Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-22

was defeated by what is now called the moderate
party, and was supported by all the friends OF
separte State resistance. Permit me to say, that
this same moderate party, though they refused
to make a single move, except in the appointment
of Delegates to Southern Congress, winch was
never to meet while the sun shone or rivers ran,
were the very warmest advocates IN the Ieglsla.
ture of the increase of Taxes, for Military Pur+
noses. Their notions of taxation were extrava-
enntly bold. They proposed, in TINT way, TO
prove to the world, that we.were brave people,
and ty threats and bravado, to gain all the honor
of n manly resistance, without incurring any OF
the hazards of O decided plan of conduct. The
comnromise too, under which the Bill was framed,
that finally provided for the election Of Delegates
to State Convention, came matured from the
same quarter. Those who were determined to
resist were compelled to acceptit it, or do nothing,
and cover their State with disgrace. And, per-
haps, am justified in saying, that 1t was the
best measure, that could have been adopted.
What less now, as honorable men. could your
Representatives have done. lfthey had not res
ponded to the action of Mississippi and Virginia,
| they would have placed the State in the attitude
of base deserter from the standard of her friends,
and You would have secuted them from your ser
vice, as the violators of your confidence, and as
traitors to the honor of South, Carolina.
The miserable cry you have lately heard about
the Peoples being forced into false position, by
the arts of your Legislators, in fixing the election
of Delegates at an early day. is beneath your
contempt You arc indeed ignorant, as your
false friends have proclaimed-far too ignorant to
be freemen, if you admit, as has been asserted,
by those who are now soothing you, with gentle
strokes, that You were unacquintcd with the OBJ
| - l,.a1, ball tIs,O
Monday of February last. You had been living
in Edgefcld District You could read plain
print, or your neighbor could do it for you, and
Congress had Just begun to perfect system of
acts, qualified and aimed to enslave YOU. Under
such state Of affairs, men that you conhded IN,
had gone from your midst to represent you in the
Legislature Their acts and votes, and speeches
were daily spread before the country, in the news
papers. The discussion on our relations with the
General Government was long, well sustained,
and intensely interesting. Atlength, on the 20th
day of December, an Act is passed, ordanng
that a Convention of the People OF ). Carolina
shall assemble in the town of Columbia, =" for the
purpose" as the act expressly declares, " in the
first place, of taking into consideration, the pro-
cecdings and recommendations Of Congress of
the slave -holding States if the same shall meet
and be held; and for the further purpose of tax
ing into consideration the general welfare of this
State, in view of her relations to the laws and
government of the United States, and thcreupon.
TO take care that the Commonwealth of South
Carolina shall suffer no detriment."
AS was remarked, the election of Delegates
was fixed on the Cd Monday of the February then
next, about six weeks from the enactment OF the
bill, and the Act was Immediately heradcd to the
country on the lightning wings of the Press, and
the Telegraph and by the mouths of cannon
So soon as your members returned from Colum-
bia, they took the first occasion to explain, under
their own hands, the objects of the Bill, and to
exhort YOU TO give your devoted attention to 1t
until after the election. Candidates were called
out, and induced to publish their views, in regard
to the momentous question they would be COM
PEELED to decide Public meetings were sum-
moned, and the Convention Act was fully cx-
planned by those who aided in devising it. All
this was done previously to the election. Yet
some of those who now assume to enlghten and |
direct you, would persuade us, that on the day OF
election, You were entirely uniformed OF the |
mighty issues you were beginning to decide. IL
you were, in truth, utterly indifferent to your
vital interests, as these men would representy you,
you are likely to live slaves, and die SO. If that
is truly your condition of gross darkness and cal
lousness, it will require no howery syeophant up
peals to !entce you to be !" hewers of wood, and
drawers of water" Your fate is already sealed,
and is as fixed as the eternal duries of Heaven.
would speak to you, my friends, with all the re-
spect / feel for your characters and persons; but
you should frown down the men who would dare
persuade you, that you are incapable Of selt-go-
yernmeht
It was never intended by any one, that the
early day for the electionof Delegates, was de-
signed to tixe from the People the control of the
destiny Of Seutl, Carolina That day was ap-
pointed in order that the great questions for deci-
sion, and the great Causes of complaint might
lose none ot the interest they excited and in order
that the State might have Convention ready Or
ganized, to take advantage of any fortunate con-
tngency that might happen, in the progress OF
the events that are now transpring: Why, hit |
should be judged MOST conducive to the interest |
and safety of South Carolina, and to the success
of the grea: enterprise of her heart, to wait two
years for the corporation of her sisters, accord
inc to the provisions of that Bill it is entirely con-
sistent and proper for her to do so. The Legs-
lature NAV not call the Convention together until
the latter part of the next year. and then the Con-
vcnton, if it deems it expcdient, may, with the
utmost propriety, postpone its final action for II
IL yoo 1Sdiis PoiPoSS w ~ i
defence of your property and honor, the wisdom
of man could not have placed you in more hap
pv situation than that in which you now find
yourselves.
Ifyou should disagree, in your sentiments, with
any of your Delegates elect to the Convention,
(for their opinions are all known to the publlc,)
you have it perfectly in your power to meet IN
primary assemblies, and instruct them to resign.
No man .of honor will disobey such instruction.
Otherwise; yoa will be justly held responsible for
their acts
Fellow citizens, have thus spoken to You, as
l have felt without fattery or deception. z hen
the day of trial comes, feel kno1o, that no
people that were ever fashioned by the hands of
the Creator. will stand more squarely up to their
duties, or will sustain with more stubborn rcso-
luton, the spotess honor of their loved Carolina.
/ trust in God, that your Judgments may be en-
lightned by proper study, and your passions con-
trolcd by wisdom. Nlay you exhibit, in your
conduct and excmplify in the fierce conflicts you
may meet, the high spirit of better times and bet
ter men-the moderation, the. .rtsgnanfmity, and
the courage Of one of your old heroic fathers-a
most chivalrous warrior, and wise legislator
WILLIAM BUTLER, and of one of the purest,
most gifted, and most eloquent statesmen that
ever honored his State and country-GEoRGE
McDurFIE. TIMOLEON.
South Carolina.
THE Southern Press speaking of the ac!
tion of the late Convention of Associations,