Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-10-16

give up all that they are worth without q
struggle, then will all history be contradicted
and all experience falsifed. will not stop
to show, that there is an organized Southern
Rights party throughout the whole South,
united on this single issue, and contendlng
with zeal and wisdom for the very result
which Secessionists and Co-operationists in
this State desire to accomplish. l will draw
no inference from the fact, that new era has
dawned in the history of our country by the
organization of Disunion party. The mo-
ment the Southern States unite on the single
question of domestic slavery-shaH II be
the Union is either dissolved or the institu-
tion is perpetually secured. The former is
what we must look to, for when the contest
arises on the single question, the Southern
and the Northern races will have become so
distinct, that longer Union will be impossible.
Why then this fiery impatience? Why at
tempt to hurry our allies faster than they are
willing to go? We seem to forget, that the
people of South Carolina have been over
twenty years in learning to look upon this
Union as any thing else than very great
blessing, and actually are 30 impatient with
our sisters, that we upraid them with oppro-
brious epithets, because in the short time
from the Address of the Southern Members
of Congress to the present, they have not
learned to look upon the Union with the same
feelings that we regard it. And because they
are unwilling to move as fast as we desire, it
is gravely proposed to cut loose from them,
making no distinction between the Northern
enemy and the Southern friend. Can any
proposition be more startling? The condi-
tion of the slave power in the world is pecu-
liar and critical, all nations on the face of the
earth of any strength, are opposed to the
institution Of domestic slavery. Its strength
is the Union of the States in which it is. And
yet the Action party of South Carolina, as
they call themselves, ask US to tear away
from this slave Union and subject the institu-
ton in South Carolinian TO certain anihla-
tion; for it is the extreme of fatuity to sup
pose, that we alone can maintain it against
the opposition of the whole world. We are
met here, however, with the assurance and
hope, that if we do secede and the institution
is attacked, the other Southern States will
come to our aid. suppose they woold, if a
direct and open attack be made, but does any
man suppose that would be the case? We
must give our enemies credit for some saga
city, inasmuch as they have been overreach-
ing US for the last thirty years, and conclude
that they will do nothing to excite the hostil-
ity Of the other Southern States. A people
can be ruined as effectually by the arts ofpeace
as by the arts of war. A war of diplomacy
and tariffs, can render our property in u very
short time, perfectly valueless. Such war
costs neither blood or treasure-it excitcs
neither pity or sympathy-it will waste us
away until our people, sick and tired, and dis
heartened with the constant drain, will either
come back to the place from whence they have
been seduced, or beg to be Incorporated
among those from whom they have fled
What a destiny is this for South Carolina,
proud South Carolina! who can contemplate
it and not feel his cheek burn? We produce
nothing that those opposed to US cannot get
in abundance elsewhere,-and rs to our trade,
South Carolina might be blotted out instant
ly, and it would not interrupt the commerce
of the world single hour. You are told,
however-secede, and you will be strong and
powerful, rich and prosperous. How are you
to be strong and powerful, with no army or
or navy? How are you to be rich and pros
porous with neither trade or commerce You
are deceived with the notion of strength and
riches-but no one condescends to tell you
how. Scccde action is the word; and the
people are expected to march off without one
thought of the morrow. No preparation, no
fixed plan of government, no provision for
the future. If some Of us stop to enquire
about the propriety of this hasty movement,
we are urged forward with the cry of submis-
sion. If some Of us stop to dispute the wis
dom of this rush step, we are silenced with
the sneer of cowardice. If some OF us ask
what is to be the cost of all this thing, we are
shouted down with the cry of mercenary.
The whole object seems to be 10 keep the
blood in one perpetual boil, in order that the
brain may not have time to act Did ever u
wise people act so before-or did ever peo-
pie so acting, achieve anything great? No.
The people must begin to think for them
selves,-they have right to know what this
thing is to lead to-what is to be its cost,
and what is to be its danger.
Rash men count neither cost or danger
brave men count both. The forme: COM
mencc before they are ready, and generally
fail.-The latter make due preparation, and
generally succeed Now, ask any plain man
in the country, what preparation has South
Carolina made for breaking up this govern
ment under which we now live, and forming
n new one? 1t is utterly idle to say what the
present State government will do, because the
present State government is based upon our
relations with the Federal governments the
Secession party proposes 10 break upall those
relations, and form entirely new and distinct
ones What preparation have we made for
that? Will we be told that the Legislature
has appropriated three hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars to buy arms: Why, the arms
thus bought will not be more than enough
than the State will require In times of the
most profound quiet. And yet this is all the
preparation that has been made. Upon this,
however, we are called upon to dash upon an
experiment which may bring upon US the COM
bined horrors of civil and servile war
could counsel you to risk this, if saw any
GOOD likely to result from it. could coun-
sci YOU to submit to grinding taxes, to an in
definite depreciation of property, to loss Of
all the comforts of life, if in the future could
but dimly see redress for your wrongs, and
security for your rights. But when | look
and see nothing but hopeless struggle and
final defeat, ask myself, in wonder and as
lonishment, where is the wisdom that used to