Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-01
From the Charleston Mercury.
Northern Friends and Enemies,

The election of Sumner, the violent Aboli-
Zionist, to the United States Senate, from
Massachusetts, is new light on the disputed
question of the devotion of that State to the
Union, and law and order, and other trum-
perry watchwords of the Compromise party.
The Massachusetts Legislature have been
fighting this Senatorial question since Janua-
ry. The number of ballots has been great,
and the amount of intrigueing, lying, bribing,
cursing and sputtering, incredible. All this,
for long time left the difficulty just where it
found it. Mr.. Sumner could not be elected
The fugitive Crafts was apprehended, and cs-
capped, but no decisive effect was produced on
the state of parties The other fugitive
we have forgot his namc-was rescued out Of
the Court House, to the great indignation of
Mr. Fillmore and others, but still neither
Sumner nor any body else could be elected
Senator But finally,a fugitive slave is re-
stored to his owner, Cat a cost Of five times
his value J the dignity of the law is vindica.
ted in Boston; it is triumphantly proved to
the satisfaction of all Compromises, that the
great body of the people of Massachusetts,
are sound OH the subject of the Constitution
nj obligations-and, 10, at the very next trial
after this event. Massachusetts elects IN ull-
mittigatcd Abolitionist to the United States
Senate. This is The echo which she sends
back in answer 10 the eytravagant eulogies
and rejoicings Of the Administration press,
North and South.
It's not indeed the first indication, but tits
the most significant. The indignity offered
to Mr.. Webster was hint from Boston mere
ly; this is the voice of the whole State. We
have, then, Massachusetts declaring herself in
the most solemn form, against the execution
of the Fugitive Law, and electing to the high
est Office in her gift, a man notorious for insti-
eating the mob to oppose IFS execution by rio-
lence. This is the State for which the Presi-
dent and his Secretaries, and his organs, have
kept up n stream of spccious PROMISES
plcdging themselves that its feeling was 10y
al, and little time would prove that all the
disturbances were the work of few vdema-
gogues at the head of few fools.
Now, the reason why the triumph of law
has been followed by such consequences, is
worth considering. There is but one conclu-
sion-that the people of Massachusetts, are,
with very few exceptions, Abolitionists,-
practical, determined, and bitter Abolitionists.
The fact is indeed abundantly proven by all
their declarations Of opinion,-but on no 9TH
er ground could we account for this result,
that the execution of the fugitive law has
suddenly raised the violent anti-slavery party
to supremacy. The triumph Of law" has
merely preceded the triumph ofzSumner 1t
has brought the mnttcr to test, and this is
the result.
1t must inevitably have so ended, now or
soon, for.the reason that those who vindica-
ted the law, have, nine-tenths Of them, done
it in way to weaken rather than confirm it.
The "friends of the South" in Massachu-
sets have sought a hearing from the people,
by protesting to be enemies of the South;
nay, claiming TO be more sure and deadly en-
emies than the headstrong party which sought
to gain all by the mad onset of violence.
We make single quotation to prove this,
and every one familiar with the Northern
press, knows that it is only one out of mil
lion similar declarations. The Boston Jour-
nal is understood to be the friend of Mr..
Webster 1t had warmly sustained the Uni
ted States authorities in the recent fugitive
case, and devoted much good writing to the
cause of peace, compromise, and the Admin
istration. In recent article it states that
Boston has suffered much in her commercial
interests by the withdrawal of Southern Gus
tom, and has the prospect of suffering much
more, unless things mend. The Journal
makes this the text of an earnest discourse
to its readers, to put down the cxccsscs of
the Abolitionists, and it caps the climax Of
its Argument as follows:
awe believe that our mercantile are as
deeply imbued with the spirit Of humanity rs
any other class of our citizens. They be-
licve that the present and future good of the
bondman would be consulted should the
slavery question no longer be brought into
the arena of partisan politics. They believe
that the cause of emancipation will be better
sub-served by continuance of the Union
than by dissolution, which will inevitably
follow a sectional division. They believe, in
short that nothing but unmitigated evil will
result from the course pursued by the aboi:
tionists. Believing all this, can there be any
wonder at their restiveness under i policy
which threatens bankruptcy and general ruin"
This is the language Of our friends" of
those who love the Constitution and laws
They believe that the Union can be made the
instrument for slowly and surely destroying
the South, and therefore they denounce the
violentassaults which, by awakening the vic
tins to resistance, defeat their own object.
Later from Havana.
The steam ship Isabel, Captain Bollins, or.