Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-08-14
1)ohtiical,
From the UIfonvillc Journal
HON, D, WALEACE's POSITION.

From the UIfonville Journal.
HON. D. WALLACE's POSITION.
According to The promise made in
orr last number,Swe publish below a
brief sketch of the Address delivered by
Hon. D. Wallaceson* the 7th inst. The
speech was delivered in the Court House,
and though no notice had been previous
lv given, large number of persons were
in in attendance, wholistened to the speaker
with profound attention, and frequently
evinced their appreciation by repeated
bursts of applause He commenced his
address, by statingEthat he would not at
tempt to discuss the: wrongs inflicted up
ON the South by tie Government of the
North. Upon thatTbranch of the sub
iuct the argument is exhausted. The
question before ussfefates to the remedy
which must be resorted to redress these
wrongs. 1t lis of the utmost consequence
that the people ofsouth Carolina should
understand their true position. In refer.
ence to the wrongs which we suffer, and
those which are threatened, it may be
said there is but one opinion among the
people of South Carolina. We have
have arrived at thes point when we must
determine thesmodepf resistance. There
are three alserEStiyes which present
themselves to our coasideration--seces'
sion, civil war, or rSsobmission. He re,
garded the latter sas impossible. The
D people of South Carolina can never be
SO unjust to themselves and their posterl'
tv as to submiteto gdishonor aud degra'
dation. There relaains, then, the two
alternatives, secession and civil war
and we must choo# between them, fol
by one of these niades we must resist
or submit. To resstsby civil war in the
Union, is to take up arms for the pur'
pose of ovcrthrowi1g the Government by
violence and bloodshed. Secession mag
be peaceable; if Ebe not peaceable, il
will not be our falls that of the Gov
ernment which seeks to degrade ano
ruin us. He beliessdit would be effect
ual, and taaonly mode by5Which we car
secure our Fank asau dependent peo
.Rss.s Rls, sPr psaRszt liberty saa 1''': ea
1t is due to ourselves, and to the cause
we have so 1seh at heart. that the plan
truth should be spoken The contes
:, which wo ore engaged is not of ou
seeking. We have preferred peace an'
tranouility-they have been denied MS
The aggrcssions of which we complain
and which have created such deep dis
content in the public mind have beer
forced upon us, and in repelling them W.
resort only to the law of seli:preser
vation, which nature herself has STAN
ped upon every heart. We are no
RESPONSIBLE for the perils which SURROUND
us. We cannot allay the excitement,
it is beyond our power. 1t is not a sud
den ebullition of feeling, which will ceas
with the passing hour; it is, in fact,
rerolution, moral, social, and political
and we must prepare to resist the storm
or it will sweep over us in an irresistibl
torrent, and over our country with desola
ton. This is the alternative presented
and we cannot evade it. We have nov
no check upon the despotic power of tn
Government of the North. Our delega
ton in Congress is powerless to protec
rs. much so as if we were without an
representation in the National Legisla
ture. If Congress, at its next session
were to pass a law emancipating ever
African slave in the Southern States, t
what measure could we resort to say
ourselves from such violation of right:
except to one of those suggested-seces
sion or civil war? The veto power given t
the President by the Constitution is Writ
ally abrngated The war commence
upon that check upon the dominant wi
oi the majority, by Mr.. Clay, in the Ser
ate, in le4l, has, in effect, resulted in
repeal of that clauseiof the Constitution
The will of the majority is now the Law
and the Government is now converte
into despotism as despotic as that {
, Russia. Gen. Taylor was elected upo
f virtual repndiation of the veto powe
He declared, in his letter Of acceptanc
of the nomination for the Presidenc.
that he should regard the action Of Cor
gress as an expression of the public goo
will, and any measure passed by th'
body should meet his approval.
The only barrier which the Constitutio
interposcs between us and dcspotism
thus broken down. 1t was the last foo
hold of Southern rights, We have no.
no guards remaining to protect US fro'
the aggressive acts of the Governmen
; and it may be asserted, without the fe:
of contradiction, that the veto power wi
f never again be resorted too to arrest tyral
nical legislation; for no man will evt
, hereafter be elected President, excel
on the ground that he is opposed to Afr
can slavery, We are thus placed in
condition far worse than the people Ill
der the monarchy Of England. III
House of Commons of the British Parli
ment may compel a reform in the Go
ernment, by refusing to levy the necess
.,,,,I;o.. bpt the Government of n