davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-08
EDGEFIELD, s.. c., MAY 8, 1851.

| answered. By just Government and
a superior liberty" No. You will have
no fighting, and | rejoice that the respon-
sibility is not with us, whether we shall
have it or not We will have no fighting,
not because you are loved, nor from any
principle, which restrains from shedding
your blood. You are hated, no doubt,
quite enough to bring on you, any calam.
ity, which unscrupulous power, avarice
or fanaticism can infict. But there is
policyi in power. There is policy in avarice
There is policy in fanaticism; and all
these perceive, that to attempt to coerce
South Carolina in any way, is to secure
their own defeat, and our speedy deliver
ance from their degrading thraldom. They
acquiesce only in the necessity of things.
That lis is the policy determined now
in Con5 ess, may perhaps be strongly in
"erreed from two facts-the army bill, pro-
posing considerable increase of the ar.
my, and the fortifcation bill, both failed
in the House of Representatives at the
close oi the last session by large majori-
ties The election in South Carolina to
her Convention, had then distinctly indi-
Gated her future course.
But have heard it said,-the General
Government will not blockade us entirely.
They will only have floating custom
house in their ships of war off our coast,
or exact the duties under the cannon of
the forts in our harbor. l wish to meet
all objections.
BY this scheme of interfering with our
commerce, it is not, in the first place, easy
to perceive, how duties can be collected
on whole cargo in bulk in the hold Of a
ship. To collect the duties the ship must
be unloaded-the goods be seen, to be
appraised; or seized if falsely invoiced,
or not entered at all, to evade the duties.
All of our Custom House laws to prevent
smuggling, and the evasion of duties, are
based on the impossbility of collecting
duties on goods in bulk in the hold of a
ship. II it is the established law, that pa
pers without the inspection of goods, or a
captains statement Of what his ship COS
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-08

p''eu tHc i:t"'~ ..--
is least to apprHie..d. We nave alarluisrs
from fear of war; but as the prospect Of
war disappears, we have creator alarmists
for fear of peace. To the imaginations
of some, nothing is so terrible as to be
unmolested-to be let alone by the Gen.
cral Government If it fights us, this is a
terror by no means to be encountered; I;
but then, we will have company. But
not to fight us, is still greater terror.
1t is to leave us alone, without company;
and what mortal man can face such a
catastrophe Why, gentlemen, | have
thought that "zaisseS nous faire"-(let
us alone) was the grand principle of free
trade, for which we have been conten-
ding for the last thirty years. l have
thought that to be let alone, was the
grand principle of all free Government.
Justice from without, against the aggres-
sions or wrongs of foreign nations-jus-
ticc within, between man and man-pre-
vcntion merely, this is the righteous and
limited aim of all free Government! AS
to all else, let US alone. What have we
been asking, as to all the great measures
of aggression, which have at length rem
dered the General Government no longer
endurable to free men, but 'lct US alone
Let us alone on the Tariff. Let us alone
on Internal improvements. Let US alone
as to the Currency. Let US alone with
respect to our institution of slavery. Keep
to the simple purpose of prevention, for
which you were created, and protect US
against foreign nations. Such have been
our demands. They are not needed; and
we cast off tyranny which, like the
frogs of Egypt, has come up into houses,
and our ed-chambers, and the houses of
our servants. And now, shall we fear
being rid of it? Shall we tremble at being
let alone9 Are we afraid of ourseves9 or
arc we incapable of ruling ourselves9 If
so, it is sheer nonsense to aspire to liberty
or independence. Let US submit at once,
without murmurs, and without efforts for
deliverance, to be the colonies we are in
reality. Blot out the proud motto from
our arms, and let our flag, once free, me-
yer more greet the sun. If our enemies
think proper, let them lay i'll waste
thousand miles around us. Let them
make South Carolina an island on the
Continent-cut off forever from all sym.
pathy, or association, with auy other State
in the Union. Who will suffer most by
this policy9 To reach us, the dagger
must pass through others. The great
world of commerce is before US, over the
broad Atlantic. We can live, and if we
if we can live free, it is enough. Better
any fate than the slow torturing death
which awaits us in submission. If our
ncighboring States choose this death, and
think proper to let the General Govern
nent stop up the channels of their COM
merce with us, let them doit. If they have
not had enough of its interference in their
affairs, they can take it still nearer home
to their business and bosoms, although
tainted with abolitionism ITSELF But |
believe III the prevalence of no such poll
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-08
VOL. XTI.--S4. 16

