Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-10-16
politieal.
FOR TIE ADVERTISER.
Col. John Cunningham's Letter,
To THE SECESSION BARBAcUE, HELD AT

10 THE SECESSloN BARBACUE, HELD AT
MOUNTAIN CREEK, ON THE 9TH INST.
SALuDA RIVER, LAuRExs,
3rd October, 1851.
GENTLEMEN 1T was my intention to have
been with you tomorrow, but the sickness of q
child now prevents 1t would have afforded me
unsual pleasure to have addressed meeting,
whose high motto, as you represent, is "Action,"
and "who have unfurled the flag Of resistance, to
stand or fall under its folds, until every right
dear to freemen is secured" have in late dis
cussions heard SO much to dali and dcpress the
sensibiity Of the spirit Of free independence, that
those sentiments seem gratefully to freshcn the
current of my life-blood and my heart leaped
within me to respond to them in person in clarion
notes.
can but regard the scheme, called co-opera-
ton, to be now as submission in its tendency, and
rs mischieyous in its dcbilitating influence as it
always has been hopeless and futile in furnishing
resistance to the effects OF the monstrous wrongs
of the past, and protection against the impending
ruin and dangers of the future. AS a contri-
uance to wheel South Carolina into the Southern
line, now commanded by STEPHENS, CLEMENS
and FooTE, and under blank flag of acques-
cent submission, it should startlc into execrating
reputation our indignant souls. But as polti-
cal policy it is barely worthy Of position even on
the Georgia platform. Georgia accepted the
measures Of the last Congress as Compromise
as matter agreed upon and claimed to be a
and furnishing sort of binding guarantee
against further wrongs and injuries. But while
our Carolina submssonists also would tamcly
sink into snbj lection TO those measures put upon us
as the doom Of Southern institutions and equali-
ty, they do not even give us nominal guarantee
that we will not be kicked and cuffed" again
yea, not even the pretert Of its violation, which
might make them (as sclf-respect and good faith
might compel Georgia to do) rise in resistance,
if we were.
The object of Congress and the North is to
destroy our institutions and property, and yet
preserve the Union too. To this end great
party organization, called by the syrene name of
Union party" was agreed upon and entered
into at Washington over year ago, to force the
Compromise, and all snch aggressive measures,
down upon the country. The practical creed Of
this party is, that a State has not the right to
secede, or at any rate shall not do SO that it is
therefore not sovereign and that the Union, right
or wrong, dcspotic or weak must and shall be
preserved cost what it will If rivers of blood and
mountains of treasure This creed is now as
serted and proclaimed, as that of the President
and his Cabinet, of controlling majority of
Congress and of the two great national parties,
Wing and Democrat, of all the Northern States
(our majority oppressors), and, to all practicable
purposes, Of even the parties who have carried
the elections of the South. Stephens, Toombs,
Cobb, Clemens, King, Foote and such rccreants,
are the tools and representatives Of this gigantic
junta. Delay and submission noD. upon our
part, will be acquiescence either of silence or of
weakness, in that end and the history Of this
crisis will practically, for all purposes Of despotc
power, establish it as precedent and doctrine.
We must crush these principles, and shiver this
combination nou, cr we will be allowed no basis
to resist any of the pending aggrcssions verging
into emancipation on the one hand, and national
despotsm on the other; and when the desola-
ton, horrors Of that final measure compel us in
neccssitous desperation to fight that despotism on
one side, and our slaves on the other, it will be
counted forlorn, scattered, reasonable resolu-
ton, over which the winds of heaven will sweep
the means of worlds execution: State sovcr-
eighty and the incident right Of secession are the
only shield and sword for the defence and pre-
scrvation of our political liberties ard domestic
institutions. They are acre important than
slavery, and all other interests and privileges,
because they constitute both the foundation of
them, and the structure which is the home and
castle of their existence. The issue in reality is,
OUR RIGHT AND PRACTICE OF sEtF-GovERNaEST
the only basis of popular liberty"
This issue being made and put upon us now,
we must meet it and resist no,o. We can only
do SO by practical and unsubdued assertion Of
these cardinal powers and rights of secession.
That is the use of them; and "possession" or
possessors use is more thar nine points" in
politics.
If Congress and the North, alias the Federal
Government, will in definite and binding form
acknowledge the sovereignty Of the States sever
ally, and the consequent right of secession (both
of which arc great historical political truths), we
might probably have IN inducemcnt to await tho
movement Of our sister States of the South,
goaded into action by past and other wrongs, as
then, we would hold our means of resistance in
our hands, ever ready for use. But when the
enemy is stealing into our very ranks and tents
to diSarm us, shall we consent to sink into and
ioin the sleep Of Southern submission and indif-
ference! No, by showing them our dragons
teeth,n those enemies will recoil in terror before
the sovereignties of States and the long lines Of
their freemen, who will spring up under this
great issue at the sound of our "cry to arms, u
and we can save ourselves and the South too
| In conclusion, hear and ponder upon the word,