Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-15
FOR TIE ADVERTISER

Mr.. EDrToR,- am at loss to know the cx-
act position of writer in your paper, to whom
/ have, in one or two previous articles, alluded.
1t did seem to me that it was altogether infera-
bic, from his first piece, that he heartily approved
the act of our Legislature at its last session, max
ing an appropriation Of $500 900 for placing tho
State in an attitude of defence. Tie evidently
indicated, moreover, that it would be wise and
and cxpedient to increase this condition Of pre-
Paraton until the war stecd was fully capari-
soned for the onset" He cannot, and suppose
will not, attempt to separate this feclingy cx-
pressed appreciation of the end, from similar
appreciation of the means devised for attaining it.
He therefore must approve the late increase Of
taxation, and must be The advocate of q still fur
ther increase for like purpose for he says very
plainly, that more should be done. This, at least,
was the impression directly conveyed to my mind
Ill his first communication, and, imagine, such
must have been the understanding Of every one
who read his article through.
lie spoke also Of the suspension of action un.
til after the adjournment Of the next Congress,
for the purpose of testing to the full the hopes Of
cooperation that yet remained. Suspension of
separate action does not imply, according to my
understanding of English, an abandonment of
separate action; and, taking the expression in
connection with the limited time specified, it is
evident that the writer meant in his first piece,
to revert to separate action Us y final resort 1t
is evident, at least, that he was of the opinion
that, if another outrage did not bring about CO.
operation, then South Carolina could and should
act alone. And this is the only view that Will
clear him from the charge Of rasl,ncss and want
of judgement in so heartily cspousing the late
Increase Of taxation. For if South Carolina is
never to act except in concert with other States
and at some future, indefinite period, the act OF
appropriation demanding an increase of our taxes
was an act Of arbitrary and uncallcd for cxtrava-
sancc, sufficient to awaken the Indignation Of
every citizen. 1t can only be justified by an
honest conviction on the part of those who de.
riscd it, that the State might soon be called upon
to maintain and. if need be, defend with arms
her sovereignty and Independence, unaidcd and
alone. To expend money and raise taxes ,ha,
our people may be prepared for an issue tina,
may or may not arise upon some future contin.
gcney, is an absurdity "pcr Sc" Ito make the
same random use of the Latin phrase as the
writer in question does.) More especially is i,
so, if this action is only looked to, in conecr,
with other States; for then, it is admitted by all
who pretend to the least political sagaeity, thai
our triumph would be achieved in all probability
without the necessity of striking a blow or shed.
ding one drop Of blood.
Now, the whole tenor of the latter article Of
the writer in question, is to demonstrate the flu.
tty of separate State action, C' per Sc; ;'') nc
one can read his three columns of laborcd spccu.
la'ons (for they arc nothing morc) without com.
ing to the conclusion that lie no,o regards this ster
OH the part OF our State as unworthy of con-
s'dcratlon or support in any probable contingcn-
ey. lie may be said to an anti-separatc- State.
actionist (pcr Sc y
One of his principal hypothcses, in descantinG
upon the evils that will cnsuc from the course Of
action already embraced by a majority of our
people, is that increase of taxation will dcpopu,
late the State"!!!!! And yet he approves the in,
crease already made-which, he leads US to be-
lieve, he wishes to be regularly progressive, un,
til we arc thoroughly prcparcd-for what7 "Te