cy. South Carolina, in the heart of the
South cannot be permanently isolated frsm
them in policy, as she cannot be in inter.
ests and institutions. The: General Gov.
ernment may make some spasmodic efforts
to produce this result; but if we stand
still and firm, they will fail rs the pas
slons of the present give way before the
mighty tide of interests which must
sweep the South together.
But secession will not only bring u.s.
isolation in the South, but heavy burdens
in the personal military services we must
render, and the increased taxes we must
pay. We are to live in military boots,
with knapsacks on our backs. and have
costly feEsign embassies, and a standing
army and navy to support.
1t is not for freemen to count the cost
of a Free Government. Let it cost what
it may-life itself-they will be prepared
to pay it, But Free Governments should
certainly be the cheapest, because most
just and most responsible to the people.
| see no reason why South Carolina
should be an exception to this general
truth. Assuming to ourselves the conduct
Of our foreign relations, will, doubtless,
add something to our expenses. A for.
eign mission may occasionally be neces.
sary, but there will be no necessary Of
standing embassies to any foreign pow
ers. Our policy, l thing, should be-free
trade, equal and just dealing with all ma
tons, entangling alliances with none.
Our productions and commerce will ap.
peal to the interests of all nations to do
us justice, and secure us peace. If any
nation ofends or wrongs us, we have q.
powerful means of redress or retaliation,
by shutting them out of our commerce,
and thus adding to the prosperity of other
and rival nations at their expense. Ma
vies we do rot want; for we have no
shipping on the ocean to protect. Not
one bag of cotton in fifty, when it leaves
our ports, belongs to our citizens. 1t
belongs t" the citizens of other "....ons,
a;:- 5oes The ocean under their fn~-
Z q.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-08

especially rise inS prosperity. Every
householder, every mechanic, every labor
er, will feel the impulse which new de-
mands for labor ndeapital must produce;
whilst we will demonstrate to the world
what liberty and just government can do
for people.
".All this seems very fair and clear," "
I think hear anold merchant say, "but
what of that bloskade9 If enforced
against US, welwilignot be able to buy,
much less to sell. answer: The
blockade is humIng. 1t would proba-
bly, be better for, ussif it should turn out
n reality; but as things are, l am com
PEELED to say, from aregard to truth, that
/ believe it to be an 5nnmitigated humbug.
Blockade is war. II we secede from the
Union, we will secede. during the sitting
0f the next Congress: Congress alone
can declare war. Congress must vote
the supplies, and authorize the use of the
army and navy against US. One of two
alternatives Congress; must choose; let
US go peaceably out of the Union, Or fight
US. / believe everybody gives us the very
common credit of.not. being very great
laggards at fighting If war is made up
on us, we will fight On land or sea, we
will fight; and if any one supposes that
war in any form can3be made on South
Carolina without fighting he is not worth
reasoning with. Where there is will,
there is way, in wafsas in other things.
We will 6ght-6ghtlong; and, if neces-
sary, trust, we will fight everlastingly, in
defence of the sovereignty of our State,
and Of our dearest rights, liberties and in
stitutions. What can gthe Northern peo-
pie gain in such a contest, but inevitable
defeat and disasterl Give them all they
can possibly expecttoaccomplish. Sup
pose that they are noEembroiled with 9TH
er nations, for lawlsssly interlupting a
commerce as much theirs as ours, and
that we are at last Vanquished and sub
dued-will that preserve the Union?-
They may have province held in subjcc-
tion by military force put can they make
US, against our will Stateof the=Union9
Can they force as toselect Scnatu..r or
2 .-respntatiuas-r.>1 c. 5S-=.-
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-08
'eneral toy snnent can carry Oh a
gainst n Southern State, foi exerci.

