Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-22
WHAT IS THE TRUE NATURE OF THE
QUESTION +?

ARE We, as State, to do something, or are we
to do nothing? Are we to resist the outrageous
injustice of the American Government or to ac-
quiesce in, and thereby, sanction enactments
which have rirtuany robbed us of our dearest
rights Let the people of South Carolina weigh
well this important question, before giving def
mite reply. Let not the excitement or fears of the
moment hurry them into decision, which may be
regretted through life. First and foremost, let
this great question be considered, with reference
TO the JUSTICE, the TRUTH and the RIGHT involv-
ed in its decision. Neither the hope of happy
consequences, nor the fear Of disastrous ones,
should be suffered to bias the judg>5
garding the question in this pointo. s-:r:
he5following interrogatories may .,s-2sis = e
all the propositions thatwould arise, n,-4:.:,g
the first branch of the question isc ~ E........
wrong in saying that the foules' ;,....-
been done to the State of South C1r-si.a.
Federal Congress Are We right G. ,,,,, .ns-
ing, that South Carolina is the best =.
properjudge Of the grievances she .,s-..,:,.s....
Are we right or wrong, in saying, IT,: u :.ir
ally and politically at perfect liberty to sever the
link that connects her with an agent, which has
been guilty of usurping authority, contrary to a
the right of secession be claimed upon undeniable
grounds! Would, or would not, q reputation Of
this right on the part of our opponents, be ample
cause for the disruption of this Confederacy. Is
1t true, that there exists nowhere, constitutional
authority for single State taking steps, for saving
her citizens from the palpably vicious and illegal
measures of wrong and violence, forced upon her
by combination of majority of her confede-
rates! In word, is secession rightful mode of
proceeding, and is the aggrievcd State the only
proper judge Of the occasion that may demand it I
Let every one, who is capable of thinking atal,
reflect upon these things, until his mind is brought
TO absolute conriction one side or the other. It
is often said, that there is no question as to our
wrongs-no doubt as to the bare right of secession
And yet some act, talk and write, as though
they did not feel that they standing the
broad and immutable foundations of Truth and
Justice. We want such of our fellow-ci.izens to
think, until they are carried far beyond a simple
acknowledgement of this fact. We wish it to be-
come with them deep-seated, earnest and ever
abiding conviction--a conviction that will not
"down at their bidding'-a conviction that shall
be ever present to the mind giving color to all its
calculations and speculatons as to the issue of this
great strife. This feature, in all the struggles,
hitherto recorded, for justice and for freedom, has
been deemed the one Of primary and paramount
Importance. And it has, ever and invariably,
predoninated over prospective anticipations,
whether of evil or of good. Such ought now to
be the case and hence the imperative necessity of
u thorough conriction. fthis conviction is against
us, the present contest may as well be given up
II 1t Is with US, We have an element of strength,
that will make one man as ten, battalion as a
regiment, and a thousand freemen, as terrible
as an army with banners Because the cores.
ponding conviction Of error and injustice in the
minds of our opponents, would render their arms
comparatively nerveless Sampson when bearing
the Egates of GAIA upon his shoulders, and Samp.
son when shom of his locks, does not present a
stronger contrast, than enlightened men contend.
ing for Justice under the shield of Truth, and
enlightened men inAic,ing gross wrong without
even a plausible pretext
Gentlemen are pleased to ask, as if in mockery
"iies VIII Joui SiJ VI 1usllCe uSdll you Will
your claiming of the Right! what your being
backed by the power of Truth!' We are surprised
to read such cold suggestions, emnnaling from a
child of the 'sunny South.' 1t is the very
essence Of the most frigid utilitarianism. 1t is
giving direct countenance to code of principles
before which, tif it prevails all that is good and
pure and honorable, must fall, if, in the least op
foy pb,+ II
ton OF men. Itis making present advantage and
individual emolument, higher motives than future
permanent benefit and moral reputation If this
be indeed the spirit Of the Age, it should be the
noble endeavor of THOSE, whose lot has been cas-,
in this genial cline, and whose homes are still
made dear by SO many hallowed "reminiscences o
honorable Freedom, to war against its furtbe,
6 progress "to the last extremity. Succumb be-
fore the baneful influence, and you lose the strong