Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-07-10

ly repealed already. All laws may some
times require extraordinary means to enforce
them, but law which always requires suet
means for its enforcement is not worth the
parchment it is written on. This is trutl
which, sooner or later will force itself upor
the popular mind, and hence the deep ankle.
ty and embarrassment of the Administration
and the advocates of the Compromise in re-
lation to this law. They know in their hearts
and consciences, that this law is not what
every law ought to he, the instruments OF
cheap and speedy justice; and hence they
seek to cover up this glaring fact, and to ere.
ate n diversion upon the issue of its mere
formal repeal by Congress; and upon this
issue, l tell you, they will succeed, let Gid,
dings rave, or Seward plot, or Sumner talk
heroics as he may.
Although have most perfect conviction
that this law will not be repealed. ] have at
the same time very strong conviction that
it may be modified to suit Northern preju-
dices. do not mean to say that this is GER
tain. I desire to state my positions, with
exactness and without the least exaggeration.
The advocates of the Compromise declared
from the day of its adoption that they would
oppose the "repeal" or "any essential
modification" of the Fugitive Slave Law.
Mark you, any essential notifications Now
there are several features of that law which
it's supporters are ready to modify. for the
purpose of increasing their strength at the
North, if they could venture to do SO and
they would say they were not essential modi-
| fications. For instance, they would be will
ing to modify that provision which allows
the record made up at home Of the facts OF
escape and that the fugitive was the slave of
the claimant, to be used in evidence without
further proof, except as to identity, &c.
This would be a stop to Ccrberus. As to the
trial by jury, presume MIR. Webster him
self would be willing to spgraft that provi-
sion on the law, for it was provision in the
bill which he himself introduced before lear-
ing the Senate.
Repeal, therefore, regard rs out of the
question. Modification, or amendment, may
be attempted, but very cautiously.
The abolition of slavery in the District of
Columbia, and the repeal Of the Fugitive
Slave law, then, are the only overt acts Of
aggression which, in my judgment, can be
committed by Congress against the South at
this time. feel the most abiding confidence
that neither will be done in our day. Our
ldIcrsaries will take care that the measure
Of aggression shall Be just so much as viii
stop short of uniting the South. Your pa
tiencc shall be their gauge. The advocates Of
cooperation then must adjourn the question
Of Disunon to another day. If the past, or
any issue which may be made upon the past,
cannot unite the South, then the future of
our day will afford no measure for resistance.
My solemn belief, therefore, that "co-oper-
alton" is submission to the Compromise.
Submission to the past with no hope for the
future. Now, in using the term "submis-
sion," do not mean to apply it in any offen-
sivc sense whatever, to our friends who diff
! fer from us on this occasion. Far from it. |
know they are men who would spurn the idea
of voluntary submission, with all the scorn
and Indignation of unsullied patriotism. l
speak to them as would have them speak to
me, with sincerity and respect ] must be
allowed, therefore, to say to them. your posi-
ton drifts You with the inevitable certainty
of the Gulf Stream, to submission. You will
take your place by the side of those whose
course YOU so much condemn. You will
ratify the Compromise The voice of South
Carolina will be hushcd. She cannot 90 back
to feed upon the husks of high sounding
resolutions, protests and remonstrances. In
two years she will sink down into the atti-
tude of utter non-resstance no human power
can avert-this result. What in others might
be tolerated, in her would be dcrided She
has gone so far that she must now "be law
p,,t
be in no worse condition than our friends
who are minority in the other Southern
States. This is 4 capital error. Our posi-
tions are widely different. They are strug-
Cling for power--we possess it. They are
in q minority and therefore are without re-
sponsibility. We are in 4 majority and have
all responsibility resting upon US. The gov
ernmcnt of their States is in the hands of
their adversaries. Our government is in our
own hands. There is nothing to restrain us,
but the danger of striking; they are power
less. It is vain then to attempt to derive
comfort for our voluntary submission from
their involuntary acquiescence. We have
promised much and much is expected of us.
Such, Mr. President, are the outlines of
my views in relation 10 cooperation. re-
gret that l have not time to 60 more into de-
TAIL have cndeayored to be candid and
explicit, because am free to confess that I
feel bound to consider maturely measure
which has such distinguished supporters be-
fore reject it, have done SO, and must
declare in all sincerity that if South Carolina
abandons all purpose of acting alone, and de-
termines patiently and passively to wait, as she
must if she waits at all the Developments of
the future in the expectation of such hostile
legislation on the part of the General Govern
ment as will unite the South in the overthrow
of this Union, she will sacrifice the great
cause which all her sons, with but few ex-
ceptions, profess to be nearest their hearts,
and give death blow to disunion. Yes, |
repeat-Lct South Carolina lay down her
arms. Let her say she will not sccede, and a
shout of triumph (shall | say of derision? y
will 60 up over all the land, for we have enc
mics every where, and the advocates of the
Compromise will underwrite the Union for
for the next generation. These may be un-
palatable truths, but they must be told.
/ come now to the consideration of the
second proposition which l have supposed
will be submitted to our Convention when il
assemblies.
Having failed up to this time to obtain any
pledge Of cooperation from the Government
of any other State, shall South Carolina Sc
cede alone? approach the discussion of
this question with profound sense of its