Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-07-31
politieal.
Hon. A. p. Butler,s Letter.

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The following letter from Hon. A. P
BUTLER, to the Committee of Invitation
of the Anti-Seccssion Celebration, held a
Greenville C. H., on the 4th July, we fine
in the Southern Patriot.
GENTLEMEN:-In your communica
ton of the Sd instant, you do me the
honor to invite me to meet and address
my fellow-citizcns at Greenville G. H., Oh
the 4th of July, con the dangers Of separ.
ate State secession" As it will be out
of my power to accept the invitation,
avail myself ola request in the latter part
of your note, to make a few remarks on
the great subject that is connected with
your meeting.
l have never thought so much, or felt
so intensely, on the situation of our coun-
try, as at this time. Indeed may say
that feel concern hardly connected
with myself. The unknown future will
have its history, and an eventful one it
will be. What place South Carolina may
occupy in it, events must tell. pray
that it may be such that wisdom may in
her judgment, approve the dictates of
honor.
Why is it such a deep and solemn
tone pcrvades tho Southern States, and
especially South Carolina, at this time !!
1t has its origin in the wrongs that have
been inflicted on Southern institutions,
under the power of majority, and in the
deceptive palliations of them, that are to
be found in compromises, that were con.
ceived and consummated to propitiate
sectional fanaticlsm. The crises through
which we are passing, will bring to the
test of.trial very grave questions.
eign sfaf6s 5f e 47aHzeeg 9tasgaa6 66asoH
dated Union, indissoluble, except by the
will of an interested majority.
Should the Federal Government, prac.
tically assume the latter character, the
South States must be doomed to degrad.
ed subordination. Should it maintain the
former character, the parties to the COM
pact have their destiny in their own hands
in the unqualified right of secession--a
right that never could be exercised except
upon very grave occasions, and on
grounds and reasons that would find their
Justification before the tribunal of a just
history. This, in my opinion, is right
that should never be exercised without
consulting the neighbors, whose interests
arc to be affected by its consequences.
Where common rights are concerned, JUS
tice requires that the means Of common
redress should be looked to. The South
ern States are no longer blind to the
dangers that beset them. They are be.
coming reused, and agitation cannot he
hushed. The danger to the Southern
cause, heretofore, has been want of
union among representatives and public
men of the South. With such union they
could have dictated their terms. quail.
fly this last remark by saying they could
have obtained all that they had right to
clainl--a security of their constitutional
rights. These divisions i'll the representa-.
tives in Congress will cease because the
people of the Southern States will not
support those who are untrue to their
real interests.-When that change shall
take place and when Southern politicians
shall be selected, as opponents of the
popular will, the South will have poten'
tial attitude to do itself justice in any way
that it may determine on.
The opinion which / have expressed.
and which I shall not repeat, as to the
separate secession of South Carolina,
still entertain. Assurances of co-opera'
ton may be made to her; but until she
has such assurances, it is unwise in South
Carolina to advertize her purposes o.
what she will or will not do. Let what
may be said of the State, South Caroline
has been vigilant and rebuking sentinel
I know of no State that would sooner
make the sacrifice of Curtius. But, il
the name of common sense, let it not be
useless sacrifice without fairly looking
to the consequences of exclusively separ
ate State secession.
am, gentlemen, with great respect,
Your fellow.citizen,
A. p. BUTLER.
To Messrs. r. B. DUNCAN, VARDR,
McBEE, B. DUNuAM, and others, Com
mitttee.
Stonelands, June %, 1851.
A MAN OF '76-In the war of tn
revolution, Mr.. Henry Peyton of Virginia
lost three sons. When the intelligence
was brought to him that his third ant