Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-15

the cooperation OF any other Soutiiern 0ta'e
in any cffectual plan of relief, and the alter
native is presented to us, of submitting, or
acting by ourselves And, reluctant as we
are TO separate ourselves from our natural
friends and allies, we have made up our minds.
We cannot submit. We know That South
Carolina entered this CuIf.deracy as SOW
ercign and independent State. and that. having
been wrougcd, she has the perfect right TO
withdraw from it. Her sons must exercise
the right ard meet the consequences. If no
other Stale will join us in relieving ourselves
from the wrongs already inflicted, we see no
hope in waiting for new outrages to arouse
4 higher spirit of resistance. The new out
RACES, we are well convinced, will come in
due time; but we feel no assurance that the
spirit of the vassal will rise in proportion to
the indignilies heaped upon his head. On the
contrary, we see that the South has already
borne what it would not for Il moment have
submitted to ten years ago, and what the
North would not then have vcntured 10 per-
petrate. We are not willing to try the en-
pertinent how long it will be befurc our spirit
is completely broken, by gradually and con-
tinually yielding to slow and gradual, but
increasing encroachments. And II the eX-
crcise of the right of secession is 10 be fol-
lowed by theattempt on the part OF the Go
yernment of this Confederacy to subjugate
South Carolina, it is better that we should
meet that attempt while we still have some
spirit and some power of resistance left. If
we are to submit to the cordili".:.l of u con-
quered people, we think :. :. iiess dishoaorable
rot to do 50 unit! we have first been conquer
ed. And :. anything could add to the nc
"e..:itv ;%:'ich we believe exists for with
/, Grawal from he existing Union, il wou!d be
the dcni;,, of the right of secession. For
the denial of that right indicates Of itself
extreme danger The right of secession has
heretofore. and in better days been regarded
us unqucstiomble BY ali Southern politicians,
with the exception of an inconsiderab!c num-
Der of consoiidaiiomiss And if ever lha,
right can be denied without arousing the
whole South to sustan it. The South will be-
ripe for the most miserable fate which has
ever bcfallen any people. II will then. as 4
permanent sectional minority, have 10 de-
fence against tie tyranny of Il Government
combining Ill the vices of the corrup'cst
democracy and the most oppressive foreign
dcspoi>m.
We know the consequences which vii!
follow Il fi"re in our effort 20 maimiain our
liJcr;y. We see clearly that triumphant
cxcrion of he powcrof ihc Federal Govern
mrnt in >uhiaga;ing y Safe, will VASTLY in.
crease that power. md grc.ily ;cr"lcr'tc ih''
change. :.!rc.dv ..:lr ..CivarccG of our Frdcra-
tive srsrcm ia;o Coasoiidacd ccH;rl dcs
IL! |, linz
will not suffer The consequences Of this change
alone. but that the rest Of the Southern
States mast suffer IN an equal degree. They
will imvc 10 Safeguard against the Central
Government, strengthened by crushing op-
position, and rendered, by triumphant force.
what our Northern enemies have long been
endeavoriDg to make ii by fraudulent usur-
paiion-;hc supreme Government of Il con-
solidaled nation. Tie sovereignty of one
Southern State cannot be destroyed, without
the loss of their sovereignty by all the others.
We are aware Of the responsibility of doing
an act which may hasten these consequences.
We feel the respect which we owe to States
having common interest, threatened by n
common danger, but not equally persuaded
with ourselves of The necessity of action
And nothing would induce us TO take, with
out their concurrence, course which is TO
involve them in its consequences, but thoro'
conviction of the necessity which urges us,
and of our right to do so.
Addressing citizens of Southern States,
associated to maintain the rights Of the South,
we cannot imagine it 10 be necessary to ar
que about the right of secession. We hold
it to be The great State right. without which
all Others are nugatory and incapable Of being
enforced: and your position assures us that
your faith cannot be different from ours.
Nor can we regard it as necessary any far
ther to discuss the wrongs which have been
inflicted on the Soathern States They may
be denied by those who shut their eyes to
them but you do not belong to that class.-
Southern and State Rights men may differ as
to the necessity of exercising the right Of Sc
ce>sion at Il particular time, on account of
those wrongs. But as certainly rs the right
exists, each State must possess the right of
Judging for herself, us TO the occasion and
time for its exercise. If South Carolina de-
cides that honor and safety require her TO
scccdc, she has the right to leave the Confcd-
craey peacca'y''y all ,si'hout moIcstation.-
If the act of secession is not permitted to be
pc"ceablc. it will be from uSurpation Of power
by the Federal Government, not from the
nature Of the act performed by South Caro-
lima Accustomed as we have been to viola
tions of the Constitution, and of the rights
OF the Southern States by the Federal Co
vernment, We have 10 look forward to the
probability Of another outrage by that Co.
vrrnmcni in the attempt 10 force the State
to remain in the Union. We suppose the
attempt will be made if the other Southern
States permit ii. Those States must decide
for themselves whether they will permit it
South Carolina must decide for herself wheil,-
er it is necessary 10 sccedc Her sister States
of the South will have no rig'!t TO complain
that she forces them in.o 4 position where
they must either interpose 10 prevent hcr
sub bjugaiion, or, by conscnlng 10 it, abandon
their own sovereignty, and lay themselves at
the mercy Of Il despoticp p wer. In seeding,
South Carolina will simply do an act which
all Southern men who believe in the existence
Of State rights at all, must admit hat she
has perfect right to do, and which size re-
CARDS as absolutely necessary. She will be
acting on her sacred right. She will be act
/ ing. as she would have TO act, if none of the
other Southern States were in existence, and
she were the only object of aggression by
the Northern States and the Federal Govern.
ment. She is not answcrabr for the usur-
palions and injustice Which may be committed
against her. And for her sister States of
III, ocl. f. bnr IA, tI.,ii fro IN nv