Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-11-13
Union BREAKERS AHEAD.

sons tell us that there is but little chance for us
to escape the latter fate, while our hopes still
point to the former consummation.
The defeat of the Secession movement. while
it may have saved the State from the periis Of an
arduous struggle for freedom and for justice, has
we'll nigh given her over to the power of Union,
whose central government is rapidly becoming
the embodiment Of atyranny more hateful than
European despoiism. The Co-operationists sup
posed that they were pursuing the safest road to in
dependence of that government, by checking their
brethren who favored action-but, unfortunately,
in doing this they have necessarily strengthened
and increased another portion of their fellow
citizens, who cherish the Union as civil blessing
paramount to all others, and who are prepared to
submit to its DEGREES implicitly, believing that its
advantages will ever over-balance its evils. The
result of the late elections will be, we honestly
think, to give prominence and respectability to a
party which has only ventured to rear its head
among us within year-we mean, the out.and-
out Union party Of which the Greenville Patriot
is the active organ
1t is vain to deny that there are Union men, OF
the Patriot stamp, oil over South Carolina, and it
is illusory to hold out the idea any longer that
these men compose but feeble faction, to be de-
spised and not to be dreaded. Their increase is
growing more and more percepible with each
succeeding month, to every attentive and cool
observer. And, unless some manly movement be
instituted, at an early day, which shall result in
a happy coalition of Secessionists and Co-opera-
tionists, this very Union party may yet control
South Carolina. There are several considerations
which have led us to this most disagrecable con-
clusion.
There are those within our borders land their
number is not insignifcanD who really love the
Union, and have steadily, though quietly, wor-
shipped at its shrine, even when South Carolina 8
imprecations fell thickest and heaviest upon its
abuses knowing themselves to be in revied
minority, they have hitherto been almost mute
observers of the course of political events. These
men have nevertheless cherished their Union prin-
expecting confidently that this great Western Re-
pnblic, which they were taught to believe was
established almost by the visible hand of an over
ruling Providence, would yet be justified against
what they have ever regarded as the mere fretful-
ness Of a wrangling population. This faith in the
Union has, for the most part, been handed down
from sire to son, and has in this way received the
coloring of religious duty. However gross the
misconception which has led to this infatuation,
yet it cannot be pretended that the feelings which
have been thereby generated are to be contemned
as slight or transient. On the contrary, they are
deep-seated and enduring, and they have only
awaited the opportunity, which is now being pre-
sented, of disclosing to the public eye their real
strength. / ..5.:
There are others among us, whose birth-places
lie beyond the limits of our Southern cline, and
these will be found almost invariably espousing
the side of the Union, and that too upon grounds
which lack not the appearance of reason
While they may pride themselves upon being
Carolinians by adoption, they yet remember with
pleasurable sensations the homes of their youth.
They cannot or will not believe that those whom
they have left behind can really design the op-
preston of the South. They cannot consent that
the home of their nativity should be severed, by
disunion. from the home of their adoption. They
are thus impelled by natural prompiings to oppose
any measure, which may result in what they con-
ceive to be an unnatural separation. The same
feeling leads them to deprecate the righteous in
dignation Of the South and to excuse the arrant
injustice of the North. We know that there are
some Carolinans of Northern birth, who are as
.-,,o ~ ,,ool 20 tba;r S,,ta md ,yorId 0v IN rn,s
in her defence as we'll against Northern as foreign
oppression. But TO the class generally our remarks
will certainly apply.-There is still one other de-
scription of Northerners among us, who are
wolves in sleeps clothing"-who arc at heart
enemies to our Southern institutions. The num-
Der of these, we hope, is small-.but they cannot
be omitted in calculating the entire strength which
the Union party of the State.is likely to attain.
There is again large class of our population
who do not see that they directly interested in
the great question of African slavery, which is the
proximate cause of the quarrel which threatens
the dissolution Of the Union. Already has that
class begun to raise its voice against being drawn
into civil strife for the preservation Of an nstitu
tion, to the general benefits of which many of
them are utterly insensble. Blinded to their best
interests, some Of them already indicate head
long propensity to join any party which promises
to relieve them from what they consider the odious
injustice of being compelled to take part in a
strife which will at last according to their narrow
conceptions, benefit the slave. holder alone. To
this class, the Union invitingy opens its arms and
bids them nestle under the wing OF its supreme
power. We have but too much reason to fear
that many will foolishy heed the invitation and,
by distractng their State, imperil their all. Let
not this class be overlooked in considering the
prospects Of increasing strength, which now cheer
OIL the Unionists Of South Carolina.
There is a fourth division of our people, to
which the Patriot has alluded in recent number
as the people par excellence, viz: those who are
wearied with the long-conlinued clamoring
against evils which appear remediless and who
now desire repose.' We believe that n con-
siderable number of our most honest fellow-c -citi-
zens, shareholders as we'll as others, are inhu.
enced by this sentiment They complain that the
tocsin has been sounded in their ears again and
again, but that no honorable battle has yet been
fought-that they have more than once made up
their minds to risk all for the maintenance Of their
rights in or out of the Union, but when the hour
of resistance ought to have arrived, the leaders
stood aghast and knew not what 10 say or do.