Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-29
MN, BJrRTs LETTER.


sponse of our present member Of Congress, to Ger.
iain enquiries as to his views upon the question
now occupying the attention of our people.
We publish this letter from motives Of fairness
Its author has, perhaps right to expect that the
papers of his Congressional district should at least
do this much and, what is Of greater weight with
us, many of our readers may be desirous OF seeing
this production of their immediate Representative.
Our unfeigned surprise hos been excited by the
manifest diff, nee between the tone OF this COM
munication, and Of the enthusiastic speech mnde
to the citizens of Edgefeld during the past Fall.
We are aware that Mr.. BURT did not say distinct.
ly, that he was an advocate Of separate State &C.
ton because cooperation was then looked to MS
a certainty. and such declaration would have
been not only useless, but entirely out Of place.
But we are very forgetful of this said speech, il it
did not TEEN, from beginning to end, with denun-
cia'ions of the Federal Government, and unquali-
fed declarations OF the absolute necessity Of check
ing at once the progress of its usurpations. Ifany
impression was conveyed to our mind more dis.
tinctly than another by those declarations, it was
that Mr. BURT would be among the very foremost
to lead off in the first move that should be made,
for Equality in the Union, or independence out
of it." Such were indeed the opinions and the
feelings of almost oil our Washington counselors
at that time. And they struck responsive chord
in the hearts of brave and conding constituency.
Mr.. Burt we'll remembers the loud plaudits that
greeted every expression of " determined resistance
at any aud at every hazard" that fell from his
lips. 1t was in perfect accordance with the mind
and soul of his audience. Soon thereafter, men
from every part of district, understanding their
own wishes and feelings, and believing conscien.
cously that they understood those of the people,
were elected and went to the Legislature. There,
under the influence of the powerful conviction
that something must be done, to the strengthening
of Which conviction Mr.. Burt had contributed
no little they did that something with the boldness
of freemen.
And now the very individuals who, to some eI-
ten, instigated the deed. have come from Wash
ington again, and 10 they advise the State that
action is worse than folly-fhat it is insanity.
self-destruction. The moral consistency of this
course, we do not yet appreciate.
of Mr.. BuRr's politics, thon at the nature Of the
argument upon which he seems mainly. to rest his
opposition to the action Of South Carolina. In
accordance with view taken by certain Co
lumtiu paper, (Which, for Mr.. BURT's sake, shall
be namcless) he argues, as if influenced by be-
lief that the existence Of slavery is a thing inf.
nitely paramount the existence Of States Rights.
In other words, he makes that which il an Incl.
dent of the controversy ian important one, we I'D
mind) the highest point in dispu.e-.he domestic
na,ure of our social organization, greater in i'm.
portance than the political principles upon which
our Freedom depends While he shudders ut the
thought Of endangerng, in the least the institution
of slavery, he seems to forget that any encroach'
ment upon the reserved Rights Of the States, is
the most fatal means Of accomplishing the destruc-
ton of the former. Gentlemen should remember
that this is controversy, which, if carried on
with high determination, is destined to settle what
has now become to large portion of the American
people, serious problem" are the different com.
munties that compose this Confederacy free, go
vereign and Independent Sate!" The eyes Of
the civilized world will be attracted by this view
of the contest 1t is our strongest ground, and it
can be made good before Christendom by irrei IL
BILE demonstration. 1t is, perhaps, the only ground
upon which party can be rallied in this country,
sufficiently united to save the South and her In
stutions. The political features Of this struggle,
are chi.Gy to be studied. And to the elucidntion
and establishment Of the true principles of the
American Union, let our Statesmen devote them.
selves. Here is their great du,y-hcre their befit
ting task Here is their opportunity of impressing
their names upon the world, and here, the noblest
prospect Of transmitting their memories TO grate
full posterity. Z" Let the FREEDOM OF THE STATES
be preserved inuolate at all risks" should be our
motto. If the institution of slavery shackle us in
the maintenance of this fundamental proposition,
It is thus far, an eril. The direct tendency of Mr.
BURT's argument IF there ucre any force in iD is
to prove that we are hampered by an institution
which places an nterdict upon our taking the only
proper and constitutional mode of staying the
hand Of Federal aggression the interposition Of
State sovereignty. But We deny the gentleman s
argument in toto.
We do not propose now to enter into this dis
cussion, as it is already broached by one Of our
correspondents in another column. But We would
ask our readers 10 bear in mind while reading the
letter of Mr.. BURT, the following consi,e aions.
Upon the point made in reference to fugitive slaves.
does Mr.. BURT believe, or can any reasonable
man believe, that if Canada were save.holding
country, there would be any serious difficulty in
recovering, theni /, runaways from another slave.
holding community! Could Georgia or North
Carolina, favor an escape Of slaves from our State
into their borders! The idea is preposterous. 1t
would initiate directly against the security of TINT
very institution, which. equally with us. they are
constrained to guard vi jealous care. Fugitives
from slavery tolerated or countenanced in adjoin.
ing slave States ! 1t is surprising that such
supposition should be resorted to, in the way Of
argument. The result would be, according to Mr..
BuRr's expectation, to fill those States with law.
less free negroes, They could not endure this for one
year without enacting, rs matter of sefdefence,
strong laws for the complete prevention of this
state of things /; and those laws would directly
provide for the prompt return Of fugitive negroes
to their rightful masters. Any other course would
involve them in the most ridiculous inconsistency.
If this would not be their policy, let Mr. BURT or
any other gentleman tell us what it would be-
The right to cross the line in pursuit" would b
furnished to us by those States which adjoin, as
requisite to the safety and order of their own is-
ternal affairs Nor would the Federal Government