Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-08

we shall acquiesce in slavery, or take honora-
BILE action for the vindication of our freedom.
FOR THE ADVERTISER.
Mr.. EDITOR I'm my last / endeavored to
show, that should South Carolina secede
from the American Union for causes which
already exist, she would go out by herself;
and that by suspendiag the act of secession
there were probabilities Of securing the CO.
operation of other States, having an identity
of interests and in sufficient numbers to en-
sure peaceful separation, and to command
for the new confedency, that respect for its
dignity and regard for its rights, from other
Nations, without which State Sovereignty,
would indeed be theashadow of avision."
Let us now looht TO some of the conse-
uencsss i blf Win; and to others
that may follow IN the trail Of this political
exodus. Should South Carolina secede, the
Government of the United States will either
construc her act as. Stat rebellion" and at
tempt her coercion by arms, or permit her
to go scotfree and al once recognize her in
dependenee-or in order to avoid the moral
effect upon the other Southern States, of the
application of practical force, by the Federal
Government 10 one of its members, and to
deny us even the dignity of respectable
struggle, it will establish floating Custom
house over the bar Mt Charleston, and there
collect the imports which are now received
in the city.
The first proposition I will not now con-
slider, as l have no apprehension q should
have said hope) that it will be the line of
policy which the authorities at Washington
will pursue. They understand this game too
well to hazard in the beginning any overt
act of oppression which can both be seen and
felt by the people; but, acting upon the max
i'm that there are other ways of taking life
than by hanging" prefer the mysteries of
legislation upon the "higher law" theory,
which their party.hncks, even at the South,
are ever ready to explain md defend.
We will now examine the other altcrna-
tives, and first suppose the State of South
Carolina to have seeded from the United
States of America. She is now IN indepcn.
dent Republic, surrounded by great Nation,
about fifty times larger than herself in terri
tory and over thirty times her superior in
population. The larger Nation owns in the
heart of the metropolis of the smaller, valu-
able real estate, and also, large and well
constructed Fort with its full complement of
men and guns, which commands her only
available port. 1t will be necessary to change
the ownership of this property and to adjust
many important and intricate clnims between
the parties who entertain for each other no
good will. This settlement must be con-
ducted upon our part with the most consum-
mate caution and liberality, aud in the quint-
essence of good temper. We must needs
then take the best we can get because for
sooth we are the weaker Nor will it DO 10
fly into a passion and commence fight,
hoping that other States will come and get
us out of it. We must remember that the
issue has been changed. 1t is not now
struggle to maintain the institutions of the
South, in which every slave-holding State is
equally interested with ourselves, but squab-
bic about chattles, real and money, in which
all the members of the Confederncy, South
as well as North, are interested against us.
Were the Congress TO refuse to transfer the
Custom-house We might burn it 10 the
ground; but how would we secure the pos
session of Fort .Moultrie if it was denied! q.
We will, however, inmagine all matters of
account settled between the parties, and the
domain of the Republic of South Carolina
unincumbered by foreign claim or possession.
The first of her acts would be to alter and
amend the Constitution which would at once
bcget contest between tho !o"er and upper