Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-01

to herself, and to the future prospects Of
the institution of whose preservation she
is SO watchful, that it cannot be too forci.
bly, or too often demonstrated. We re.
gard her action in relation to her rights in
connection with the institution OF slavery
as the last struggle with the combined
powers who have resolved upon its des-
truction. We know of one whose posi-.
ton, whose former connection with fede-
raj politics, and whose counsels-which
under any other circumstances would be
in favor of Union and would
carry weight wherever they were known
or heard, who has expressed his fears that
the submission Of South Carolina now
would be the precursor of the speedy
overthrow of our institution. And he is
not alone in the belief, for every day must
strengthen such conviction on every re.
hecting mind The so.called "peace
measures" of the last Congress were
heralded as the final settlement Of this
agitation against our institution. Have
they been so9 Where is the first indica-
ton that they are so considered by the
people of the North? Look at two in.
stances in the city Of Boston, claimed
as tke most enlightened city in the United
States, where owners sought to recover
their servants. In one case the slaves
sailed to England; aud in the other, after
arrest, got safe to Canada. In the third
case the slave was sent back to his ow.
ner; but how9 A righteous and just
claim, guaranteed by the constitution and
an express law, to property Of the value
Of seven or eight hundred dollars, had to
be enforced by military array and almost
at the point of the bayonet. Even then
it dared not be executed in open day but
at m hour when none expected it, the
property was conveyed out OF the city by
stealth, and guarded by troop of armed
men. But this is not all-the dangers by
land were considered greater than those
by sea, and through dread of a rescue, a
runaway negro had to be shipped before
daylight. to he conveyed to his lawful ow=
7her. And men Sproiessing sanity, ay
here atthe; South, call this a triumph Of
.theIawA sssss iis: 100 q
It.would Indeed! be a labor off love, j.
work of supe ion, to conyiince eilnep,
who arc not afTeady fs CONVINCED, that the
war upon our institution has ended. The
people of South Carolina, will not, we
trust, enter on any such vain employ
ment. 1t is true that their destiny is init
mately connected with that of their fe.
lowe citizens in other States of the South
but if the people Of the latter can be
aroused to sense of their precarious
situation in no other way than by the first
blow being struck here, the only question
left to consider is, will that blow be
struck3 We have not the gift of pro.
phccy, aud cannot see into the future,
and events may crowd so tllickly upon
the Southern people as to unite them in
defence of their institution; but if not
if policy shapes The course of fanaticism,
until it numbers its allies in the South by
thousands; and if some State does not
interpose her sovereignty to arrest it, then
is the South doomed to all the evils and
horrors so fearfully read elsewhere. IF
the task be thrown OH South Carolina,
we cannot believe she will shrink from
its Derforn,ance-SouthC Carolinian.