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

governments pledge the public faith, either tc
secede in the first instance, or to cooperate
with South Carolina if she will take the ini
tiative.
Second. Having failed up to this time to
obtain any pledge of cooperation from the
government of any other State, shall South
Carolina secede alone?
The first measure, being that of my op.
ponents, have carefully endeavored to state
with accuracy and precision: justice and fair.
dealing demand this in every controversy. lr
one like the present, should despise myself
were capable of doing otherwise.
1t may be urged that have put the first
branch of the question in too strong terms
"Shall South Carolina abandon her prepar.
ations, &C. for it may be said, she might
continue her preparations, even though she
determines to wait for cooperation. To this
reply that it is vain-utterly vain-to ex.
pect the people to submit TO the present cx.
tracrdinary rate of taxation, if their money is
not wanted for immediate purposes. If there
fore, we decide to wait we must certainly
"bandon our present preparations"
will now proceed to examine this propo-
sition with attention due to its importance,
and the respect due to those who advocate
it. | admit, without hesitation, that conjoint
action on the part of two or more States, if
it could be procured, is preferable to separ-
ate action on the part of any one State,
But distinctly declare it as my deliberate
judgment, that cooperation cannot be OBJ
tanned in the manner proposed, in our day
and generation. H. it intended to adjourn
The issue to distant future-to bequeath it
to our children? Surely not. Then we are
to do the work ourselves, and it is with this
understanding that shall proceed to give
my reasons for the opinion | now so conf
IDENTIFY express on the subject of CO. operation.
1t is admitted on all sides, that at present
there is no hope of cooperation by any State,
on account of the past aggressions of the
Government with the exception of Mississip-
pi; and as her Convention is to meet IN
November next, her position will be defined
previously to the meeting of our Convention.
The governments of all the other States
have thus far, under the issues yet made, de-
clned to adopt any measures of resistance.
To the future then we must look for events
to bring about cooperation. The Compro-
mise has failed to do so. If we wait then for
new issues to produce cooperation, do we
not agree to submit to the past, and to aban-
dom the iss,,e Of tho Tc,apne mise, as. q. casa
for present resistance! Wit! this not involve
a wide departure from our past declarations?
Will it not be taking, not only one, but
many steps backwards? Cardidly and sin
cereiy think so. But let this pass-let the
objection be gotten round do not think it
is met by saying-"Wc do not submit to the
Compromise; we only bidc our time" Let
US 90 on and see what the future has in store
for us.
1t is argued, that cooperation will certain
ly be brought about by future aggressions !;
that the anti-slavery party in Congress will
commit some open, fragrant, palpable viola
ton of the rights of the slave States; some
thing, presume, of course, worse than has
already been done, which will unite these
States in determination to withdraw from
the Union, and establish Southern Con-
fedcracy.
I cannot concur in this view. To my mind,
all the probabilities are against US. The ag-
rrcssions, you observe, are to come from
Congress, from the Government. They must
be palpable, fragrant, invasions of your rights
committed under the forms Of law. Is it
meant that they must be clearly unconstitu-
tional, and such as the Supreme Courts will
so pronounce But will not hold our
friends to this admission. Let us say, in
general terms, that the measures will be of
such character, rs according to all reasona-
bic p-esumptions, will unite the South in
withdrawing from the Union.
Let us now enquire what are the probabili-
ties that such measures will be adopted by
Congress in our day.
On looking over the whole field of contro-
versy in which we are at present engaged l
can see no measures of the character refer
red to which Congress could adopt except
two: the abolition of slavery in the District
of Columbia, and the repeal of the fugitive
slave law. These are the only two measures
which stand out prominently in the fore
ground. l can think of no others. No slave
State is applying for admission, no territory
remains for the application of the Wilmot
Proriso. No one, presume, would pretend
to say that any Legislation OIL the old issues
of the Tariff, n Bank, or Internal Improve
mcnts, would unite the South in any mea-
sures of resistance 10 this Government. The
aggrcssions referred to by our friends, | pre-
sumo, arc to be direct anti-slavery measures
Let us see, then, if either of the measures
I have named are likely to be adopted by
Congress.
First, as to the abolition of slavery in the
District of Columbia. In my opinion this
measure will not be adopted, or if it is, it will
be in such a form as will fail to produce uni
ted resistance on the part of the South
These are my reasons for this opinion. Whilst
believe that The Anti-slavery or Abolition
party is increasing both in Congress and out
of it, vet do not believe that they will have
strength enough to accomplish this measure
at this time.
Politicians manage these things in Con
gress. They have the power TO do so at pre-
sent, and understand their business thorough
ly. They will permit nothing to be done a
this time which will unite the South. They
cannot stop agitation, it is true, either in o.
out of Congress. Men will talk, and rant
and write, but when it comes to voting, thu
inventions arc numerous for aarresting tha
evil.' The authors of the Compromise art
still upon the stage. That measure is to b.
made test question. All others are 10 yielt
to it for the present. The Presidential ques
ton is near ut hand. and all that is wanted
now, is to keep tho South quiet. A peac'
must be patched up with her. She must b.
let alone for while, until her back become
fitted TO the burthen which has lust beer