Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-08-28
THE POSITION OF PARTIES.


difficult for us to speak of them with that mildness
and forbearancc, which it becomes Carullnlans' a'
this trying uncture to exercise towards each oter
We would only express the hope that they may
vet see their deluson before it is too latc-beiorc
they have been led to the extremity OF raising Tie
daring but powciless arm of resistance against
their mother and sovcrcign--before they have
completely given the rens to that spirit oil VIII
dsorganiZalior, which is already moving upon
their excited ard turbulent fancies. Yes! we ar
dently hope that &" change may soon come over
the spiri, of their drenni''-that they may be led
to view their duty and allegiance as Caroliniahs,
in the true light-lhat they may become convinced
that they arc rsking the charge of being i'iscns-
ble 10 both. by their il-timed recusancy. This is
our earnest wisli-and we cherish 1t without dis
pair for we cannot but think that the SPELL when
at present controls some good and true men OF the
mountains, will be broken i'll iimc to save tho tame
of our State from grievous bcmish. Surely n
kind Providence has not this bitter cup in store
for us We prefer to believe faithfully that it will
be ayerted, until we see the stern reality.
The Cooperation Party is q larger one, and Is
composed of much of the intelligence nnd patriot-
ism of South Carolina. As TO the true character
istics of this respectable body Of our fclow-cit-
zens, we have perhaps been hitherto in the dark.
We had to draw our conclusions, in reference TO
them, from such lights as they afforded us These
lights were TO be found chiefly in the speeches and
letters Of those distinguished gentlemen who had
the honor of bringing this party into existence or
at least into position. The whole burden OF the
argument, exhibited by these documents, was 10
prove the absurdty of Cardinals separate nation
ality The effort seemed TO be to convince the
people of the State that it was sheer madness ever
to think of asserting Stale sovereignty hY the act
of South Carolina secession. The inference drawn
BY ourselves among others (and we submit whether
it was not a very natural onc) was that separate
action "was not in all their thoughts" There
was no regular and formal exposition of The prin-
ciples by which this party proposed TO govern them
selves, until the spring had passed and The summer
had we'll nigh gone. The first open announcement
of the party creed was promulgated. somewhere
towards the close of July. by an assembly Of
Charlestonians, with the advice and consent OF
the two principal opponents of the action party
BUTLER and BARSwELL. This, WE suppose, ma Y
be regarded n genuine and authentic setting forth
of co.operalionism as far as it had then advanced
In the views then and there put forth. the main
object still seemed TO be rather to against scpar-
ale action than to superinduce cooperation. But
there was here also and for The first lme) init
nation given, that separate State action was no.
op,;yo1,, tho mil, afr
This inlimntion is found in the opening language
of the fourth resolution, which is follows ere
solred That in the present aspect Of our political
affairs, we deprecate the separate secession OF
South Carolina from the Union. &C. This Ian.
guage, by fair construction, clearly conveys the
idea that separate State action would not he de-
precated under all circumstances. We Were dis
posed to welcome this development, slight and
indistiaGt though it was, as the harbingcr of ap-
proximation and blending Of differences, but we
feared that if we seemed too readily TO grasp this
hope, it might have been snatched from us by some
officious and rabid member Of the party; and We
therefore absained from any particular expression
Of opinion on this point, determining to await 4
more complete declaration of this part of the CO.
operation creed. Much to our qualification, this
period Of waiting has been more brief than we n
all expected. A distinguished member Of the
party under consideration Col. JOHN PREsroS)
has since then, distinctly said that he is for rcs-
tance to the wrongs of the past.and that, if it he
found impossible to obtain corporation on that
ground, he is in favor Of our present Convention :
acting before its final adjournment In accordance
with this view, we have the pleasure of saying
that our esteemed townsman, Chancellor WAnn-
LAW, has openly approved The same posilion-and
has, moreover, expressed the hope that the s,ggcs.
tion of Chancellor DARGAS would lead 10 an I'M
derstanding and reconciliation between the twa
parties. This suggestion was that the time of
action should Gf deemed necessary for the ad-
vanccInent Of cooperation with any single Slarc)
be postponed TO the utmost limits d9omablc by tie
bill providing fora Convention. Chancellor WARD
LAW (as well as Col. p has declared that he
deems it the duty Of South Carolina TO resist the
past aggrcssions of the General Government. Here
is evidence cheering evidence, that our friends of
the cooperation wing do not intend to occupy the
Georgia Platform, rs we had hitherto reluctantly
supposed. And although we have it moi as an
official party announcement. yet, coming aS il does
from two prominent and distinguished members of
that party, gentlemen of known pcrspcacily. who
are, doubtless, entirely aware of the political
ienets Of those with whom they are associated we
take it good evidence of the real faith of that
division Of our felow-citzcns The :: Southern
Standard and the Ridge Politician Of Edgrfrl,l
may deny that this is their creed. But we regard
neither of these as good authority on the point.
They are disorganiZers-notp property corporations
lists; and we here call upon the sensible and indie
pendent men Of that party 10 beware how they
continue TO nurse plants like these among them
they may possibly grow TO he rank and noyious
weeds, over.shadowing and blasting every good
thing near them. No, we will not listen TO cor
rectlon coming from such sources. If we have
mis.stated the true grounds of the intelligent and
independent portion Of the co-opcrarinnisls. we
wait to be set right by themselves. If we re not
wrong in what we have said of them we think il
may be promised that the dawn of n bright day
is at hand, when South Carolina shall again be-
come as one family. And this will become more
apparent by taking lin connexion with the above
views) glance at the AcTIoN.cREEp not as rep.
resented by certain unfair and mischicvous oppo.
nents, bit as It in truth is.
We assert Qike Preston, WARDLAw and
o,hers) that cooperation is "an object worth
many sacrifices and actual cxcrions have been
and are still being made by the action party 10