Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-10-02

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our children, is attainable, not by any cilor
which now can, or will be made, to promote
"a more perfect union between the States O.
this Confederacy, but alone by its posiliv,
and permanent division and dissolution.
Thoroughly impressed with the truth o.
every part and parcel Of the above creed. The
question presents itsclf-how is disunion &c
DC effected!
Prior TO the month of May last, we were
led to suppose, and did unsuspectingly be.
icvc, that this desideratum was to be accom-.
.plished, by the preconccrtcd secession, at oil
about the same time, of two or more of tho
States, Which have common interest, and
have endured common wrongs
We are frank to admit, that we confidently
expected (nor did we in any wise obect) that
South Carolina would be amongst the first
to act. To this end Southern Rights As
sociations" were formed throughout this
State, and many of US (belcvng that they
were in reality what they assumed to be in
namc) clccrfully enrolled our names rs
members of the Association in this District,
and have ever been ready TO lend our services
towards promoting Southern action.
We united in the appointment of Dele
gates to meet those of other States iu the
Nashville Convention, and approved the COM
missioning of other delegates, by the Lcgis-
laturc, to represent the State at large.
The Nashville Convention met and nd djourn-
cd to assemble again six weeks after the ad-
tournament OF Congress.
The people of this State were looking with
confident hope to its proceedings. Our gen.
era elections passed off without discussion
of federal matters, or committals by the cam
didaes for The Legislature, save to the extent
of portraying the wrongs of the WHOLE
South, and urging the support of whatever
action, the Southern Convention, then short.
ly to rc-asscmble ut Nashville, might take.
The delegates from this State returned
during the sitting of our Legislature, when
the venerable and great LANcpoN CMEvEs,
(who was then and still is leading Cooper
ationist became the guest Of the State of
South Carolina.
Mississippi who first invited the States of
the South into conference, having provided
for call Of Convention of her people, it
was urged, not without some reason, and
with great p!ansabiity that good faith to her,
and with view TO carry out the plan of con-
certcd action, us also to enable the two Con
ventions mutually to sustain each other,
made it proper, that this State should do so
likewise.
Ass se5 1s Rgsars s toa f aeS 81
delegates within sir ,ceckS of its adjourn
ment, and the opinions of the candidates for
the Convention were not given to the public
until t,co ,ceehs prior TO the election.
At this point of time, it is true, that the
alternative Of single secession by South Car
olina was to degree presented; but it was
an issue so altogether contingent, so remote,
50 novel, so different from the p Ian of disso-
luton previously suggested, and upon which
the minds of the people had for so long y
time confidently rested, that it failed to make
an impression commensurate with the rcspon-
sibiliiy and magnitude Of the measure.
few who were Co.operationists according to
the signifcaiion of the word, and who had
bestowed more reflection upon the tendency
of political affairs than others of US, took the
alarm and expressed their apprehenslons.
They trcmbled upon bcholding their own,
and the lives, fortunes and liberties of their
children, committed to an oligarchy, created
without consultation with the people, with
powers unlimited, and ushured into cxstance
within sic rcehs of its conception.
Our friends were somewhat reassured by
the nomination to the Convention OF our dis
tin9uished fcllow-citizen, Senator BUTLER,
for although his name was afterwards with
drawn (the motion for which is nO,r manifest)
the reason then assigned for the withdrawal,
was the incomptibiliy of the positions he
would occupy when elected. They were also
in Il measure eonsolcd by their confidence, in
the intelligence and integrity of those persons
who were likely TO be delegates from Edge
field What, though their apprchcnsions
had increased rather than diminished, with
but si.r tceckS TO communicate them to others
less Thoughtful than themselves? =.
Ii has been said by our "poilical Ncstor,"
that "thc philosophy of liberty is jealous" :"
Yet of what avail is wisdom, when required
within sic short ,ccckS TO direct the minds Of
the people of IN entire State, OF our fixed
idea aud then to cntlronc another!
Time rolled on. and though amongst the
politicians Of the State it became perceptible
that few were little too hot, and others Il
little too cold, still the great body of our
people remained undivided, as the great
"Soutiern Rights party" of South Carolina.
On the fifth of May last, another Conven-
,on assembled in Charlcston-a Convention
called 4 Convention Of delegates from
Southern Rights Associations" and composed
of delegates protesting TO desire The cooper
alton of Southern States. On the first day
of its sitting it became evident, that although
the cooperation of the other Southern States
would not be formally rcpudiatcd, yet the
aim and end of their proceedings, was the
separate secession Of South Carolina from
the union of States.
1t further appears, by inevitable and con.
elusive implication, that it was tile design and
object of this scf.consttutcd Convention tc
forcslall. bias and control the action of The
State Convention, for the appended rcsolu'
,ion (Which left the State Convention free
and untramclcd and expressed confidence IL
its wisdom and fidelity) was instantly rote'
do,en by an overwhelming majority.
Rcsotrcd, That feeling entire confidence
! in the constitutional organs OF our state
Government, and the wisdom and fidelity o
the Convention elected. under the act passet
at the last session of the Legislature, we are
pcrfrc,Iv miiiing to lcare 10 Them the mode
and measure Of redress. for the wrongs w
have suffered from the Federal Government
rs well as the Time of its application; ant
without indicating or suggesting the course
il bchoovcs them to pursue, we hereby plcdg'
orrsrlves 70 abide by their action, whcthc