'eUGTdl N'pF. siiIlGllt can carry Oh IT
gainst u Southern State, foi exerci.
.5.'.s Ter right of seeding from the T!.ion,
ence of heriiberties and institutions,
and that no other Southern State will Join
her in the contest! The right of seces-
sion is the right Of all. Surrender it, and
the States are no longer sovereignties.-
They are not parties to the Constitutional
Compact; but mere provinces of one vast
Consolidated Empire, under the absolute
sway of the free States in the North,
through the majority in Congress. The
Southern States will have no defence,
either in the Union, or out of the Union,
to stay the stronger hand of usurpation
and abolition, growing stronger every day;
and if they suffer South Carolina to be
subjugated by the sword, her doom must
soon be theirs, with the increased ferocity
they will have inspired in our successful
foes. do not consider it to be matter
of doubt, that if the free States use the
General Government to make war on S.
Carolina, and she fights as becomes her
ancient renown-a Southern Confederacy
is as sure to come as the succeeding year.
The Northern people, as well as the Gen.
eral Government, know that this will be
the result as well as we do; and there
fore have no expectation that any bill
will ever pass Congress to coerce South
Carolina from going out of the Union
No such bill, ] am satisfied, could have
passed the last Senate of the U. States.
Will Rhode Island, the last State to
enter the Union, or Delaware, consent to
be disrobed of their sovereignty? What
are they in the Union without it, but aristo-
cratic funguses on the body polite, to be
cut off in the Senate by the equalizing
sword of Democracy. Could the North
western Democrats, who so lately main-
tanned that the right of self.government
was so sacred in people that the emf.
grants in California had right to set up
government for themselves throughout
that whole magnificent region, although
owning not foot of the soil, deny to the
people of South Carolina the right they
thus accorded to the people of California,
and force on them a Government they
have repudiated9 Could the Northeast
ern Democrats, resting on the limitations
of the Constitution, as their great leader
(Mr. Woodbury. has so long and so faith
fully done, find any warrant in the Con.
stitution to coerce State? How many
Senators from the South are prepared to
try the strength ofthe General Government
in coercing Southern State to remain
in the Union? There may be two, and
YOU will not find it difficult. to name them.
MY friends, am satisfied thatif South
Carolina thinks proper to goout of the
Union, she will go without single hos.
tile gun being fired, single tombstone be.
ing erected to tell atale of martyrdom.
On expressing such conviction to dis.
tinguished officer Of our State, Immediate.
ly on my return from Washington, he
exclaimed-"N No fighting, well, that is
the worst news have heard for long
time! How, in the name Of heaven, are
we to get tho Southern Confedcracy?"
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-08

TO win tnaL Ifieiuiiii~e- r.-.--,
which all good officers should inspire.
But to meet the extraordinary expenses
to which we will be subjected, how great
will be our additional resources through
the customs! How great too will be the
benefit, especially to the City of Charles.
ton, of expending all the taxes thus raised
within our own State amongst our own peo-
pie! The City of Washington, as we'll
as all the great Northern Cities, are
standing monuments of what the mere
expenditure of money amongst people
can do for their enrichment. There, on
the Potomac, is large increasing City,
of fifty thousand inhabitants, where, q
few years ago, there was an old field.
1t is a mere consumer, and exports not
a dollars worth of produce. think the
additional means secession will secure
US, will more than meet the additional
expenses we must incur by our indepen-
dency.
have thus, citizens, endeavored
briefly to lay before you, the probable
consequences of the secession Of South
Carolina from the Union. / have argued
the question ofsecession, as ifit was final
separation from all the State Of the South.
But is this correct method of arguing
this question! If our cause is the cause
of the whole South-at least of the Cotton
region of the South-will not the South
in due time perceive the truth9 If in
origin, pursuits, and institutions we are
one, how long will we remain apart,
through the influence of those who have
wronged and degraded us, and who now
threaten our utter ruin in the overthrow
Of our institutions9 Will they prefer
union with inferiority and colonial de.
pendence; or union with us, with equal.
ity and independence Safety and honor
are on the one hand, danger and degrade.
ton on the other. Increasing power and
responsibility among the Nations of tho
earth, whose prosperity we will hold in
the hollow of our hands; or increasing
weakness, with a Government under whose
prestige they and their Institutions become
the scof' of nations. These are the alter
natives, which truth and experience must
present to all impartial minds in the South.
Where must they ultimately lead, unless
but to q union of the South? If South
Carolina seceedes from the Union, and
remains an Independent State for five
years, Southern Confederacy must bo
the result, or the South will have enforced.
those guarantees which will give her that
safety, liberty, and equality to which she
is entitled. / have been battling in this
cause for twenty-five years, and have now
but few more years to give to your
service. long to see it settled. As o
citizen of South Carolina, demand that
she mako me free. Let her determine,
now and forever the fate of her sons.
My counsel is, secedc from the Union Of
these United States. cat every hazard,
and to tue last extremity" secede. If'I
was now about to draw my last breati,,s
with that breath | would cxhort YOU to
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-08

