expected as one Of the most natural
Of probabilities. land such, if we mistake not, is
the expectation of Judge BuTLER.) A union of
the South, however effected, would as all admit,
give us an easy victory. And in less than twenty
years, the North would be sueing at our feet.
Would not this be revenge! Remember now that
blockade in any shape or form is war. No one
has yet proved the contrary. Southern union
would rs surely follow from this, or any other
plan of coercion, as from direct conflict of
arms at the beginning, and, with this union, the
full measure of revenge just mentioned.
Ifwar be not 4 consequence of secession, there
can be no doubt that our State will take her stand
quietly and peaccably, as an independent Repub-
lie. And will any one pretend to say that the
bare spectacle Of the abused and insnted Carolina,
stepping proudly forth in the bright garb of her
sovereignty, would not torture the nmost souls OF
our old oppressors. Would there be no revenge in
this! When the genius of her sons had demonstra-
ted to the nations Of the earth her perfect right to
Il place among them, and procured from them the
public recognition Of this truth, can we believe
that the bitlcrest pangs of modification would not
seize upon those whose gross injustice had placed
a. IL 1,T a.
be no revenge in this! When. one by one. those
gallant Southern States, which had. f a while,
been severed from her side by the specions der y
lion OF traitors and The hollow professions OF lis
guised enemies, should return to their first love
and link their fate once more with their true and
devoted sister, can we not imagine the blanched
look of dismay that would seize upon the
most audacious leaders Of the enemy! Wonld
there be no revenge in this! When by our noble
illustration of The rights Of the States the Northern
Federasts, would be compelled to relinquish their
creed and yield at once their fond hopes Of ruling
the South by Capitalization Of power, can we
not almost sec them writhing in agony rs their
ioIr r;nions Of alnliiion Punds1E
passed into nonentity! Would this be no revenge!
Even granting then, as we did at the outset, that
we may not be able to wreak such vengeance up
on our foes as will result in actual injury to their
persons or their property, we will yet have Gre
vcnged the tarEished honor of our house, in the
most direct, manly and effectual way that is
left us.
Certain other inicrrogational arguments Of Capt.
Brooks will be nc:;ced at our leisure.