Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-04-17
a Crisis at Hand.

h'iu tuCii tSiiuSHSlCS III eI'llLCu COuiitiIeS,
are those who compose the commercial
classes 1t is these men who have so
often to exclaim to their inconsiderate
rulers, let US alone. 10 them there is
nothing more hateful, or more ruinous,
than the frequent interference of govern
ments to their business. This, however,
they cannot always prevent, aud there
fore their sagacity is ever on the alert,
to detect and guard against movements
which, eithe: through rashness or ignor-
ance. national Legislature sometimes
contemplates. Invested or fixed capital
is always sure to feel the first blow.
1t is to this observant class of men that
we now address ourselves. 1t is to those
skiliul and thoughtful merchants, whose
conduct, example and opinions are of such
immense value to the public, that we now
address ourselves, believing most sincere.
ly that it is no time to hesitate-no time
to "palter in double sense" with the
difficulties which are at hand. We are
no alarmists, but we believe the day and
hour are nigh, which are to upheave the
constitutional foundations Of this country.
But few days since, and at a public
entertainment, at which the Legislature
of this State were guests, and their great
leader was present, and audible, it was
announced, that in the course of another
generation, the United States would ex-
tend southwark to to the Isthmus Of Pa.
mama and there would then be neither
master nor slave. This sentiment was re.
ceived with applause, and will 60 forth to
our Southern brethren as the voice of the
Empire State. What effect this will have
on those portions of the confederacy in
the South, which have thus far remained
loyal to the Union, time can only deter.
mine. We do not pretend to know even
what an amount of disgust such an avowal
may Produce in the minds of our South
ern friends and correspondents. What
we Seek to make the subject of the earn
est Consideration OF our readers. is the fact
that the State of South Carolina at this
moment is surely preparing for secession
from the Union, and whether she succeeds
or not, the attempt will be deathblow
to the permanance, the Interests and the
honor of the Union. This is the point we
should bear in view. II is of no conse-
quence whether South Carolina withdraws
peaceably or is compelled by force to re-
main. the fatal blow will be struck. The
American Eagle will receive its death
wound with an arrow poised with feath-
ers from its own wing. Mr.. Seward may
secretly believe that this constant inter
ference with the domestic institutions of
the South, will elevate him to the Presi
dency without much risk to the Union,
and that the Northern States will finally
yield under the pressure of Northern opin-
ions and political necessity. But in our
Judgment he and all his friends err in this
view of the subject, and that unless they
are undeceived, or coerced by the public
voice to cease their dangerous agitation,
crisis is at hand which will involve US
all in ruin. If the agitators contemplate
this as possible consequence Of their agi-
tation and yet determine to 60 on, if they
think the Union is of no value, in com.
parison with the success of an abstract
benevolence, to use the mildest term, (for
practically nothing better can be expected,
even if the question of slavery leads to a
dissolution of the Union.) then no punish
ment can he too severe, no axe too sharp
for those willing traitors to their country.
What can the Southern slave gain by the
separation of the Southern States from the
Northerna Or what the Northern blacks
by such an occurrence? Neither religion,
nor humanity, nor patriotism, nor white
men or black, will be benefited in the
slightest degree BY any such catastrophe.
But our object is to show that the dam
ger is more imminent than has been sup.
posed. 1t will not require any concert of
action at all, in the slaveholding States,
to dismember the Union, or TO destroy its
credit or commerce. South Carolina is
competent to do all this mischief herself,
and it is this, which our hot headed agi-
tators willIully overlook.
This point which they overlook, is pre-
cisely the one which we wish to bring be-
fore the readers of the Dry Gonds Re-
porter, for the purpose Of inducing them
to action, before it is too late. The act
of rupture, tenth or ten thousandth,
breaks the chain alike"
A magazine may be exploded by sim
gle spark, ship may be lost by means of
single leak. The Union will be endan-
gered if not destroyed by any resistance
on the part of South Carolina.
Because, the first act of secession dis
organizes the whole theory of our Govern
ment. In this case, it will he the act of a
sovereign State, it will not be Shays re-
volt, nor whiskey insurertinn. It will be
solemn act, arpealing to the U. States
not only, but to the whole world and it
will be couched in such language, and be
founded on such show of reasoning, as
will have effect, rot only on large body
of Americans, with similar feeling, and
smarting under similar provocations, but
on those nations of Europe that have long
desired our dowafall.
Il will at once be seen that there is no
enduring tie among the States, and that
their p~pctuity Is at an cad A howl OF