80. 81 -; .isrf'; - o. il".'r is.s. ono !.
got up by the administration at Washing.
ton, or is proposed to US by the most
thorough submission States. Gen. Jack
sons Cabinet, it is now known, was the
author of Mr.. Watkins Leigh's mission
to South Carolina, in 1888. The Gene
raj held out nothing but the most defying
threats to us, as the administration now
affects to do, whilst his secret fears were
displayed in his secret instigation of this
mission, to bring US to acquisescence in
the Tariff Compromise. Stranger things
than these may take place if South Caro-
lima secedes from the Union.
However matters may have stood for.
mcrly, the only alternative now presented
to US, is submission, or secession by
South Carolina alone. Now, as we who
have been for secession by South Caroi-
ma alone, heartily labored with our friends
who were in favor of the cooperation of
other Southern States, since their policy
has become impracticable, ought they not
to join with US in the last and only mea-
sure of redress that is leit9 They may
have doubt of its success, rs we have had
of their policy; but, with their conscious
ness OF the wrongs Of the South, and the
dangers which environ US, and their high
regard for the honor of our State, can
they counsel US to submission Will they
any longer divide from US, and spread
weakness throughout our counselss Will
they not rather join us, and make with us,
one brave and united effort for redress
and independence, by the secession of
South Carolina alone from the Union I!
They mustand will soon be with US. They
cannot Join the Union party, which is
soon to arise in South Carolina.
Secession, then secession by South
Carolina alonc-is to be our policy. Let
us look it fairly in the face, and try to es.
innate Justly its probable consequences.
Probability is all which exists for US, in
the future. Certainty is in the past and
present only.
In the first place, in seeding from the
Union, we would declare free.trade alb.
solutely as it now exists, with all the
States South OF the Potomac and Ohio
Rivers. There woald be no change what
ever, so far as our action is concerned,
in any of the relations we now hold to-
wards these States. All their productions
cotton, wheat, tobacco, live stock, will
enter our State as heretofore, free of all
charge or duty whatever With respect
to the productions Of the States now in
the Union, and all foreign nations, we
would lays small duty on Importation, not
exceeding ten per cent. nd valorem, (sev-
en- per cent. was the first duty by our an
castors in putting the present Government
into operation, with a heavy war debt to
discharge.) Thirty per cent. is the duty
now exactcd by the General Government
in all the ports of the United States, OIL
the chief articles of importation. Our
duty of ten per cent. will thus be twenty
] per cent. less than tho duty exacted in the
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-08
w. F.. DURIsOE, Proprietor.
Hon. Ra.RHETT,s SPEECH.

