Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-22
ever asserted "that q State

.!if'f s'tds ever dSseEttQ tllaI Sthte
however small vannct pay for the support Of hel
own government" Isaid expressly that Soutl,
Carolina "would be rich enough to entice the
cupidity of the world, but too feeble to defend
herself" if attacked by powerful Nation; and
secondly, that the assertion, though understood
as It was by "JoHN RANDOLPH" is not more
disgusting" than the stupidity of his declara-
ton I" that the experience OF military men has
taught us that it is much easier to take strong
positions than to maintain them.n Upon this
principle it follows, that it is more difficult to
subduc weak man than one who is strong
But enough; wrangling was never more out of
place than at the present time, and here de-
clare that in whatever Imay write, not one word
Of acrimony or disrcpcct shall escape me, unless
used as retort.
The "DEcIsIoS OF 1885," finds it difficult to
reconcile my appreciation of the appropriation of
100000 made by the Legislature, and my
avowed opposition to separate State action, and
holds that preparation for an issue that may or
muy not arise Upon some future contingency is
an absurdity. The explanation is simply this.
that preparation to meet an issue is the most
effectual method Of averting it. Were the
thirteen Southern States TO secede in O BODY.
have no idea that blow would be struck. But
[ do not require coalition of all those States to
induce me to advocate secession. The co-opera-
ton of any two States with South Carolina would
content me and would then advocate action
instanter. believe that three States would
form nucleus Of strong attractive power, which
would rapidly increase, and / further believe that
such coalition of few States would be more
likely to result in war than the secession of q
single State. BY war mean actual fighting
not blockading. The preparedness of South
Carolina under these circumstances, would be a
valuable absurdiv. Nor does it follow that be-
cause approve of one appropriation of given
amount that l recommend others and each larger
amounts. Three hundred thousand dollars in.
diciousy invested in small arms and cannon, in
addition to the arms now owned by the State
(Prvate rifles included) would be quite sufficient
for her wants while looking to the cooperation
of Alabama and Mississippi. Every dollar of
that amount invested in Steam Ships, built with
view to their conversion into vessels of War,
| think will be money thrown away. Towards
building Navy, 100000 is but drop in the
bucket. 1t is not the appropriation which has
already been made, but those which are yet to
come in carrying out the scheme of separate
secession, to which alluded when asked twill
not the heavy debt the State will be forced to
incur in order to put her in condition of de-
fence, (by land and sea, with her men in the
field, her navy aaoat, besides the previous debt
incident to her organization as an Independent
Government entail burden of taxation which
will depopulate the State 2" The sentence as I
wrote it was an enquiry, not On assertion as it is
quoted.
Your correspondent holds me committed to a
still further increase Of taxation by q part Of a