Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-04-17

demonlac JOY will be heard throughout the
pandemoniums Of tyranny at the downfall
of a Republic, destroyed by its own in
ternal discords, and which otherwise could
have maintained itself against a world i'll
arms.
The United States will no longer pre-
sent to them the imposing attitude of a
powerful and consolidated people, but a
cluster Of broken and disunited provinces,
jealous of each other, and falling victims
in turn to the supremacy of the strongest
for the time. This struggle, commenced
by this solemn act of secession, which
will dethrone the Constitution, and invite
foreign nations to the plunder of our com.
merce and our soil, will be prolonged by
the active opposition of the National Gov
ernment, in arms, under such circumstan.
ces, probably controlled by the fanatical
politicians, who have produced this disor-
der. We see how personal fears, or per.
sonal ambition have already so clouded
the vision, or paralyzed and deafened the
energies Of the administration, that it has
acted for the Union only by empty and
unenforccd proclarnations. But from this
position it will be necessarily driven, when
the Legislature of S. Carolina attempts
the collection of the imposts. The Gen.
eral Government having possession of the
forts in the harbor of Charleston, and
navy to support them, will of course re-
move its custom house to the forts, and
there demand its duties. The receipts of
the U. States;Collector will avail the i'm.
porters nothing, on reaching the Charles
ton wharves. Duties will again be de.
and the inevitable consequence
will be the utter ruin Of the trade Of S.
Carolina, or an appeal by the State to the
great European powers, say France and
England, to protect their own ships, when
trading with Il sovereign and Independent
State. 1t will not be long under such an
invitation, before conflict takes place,
costing us our best blood and treasure,
exciting every man in the country to the
highest pitch, and drawing forth the now
restrained sympathies of other Southern
States.
Without contemplating this probable
termination of such conflict to the hap.
piness OF the people of this country for
ever, let US see what effects.this would
have on our commercial prosperity. The
national credit would be struck down at
once. Our domestic credit would sue
cumb. What foreigner or what Ameri-
can capitalist would care about holding
public stocks of any kind, when the fabric
which supports them was given way9 A
general panic would pervade the country
and the security and confidence which
now give such strength and success to
its commercial operations, would depart
i" like the baseless fabric of vision, nor
leave wreck behind"
As matter of course all Southern busi.
ness would be abandoned at the North.
Most existing debts would be found preca-
rious. In contemplation of being gener-
ally drawn in the contest, debtors in the
Southern States would cease to pay and
bankruptcy would sweep down our mer-
chant princes. while the demonds who
produced all this mischief would lose no.
thing. Nay they would fntten on the
hell-broth they had brewed in their infer
nal cauldron.
What is commercial prospcrity-what
the success of the upright and honest mer-
chants what the comfort Of our homes
what the peace of our minds in their esti-
nation, if these wretches can only raise
temptest and sweep away the foundations
of the Union. Suppose the city of New
York ceases to be the emporium of our
commerce, what do they care if they can
have a momentary triumph with factious
leader.
1t would unquestionably be quite i'm
possible to carry on regular business with
the South, if one seeded State had the
power to divert, by the absence Of duties
or low graduation of them, the trade
which had diffused itself, under general
constitutional system.
No doubt such discrimination would be
made by European powers, in favor of q
seeded State, rs would compel other
States to fall into a compact with it, and
thus the alienation of feeling would be
sustained by the alienation of interest,
until our industry was actually gone, and
our cohesion for ever destroyed.
All these results are sure to follow, even
on the slightest act of resistance on the
part of South Carolina. A personal rem:
contre between a citizen of that State and
Government Inspector of Customs, is
enough to light the fame of discord and
plunge the country into a fratricidal war.
But supposing that the Government can
by force of arms retain South Carolina
within the Union. The act Of force, is of
itself destruction to the moral sentiment
which has so long kept us together. S.
Carolina conquered State will never
again he a Jealous and happy member of
the confederacy. Our whole theory of
government will be blown to the winds
when we have gained the victory; and
the Republic no longer the serene and
tranquil abode of freedom, will be an iron
league, maintaining itself against the weak
er and discontented States by blood and
chain. Merciful heaven ! to what re.
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