Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-10-09
Letters to the Secession Eeeting at
Mountain Creek.
OJR COTTAGE, Oct. |, 1851.

OUR COTTAGE, Oct. /, 1851.
Gcntlrmcn-I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt Of Your invitation to Il Secession
Barbecue" 10 be given at Mountain Creek
Church, Oh the ,itll instant, and regret my ina
bility, from unavoidable engagements at home, to
be present 1t would be highly gratifying to wit
ness Il mass meeting of citizens of Edgc;r!d-to
mingle with personal and political friends. and to
ascertain the controlling sentiment in public af
fairs.
There appears to be ut present. an ardent con-
flict Of opinion in South Carolina which, TO my
Judgment, is equally unnecessary in origin, and
unfortunate in result.
The people, who scented oppression q: Il dis
tancc, and with united voice determined TO resist
lis approach, arc distracted ard divided in coun-
ci OH its actual imposition At the very period
when every heart should respond to the cry,
'rcssiancc 10 tyranny, is Obedience to Goa'-
and every arm should be- moved to vindicatc our
heritage Of equality sovereignty and freedom =.
there are hesitation doubts. tinlid calculation of
consequences in all their ramit;cations. which our
forcfatlcrs for Il much less stake scorncd TO con-
sider-ard ultimately. disruption Of that unity of
confidence and courage, which alone is compc-
tent To insure success and triumph Faction has
reared It's IIydra-hcad in community where
for fifteen years there has been concord and
peace where one sentiment prevailed almost
universally, and where one set of fundamental
political principles. governed all classes. Have
our high-toncd population recently changed their
character? Since the loss oE the great Genius,
who won their affections, and shaped their ac
tons for twenty years, arc they without pilot or
compass without any landmarks OF the past, TO
serve as guides in the future? Docs each man
imagine, us in New York and Georgia. that he is
equal in sagacous intelligence and requisite at
tainmcnt, to every othcr,-S as capable Of thread
ing the intricacics Of politics, as Of guiding the
plow, and therefore, that his scheme Of action,
however crude, must be correct and must be
adopted? lfsuch he the case, our proud career
is ended When the Prophets are stoned, the
people are lost.
Being familiar with them, it is useless to re-
mind you, in detail. of the efforts of your dstin-
gushcd mcn,-of Calhoun, Chcvcs, Butler,
Barnwcll, lIammond-urging You in burning
language, to assume the attitude you present.
all tending uniformly, to rouse you to the exact
crisis, which now exists Delivered with earnest
good faith, their preaching and their prophecies
convinced the understanding, while they enlist
cd permanently, the feelings. They could not
undo (nonc ofttcm), what they have SO well done.
Naturcr years, or tinid thoughts, in view of high
responsibility, or both may have modified their
views. But they know and VIC know, that it is
too late for rccantations. They must mite with
you in rcapins, what they so plcntifully sowcd.
They must prove by their deeds, that they have
not falsely taught YOU!
And Inm very sure that they will do so. The
two parties, arraycd in opposition. on the test (?)
vote, for delegates to the Southern Congress. con-
sst really Of four. The secession, includes those
who prefer decided action in 1852 and those,
who are willing to effect il at later period, with
in reasonable limits. The cooperation, is equal
" divided into those who, not aequicscing in tho
late proceedings of Congress, are for delay to in
suro efficient and final action, hoping for the ear
" junction of other States, either by the ascen-
dancy Of present nlinortics, OF further Federal