Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-09-04
4)olititnl,

Letter from Chancellor Dargan.
THE following is Chan. DARGAS's letter
to the recent secession meeting in Yorkville
DARLINGTON, s. c., July 95, 1851.
GENTLEMEN You have done me the favor
to invite me to be present at and to address
) meeting of the citizens of York, on the first
Monday in August next, which meeting has
been called for The purpose of sustaining The
policy of secession by South Carolina from
from the Union. can in truth say that
there is no political question which has ever
engaged with such intensity my thoughts
and my feelings, and there is no public policy
which so anxious1y desire to sec promoted
as that for which you say your meeting has
been called. If could persuade myself that
my presence would but in q slight degree be
instrumental in promoting the great cause of
Southern liberty and independence, now so
fearfully put in Jeopardy, I should, despite
the distance, The short notice, the great heat
of the weather, and other engagements, do
myself the honor to comply with your natcr-
ing invitation, and take part in your dciber-
ations Though not permitted, by the cir
cumstances advertcd to, to minglc my voice
with yours upon the occasion, courtesy re-
quircs that should respond to your invita-
tion; and, in doing so, justice to myself de-
mands that ! shall not seem to evade the
fearlesslexpressio of fmys humble Lopin.
ions upon the all-absorbing topic which will
engage your attention. In q crisis like this,
every man, from the highest to the lowest,
must form and express an opinion; and
the day is coming, and not far distant, when
he will he required to act upon his opinion.
And I 1pity the man who has, or shall form.
an opinion, and utter a voice unfnvorablc to
the honor and peace, the liberty and indc-
pcndcncc, Of his native State.
What South Carolina most needs in her
present trials is The union Of her sons.
There are three parties in the State The
first embraces those who declare themselves
in favor of immediate secession, with or with.
out cooperation. To this division. with the
explanations hereinafter expressed. profess
to belong. trust. and, from all the infor-
nation possess, I believe, it is largely in
the asccndancy. The second division is
equally hostile to the continuance of the
Union. They ardcntly desire its dissolution.
They maintain the right of secession, and
believe in The necessity of an ultimate resort
to this remedy for the salvation of Southern
institutions. They believe, as we do, that
the Federal Government is failure; that the
Southern States can promise themselves no
protection, security, justice, or equality from
it or in it !: and that the sooner our connection
with such n Government is dissolved the
better. The third party in The State (if in
deed, it is worthy TO be dignifrd with the
name of a party) is contemplate for its
numbers, and embraces those who are for
unqualified submission. They profess not
to believe that the South has sustained, or is
likely to sustain, amy wrongs at the hands of
of the North. They glorfy the greatness
and power of the Federal Government, and
magnify its excellence and lis purity. They
are even singing hosannas to the glorious
Union, and lift up their hands with holy hor-
ror at the profane and daring traitor who
suggests the necessity Of its dissolution.
You may point them to the insults, the
the wrongs and injuries which the South has
sustained. Their answer to the most logical
statement of facts is simply" the Union un-
der which we live is :: glorious Union"'
You may demonstrate the dangers, The i'll
vitablc calamitcs, that attend submission.
The answer is still, in yet more sentorian
tones" the glorious Union! the glorious
Union!" imncach not the motives of these
men, and must accord to them the credit OF
sincerity in their opinions. lam, however,
at this moment, reminded of the story of
Demetrius and his associate, who, when their
idols were attacked by the preaching of Paul
and his fellow-laborrs, said nothing in their
defence in the way of argument, but all, for
the space of two hours, cried, "Great is d.
ana Of the Ephesians!" l think may say
to these persons, and without any preteri.
sions to being great prophet, that the mag
nifccnt temple at Ephesus, with its gorgeous
decorations and splendid worship, has not
more certainly passed away and left only its
story behind than that their own great po