u u. ~. sSs ~ s@ - . q - -
DELrvEREp AT HIBERNIAN HALL, AT
MEETING OF THE S. R. ASSOCIATION,
APRIL 7, 1851.
Fellou. Citizens: am indebted, | pre-
sumo, to the fact, that am lately from
the seat of Government, for the invita-
ton have received to address YOU this
night, and for the warm reception with
which you have greeted me. You know
my opinions, frankly expressed, on the
past state of our affairs. But you wish
to know whether, | see any thing in their
present condition, which has changed or
modified these opinions.
Gentlemen, | can teach you nothing,
and presume you desire to hear nothing
of those wrongs, which have aroused
within you the determination to redress
yourselves. South Carolina, in her Leg.
islature long since, declared that, with
respect to them, the argument was ex-
hausted She will no more reason with
her sister States concerning them; and
we, think, need no more reason con-
cerning them amongst ourselves. Our
understandings are sufficiently informed.
All we want is the will, in the face Of
acknowledged wrongs, to right ourselves.
1t is on this point, and this only, the mode
of redress that propose, in a very sim
pie way, to submit to you few brief
considerations.
Your last Legislature looked to two ex-
pedents for redress-secession from the
Union in cooperation with other South
ern States; and secession by South Caro-
lima alone. With the exception of less
than half dozen members, all the men,
bers of the Legislature were disunionists.
Those who were in favor of disunion in
concert with other Southern States, limi-
ted their policy to the call of Southern
Congress. Those who, despairing of the
cooperation of any other other State,
were in favor of secession by South
Chrolina alone, supported the call of
State Convention. The latter prevailed
by large majority in the Senate, and
their bill was sent down to the House
calling a State Convention. 1t there
nii'-~sFrzzs-s1sss-A--sc----Ea Votes raaacsarv
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-08

L4.:!gs .:'c!! IL. -: ::''r'i ,'i:"'', wi
fail, unless human nature shall be mar
vellously changed by our secession.
In the opinion of vast majority of
the people of the Southern States, the
present Tariff, in principle, is utterly un-
constitutional. 1t is only an expedient,
by which tribute is exacted from the South
by the North. But independently of this,
Hamburg lies opposite to Augusta, Purys-
burg is not far from Savannah whilst
we have common right to navigate the
Savannah and Pee Dee rivers, from their
borders to their mouths. Our trade with
North Carolina is chiefly carried on by
wagons. How long will custom house
officers on our North Carolina frontier,
continue to seize the wagons of the North
Carolina farmers and wagoncrs, on their
return from South Carolina with their
usual suppliesl How long will the people
of Georgia submit to standing army of
tax collectors on their side of the Savan-
nah river, spying, seizing, fighting them,
to enforce the collection of duties their
Abolition brethren of the North have laid
upon them9 We will have nothing to
do with spying or fighting. On our side
of the river we will have ease and peace.
No controversy with the people Of Geor-
gia-no controversy with the General
Government, or its officers. We have
goods to sell, twenty per cent cheaper
than they can be obtained in New York,
or in any port in the Union-that is all.
We will neither force other people to buy
them, nor enter other States to sell them.
The trade, if it exists, will be at the op-
ton of those who think proper to come
to us and buy our goods. Relations of
entire amity, and of mutual benefit, not
of hostility or injury, will thus exist be.
tween us and the Southern States. am
inclined to think the trade of our mer.
chants, under such circumstances, will
not become quite extirguished. | am in
clined to think that the same state of
things which now exists on our Canada
frontier, under the skilful address of our
Yankee friends, will also prevail along
the frontiers of S. Carolina. Twenty per
cent will stop not goods on an imaginary
frontier. 1t gives immense activity to
bales and boxes, as well as to mems wits.
1t will not destroy our merchants. 1t
will make our trade pretty nearly as free
in going out as in entering our State.
This is certainly the opinion of the mer-
chants in our Northern cities. They there
fore look upon the secession of South
Carolina from the Union with alarm and
terror, anticipating the loss of the whole
import trade, which is oecasioned by
Southern productions. 1t will come to
us, they say. think they are right; for
however fallascious their judgments may
be on other subjects, in matters of money
they are as near infallibility as human
can be. We must gain what they lose;
and our commerce will prosper beyond
every other interest in the State. Charles
! ton, the emporium of this commerce, must