Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-12-04

MdSiLtlcS w Ue ICiuo'eu lIOili tHeir pre-
sent location to the Citadel Square. The
City Council petitioned me to postpone
the matter until they could have an op-
portunity to lay before you the danger to
the city, from having so large an amount
of powder kept within its limits. AS I
found the apprehension on this subject
very general in Charleston, and some
portions of its citizens painfully excited
about if, determined to delay the work
until the present Session, on condition
that the city authorities would become
responsible for the safe keeping of the
powder during that period. | thought
this course just and proper, particularly
as the State could suffer no detriment by
it. A more thorough examination Of the
subject convinced me that the necessity
Of removing the Magazines was not as
great as was supposed, but that small
additional appropriation for building a
wall around them would make them safe.
For full information on this matter, 1
refer you to the report of Maj. Trapier,
which send you. | await your further
instructions on the subject.
By an Act of the General Assembly,
Brigade Encampments were re-establish-
ed. According to your instructions, |
encamped the ten Brigades of Infantry,
and five of Cavalry in the State. The
officers, generally speaking, exhibited
great enthusiasm, and conducted them.
selves as soldiers and gentlemen. A
high-toned spirit and patriotism seemed
to animate them, which convinced me
that they would ever be ready at their
country's call, to stand to their arms" !"
Although encampmcnts must be admitted
by all to be excellent schools for the train
ing of soldiers; and although the good
which has been done by them is already
manifest, yet am not prepared to recon-
mend their continuance under present
circumstances. Where the immediate
necessity for them is not great, | do not
think the State ought to be subjected to
the heavy expense, or the officers to the
inconvenience incident to them. Where
the Brigades are compact, little incon-
venience attends them; but where the
country is sparsely populated, and the
Brigades are stretched oyer alaGgs sex
tent Of country, tile duty Of attending
them is exceedingly onerous to all the
officers, and almost ruinous to those of
them who are poor. Under these cir
cnmstances, / recommend that they be
abolished.
The General Assembly, at its last
meeting, put at the disposal of the Board
Of Ordnance in connection with the Gov
ernor, three hundred and fifty thousand
dollars (s35o,OOO) for the purpose of
arming the State and putting it in a con-
dition of defence. What progress has
been made in the matter will be seen set
forth in the report of the Major of Ord
nance, which is herewith transmitted.
Resolutions, passed by the Legislature
and Convention of New Hampshire, also
by the Convention of Maryland and the
General Assembly of Illinois, on the SUBJ
iect of the compromise, together with re-
solution passed by the Legislatures of
Florida and New Hampshire, on the SUBJ
ject of the establishment of an Agricul-
tulal Bureau in the Department Of the
interior at Washington, are herewith
transmitted.
On the subject of our Federal relations,
l have but little to say. You are fully
aware of our wrongs, and know that the
Federal Government, which was instituted
for our protection and welfare, as well as
that of the other States, has directed all
its energies to the destruction of that in
stitution upon which our very vitality de-
depends. You know that we have been
deprived of every inch of that territory
which was won, in part, by our blood
and treasure; that we have been robbed
by tyrannical and unjust government of
the very graves Of our gallant country.
men who sacrificed their lives that the
"Star-spangled Banner" might float in
triumph on the bloody fields over which
it waved. You know that our equality
in the Union has been denied, by the
very act which excludes US from this ter.
ritory. You know that the tide of North
ern fanaticism must sweep over us, de-
priving us of our property, and desolating
our homes, unless it is stayed by the bold
efforts of freemen, worthy to be free
The noble attitude of resistance which |
supposed the State was about to assume,
and which have directed all my ener-
gies to place her in, seems to have been
delayed or abandoned by the popular
voice as indicated by the result Of the
late elections. / cannot believe that this
result has been founded in a willingness
tamely to submit to our wrongs, but in
difference of opinion as to the best mode
of resisting them. know of no other
mode to recommend than that which I
have heretofore SO earnestly advocated,
viz: That, as our equality is not ac-
knowledged in the Union, eve should
assert our independence out of it" This
course think our pride, honor, and safe.
ty alike demand. Others, whose opinions
are entitled to respect, think differently
and itseems the popular voice has sustain.
ed them in their opinions. Itremains now