Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-02-06
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY THE SEPARATE
ACTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA1

The exercise ol HeT luileIcHl eoNSiSieH'r
as an Independent commonwealth, iii annui-
ling compact, which other parties, contract
ing with her. have grossly violated.
What arc we to lose by this action? 1t
cannot be honor-for it is the very soul OF
honor, with communities, as with individuals,
to resist wrong at its first appearance, and
We have borne cur wrongs. until patience her
self is wcarrd with our delay. 1t cannot be
wcaltll-Ior it is notorious that the unjust cH-
actions of our oppressors have drained our
country of sum sufficient TO have dotted it
over with gildcd palaces. Ii cannot be terri
tory-forw have yielded already our indispu-
table right of possession to provinces. amply
large enough to accommodate new nation.
It cannot be iamc-for, if our history does
not undergo IN entire change within brief
period, our very name must become a bye
word and rerroach throughout the earlh.-
Will it be said that by this act, we may lose
our very existence as people, and with it.,
our Ill We reply, better thus than to live 70
the end Of time, with ourindividuality marked
only by disgrace and poverty and barrcnncss
and insiguicancc.
But we cannot think, that any Carolinian
will be deferred, from pursuing the only course
that comports with our honor and plightcd
word, from 4 fear of the consequences; cspeci-
ally when it is matter ofbelief with many, that
continued adherence 10 the Union will be the
more disastrous policy. In all such calcula-
tions of mere dollars and cents, wo lose sight
entirely of the high issue we are making up
on principle.
Let it be continually borne in mind, that
the contest, now being waged between the
antagonistic sections of our Ccnfederacy,
must result in the complete vindcation of
the Republican principles upon which our
system stands, or in their utter destruction.
Let it be clearly understood that South Car-
olina seeks termination of this contes upon
higher ground than that of sectional inter-
cst-the ground of right, broad and unques-
tionable-that she will not consent longer to
any indefinite postponcment of this termina-
ton, because she sees clearly that it is but
another name for dclay--dclay'-dclay, ad
inGnitum. If there were any reasonable
ground for believing that any additional
strength is to be gained by \ temporary post
poncmcnt of her action, then might she, with
some propriety, pause in her onward course.
But whence is it to come! Upon what is the
expectation of such strength predicated 3
Upon some future act Of tyranny OIL the part
of the Federal Congress, which is to kindlc a
blaze of resistance throughout the entire
Soutli-a supposilion resting upon suppo-
sition. Vain expectation indeed! Those
who indulge it, to Use 4 holncly addagc,
"reckon without their host.." They forget
the willy enemy, with whom they have to deal.
Ea:ep. G,natiri-n when united with Yankee
cunning, has some method in its madncss.-
And it is idle to imagine that 1t will hastily
risk the loss of any advantage gained. Is it
not more rational to conclude that foe, so
sagacious us tho one we strive with, will cease
for awhile, his attacks, until he sees that the
sting of the old wound is partially forgotten,
and. when he finds that the gradual progress
of time and of change have dullcd the edge
of our scnsbility, that he will strike once
more at our interest and our honor! And
thus may the day of our increased strength
never arise.
Mr.. Calhoun, in one Of his latest speeches,
assured us Of his belief that, the present op.
por;unity lost, we might struggle in vain for
the future. And lIc was certainly gifted with
degree of prcscicncc, which few men have
possessed. May we not look upon this pro.
plctic remark as Il revelation, disclosed to 4
mighty mind, standing between two worlds
Weighed i'll the balance with this advice oi
our great, departed sage, do not the ovcr-cau
tioJis suggestions of those, who would still
have us 'watch and watt kick the beam
with the quickness Of thought What
watch tie robbcr until he shall have borne of
our entire Treasure and shall then turn upon
us with morking laugh Of triumph? Wait
until The raying maniac shall have placed tho
dagger-point against our heart and then crav
cnly sue for nadman's mercy? Call dowl
upon our memories tic cxecralions of age:
to come, by tamely acquicscing in n policy
which urges us TO tarry, until VIC arc "bounc
hand and foot" Suffer ourselves to be lullet
into quiet by the political deusion of those
who cry "discrction, discretion" when tho
torch has already been applied to the temple
and the flames aro mounting high! Free
men Of South Carolina, baniih the thought
reject the advice, if you would save yourselve:
and your homes from irrrparablc ruin
Athens listened to the soothing oratory O.
Eschin,s 8, until Philip of Maccdon had pu
his army upon the march, and then, not ever
the overwhelming cloqucncc of Demosthenes
fired as he WAS by the purest patriotism, coult
arouse her people to Il pitch Of enthusiasm
and g%lIantry, sufficient TO avert 4 shameful
defeat. We are not as yet, it is true, in tht
| Hbirct situation i'm which the Grecion State,