Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-07-10

sure, as my constituents, with whom have
frequently and publicly conferred, can testify.
have told them that secession was mea-
sure which would demand the exercise of all
their frmness. The overthrow of any Govern
ment, and the establishment of another, is no
holiday affair. 1t is no card-house we desire
to construct, which cun be reared by the hand
and destroyed by the breath of an infant.
No! 1t is stern work which lies before US,
and if we seek for new guards for our future
security, we must expect to obtain them at
the hazard of many sacrifices.
The questions in regard to secession, which
appears to me will demand the careful con-
sideration of the Convention, are
First. Has the State right to secede?
Second. Is she justified in the exercise OF
this right at this time?
The first question is one which presume
the Convention will have very little difficulty
in deciding, as it may be considered n settled
question in the judgment of the Southern
States at this time, though am aware it is
seriously denied by some within their limits,
and perhaps if not brought to Judgment at
the present day, will, in Il few years become
much controvertcd if not ultimately repudia-
ted Resolutions affirming this right were
laid on the table in one or both branches of
the North Carolina Legislature at their last
session. am not fully informed of the cir
cumstances under which this was done, but
l point to it as a fact which deserves atten-
ton.
But, whilst the abstract right Of secession
| is not denied by some, vet they contend that
is right whose exercise "good faith" must
always practically prevent. Now, I admit
the obligations OF "good faith" in every rcla-
ton of life, public and private, on States as
well as on individuals But, lie. us see how
"good faith" will always nullify this right
and render it of no practical utility. We
owe good faith to our co-Statcs and to for.
eign nations, with whom we have, through
our agent, the General Government, cstab-
lished certain relations. Now, rs to our CO.
States, rs the very predicate Of secession is,
that they have violated the league and CO.
venant which bound US together, that they
have first broken faith with us, surely, our
faith is no longer due to them. Good faith
requires every party to q compact to submit
to many things, to bear and forbcar much,
but when the very end and purpose of the
compact are violated,-wh it is used as q
"sword to dcstroy," and not as a ashield to
defend then, surely, agood faiths Should
not preventany party from Withdrawing from
his associates, on fair and honorable terms.
So much for our co-States. But what arc
our obligations of agood faith" TO foreign
nations, with whom we have made treaties,
and from whose citizens we have made loans,
&C.? They, it is urged, are no parties to
our domestic differences and agood faith" re-
quires that we should either preserve our CO.
partnership until these engagements are CON-
piled with, or provide means for their per-
formance if dissolution takes place. To
this / reply, that if dissolution occurs
peaccably, and an equitable partition of the
partnership property is made, the rights of
foreign nations will not be permitted to suffer
beyond those hazards, which, it is always
understood, are undertaken in all interna-
tional dealings
If the abstract right to sccede, then, be
granted, and agood filth" does not Justly re-
strain its exercise, the next question will be,
AIS South Carolina justified in seeding at
this timc? We all admit that governments
long established, should not he changed for
light and transient causes" but the causes
which impcl us to seek change Of our gov
crnment, arc neither slight nor stransient;;" )"
they are deep seated, widespread, permanent
and radical. will not attempt TO describe
our wrongs before this audience, after the
recital of them by our distinguished leader
Judge Chcvcs He has painted them to you
in ".thoughts that breathe and words that
burn; he has told you that we are "living
under the government of our bitterest enc
mics, whose avowed objects are to annihilatc
us" He has told You of the danger, the
dishonor, the infamy'' of the condition of the
South He has told you that history furn-
ishes no example Of such disreputable sub
mission as that which the Southern States
States now exhibit.
He has told you too that ;'lc is convinced
of the justice, the constitutional right, and
the political cxpediency, of the Withdrawal of
the Southern States from that Union by
which they are cntlrallcd, and which cannot
fail, while it subsiss, to bring on them fur
thcr and future danger, oppression and infa-
N.Y." Now, if this picture be true, and who
can doubt it, what measure of resistance are
we not justified in rcsorting to! What is too
violent or too precipitate? AS, for the rca-
sons have given, we cannot obtain cooper
alton by delay, are we not driven directly,
and distinctly, to the alternative of secession
or submission? Are we not bound by every
obligation of duty to ourselves and to our
children to overthrow, in the only way that
is left us, the government of our @bitter ene-
mies"-to escape "anillilation"- fee from
"dishonor, oppression and infamy?" But let
ME draw nearer to the entertainments of our
friends and examine their strongholds. 1t is
urged with great earnestncss and with much
appareht force. that South Carolina ought
not to seccde alone, because the other South
ern States will not sympathise with her or
sustain her in her course Now, let it be
remembered, that this argument comes from
those. who advocate the policy of delay in the
confident expectation that new aggressions,
such as the abolition of slavery in the District
of Columbia, or the repeal of the Fugitive
Slave Law, will soon unite the whole South
in secession. Secession, say they. is soon to
become tho rallying point of the whole South.
Now if this be true, then do not perceive
how any one can suppose for moment that
our sister States, who are thus only waiting
with their hands upon their swords, ready to
draw them at the first hostile movement of
our common enemy, will turn upon us, or
from US, because we bring on The issue lit
tie sooner than they expect to do
But think tho nosition of tbinra in tba