Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-06-05
RUTLEDGE.
FOR THE ADVERTISER

o-
FOR THE Advertiser.
Mr.. Editor After long and serious reaec-
ton on our relations not only with the United
States, but with the other governments Of the
world, am constrained to the belief, that the true
points involved in our great controversy, al
either not understood by the moderate party, or
else they are purposely concealed by them, that
the people may look at our affairs in perverted
aspect.
Let me endeavor to divcst this question, Of
much of the fiction that has been thrown around
it for the purposes Of controversy, and display it,
in it's true colors, for the benefit Of those who
are earnestly striving for the truth. Some Of
the correspondents Of the press apprehend much
from the ntermeddling Of England and France
with our slave institutions, in case of our be-
coming acknowledged as on independant power,
and represent that so fortunate an event would
magnify the dangers to slavery in South Carolina.
Our immediate Representative in Congress holds
equally as extraordinary view in his letter to
his constituents, and am informed, that Ex-
Senator, proceeds one step farther, and con-
tends, that such course on our part, would
probably end in the total abolition Of slavery
throughout the world. -
AS there is no limit to the human Imagination,
it is possible for men to make any kind of queer
conjectures, and the more inconsistent and inn
probable they are, the more suited are they, to
some singular temPers and fancies. There is no
evidence, or even probability that France or
England would desire to free our slaves. The
whole evidence, which experience furnishes,
would lead to a contrary belief Writers and
politicians generally rely much on the teachings
of experience, that grave old pedagogue, and
will not complain if their own opinions are SUBJ
jected to- the criticism of the same reverend
master. England and France once bad slaves
themselves, not within their: bosoms as ours are,
but in their provinces and colonies, and from
motives Of humanity as they supposed it tobe,
Aiinata3 them Their: Axazaples were fol.
humanity may have goverend tho conducted
the great nations first alluded to, for the slaves
in their foreign possessions, were generally the
property Of. lawless, wild, and desperate adven-
turers, who felt mono of the restraints of religion
and morality, and no doubt, exercised great cru
city over the beings under their absolute control.
In England the great benevolence and talents of
Wilberforce and Fox, perfected, or, at least, par
ed the way to, a system of gradual emancira-
ton. In France, the wild frenzy and licentious-
moss of revolutionary people, combined with
the causes that operated in England, led to the
abolition of slavery in her colonies also. But
what good has resulted to the blacks from this
generous treatment of the greatest power of the
world; and what practical lesson has this treat
ment inculcatedl 1t is notorious that the condi-
ton of the free blacks is even now, in the very
memory of their servtude, ten times worse than
it was whilst they were in the possession Of their
cruel owners. 1t is highly probable, that only a
few years will find them rclapsed into their for
mer degraded state Of African barbarism. Do
England and France not see this Are they
not aware, that the Islands Of the West Indies,
which under the institution Of slavery, flourish
ed like gardens, and yielded the richest and
most abundant harvests, and revenues, have now
fallen into decay and dimpoverishment, with dilapi-
dated tenements and fields, and whole popula-
ton sunk into beggary3 These wise govern
ments are conversant with these facts, and they
are already beginning to form proper estimate
of their own ill.advised philanthropy. Many of
the ablcst Journals, in both England and France,
are now tceming with condemnations of that
mistaken policy and mistaken morality, which
precipitated their governments into those acts Of
emancipation, that wrought no permanent good,
but permanent evil.
Whilst the governments Of those countries re.
cognized slavery, they felt, in some degree, re-
sponsible for the miserics, it was supposed to en-
tail upon large portion of the human race, and
the sympathies of their people were excited by
the woes and stripes of the poor blacks of the
w ISL III SISotSi tAAoA II
they themselves had inflicted them, and had been
able to judge of their merit A change has now
taken place-England feels no compunctious visi-
tings on account of slavery, and agitation, in
that country, has altogether ceased on that ques-
ton. The Africans haze proved their great in
capacity for freedom, and believe that the en-
lightcned jugemcnt of England would now doom
them to servitude again. 1t is vain therefore, to
assert or pretend, that England and France
would interest themselves in stirring up insurrcc-
ton in South Carolina, and in arming the negroes
against their masters, to perpetrate, second
time, the horrors Of St. Domingo. No nations
of any responsibility would enter into an alliance
with black slaves, and put arms into the hands of
those barbarous, insatiatc demons, to deface the
works of nature, with hclsh crime. 1t is libel
upon England and France, to. o.charge them with
such unholy purposes; and it is q libel that our
countrymen often commit at random even with
out the least reflection, as if there was no mpro-
priety in charging q great nation with being ac'