Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-29
Letter from Hon. A. Burt.

GENTLEMEN have received the commune
cation YOU did me the honor to address to me, in
the Abbevillc Banner, and seize the earliest mo-
mcnt to comply with your request, that should
reply through that paper.
You are not mistaken in supposing that NIGH
ty crisis impends over the Southern States. The
position of our own beloved State is emf
nenily critical South Carolina has never
had greater need of the wisdom, and valor.
and affection of her sons, than ut the present
moment. Most sincerely do | hope that
every man within her borders, feels as Keen
" as yourselves, the deepest soliri!udc for
her honor and her welfare. For one Am
sensible of obligations to her, which my
poor services can never repay, and / intend
to do my duty, and my whole duty to her.
in the present juncture.
You inform me, that your soicitude for
the State. induces you to inquire of me, a>
your Representative in Congress, what part
is to be assigned to her in the great contest
which awaits the Southern States. had
supposed the position of South Carolina al
ready defined and determined, both by the
Legislature and the people. ! had supposed
the argument exhausted and the debate for
ever closed. A Convention was ordered by
the Legislature, at its last session, and large
and extraordinary revenues raised and appro-
priated for military defence. Delegates to
the Convention have been chosen by the
people, large mljori of whom are under
stood to be in favor of the secession of the
State, regardless of the course of other
Southern States, and indeed, regardless of
all circumstances have not the honor of
being III member of that Convention. The
expediency of secession is n question which
cannot comp within the scope of those duties
which you have confided TO me as member
of Congress. AS member of Congress, ]
cannot be called upon to vote on that ques-
lion. 1t is one exclusively belonging to the
Convention. But it is also true, that the
proprie,y of secession without regard TO the
course of the other Southern States, was not
discussed pending the election for Congress
and the Legislature, which took place in o.
tober last. In the public discussion which
heard. and in which took part, heard but
very few express opinions in favor Of the
secession of South Carolina alone, without
regard to the action of the other STATES. /
think the subject was not discussed before
the people. and that their judgment was
neither expressed nor formed upon it. So
also. in relation to the calling of Conven-
ton by the Legislature. Until after the
session began heard nothing of it, and
think nothing was heard of it by the people.
! should have been more happy TO have had
the opportunity of offering my opinions of
these measures before the Judgment of the
State was made up when they might have
entered into its deliberations for the little
they may be worth. A Congress of the
Southern States, then thought was looked,
and nothing else looked to, until its results
should be known.
cannot even now but regard the action
of the Legislature, and of the people OF
South Carolina, as indicating determination
to sccede from the Union whatever other
States may think proper to do. should
consequently have deemed it my duty to be
silent until the period for the meeting of the
Convention approached. could then have
been better able to determine what would be
expedient to do. The events of the sum
mrr and autumn will, as ! think, throw much
light on the great issue before us. should
gladly have awaited those events before the
final judgment of the State was made up.
Ueder these circumstances l cannot nope
that my opinions can be of any avail IN as
signing any part" to South Carolina But
it is enough that you wish to know my opin-
ions upon measure of public policy, even
though it be foregone conclusion. / have
no selfish motive to withhold such opinions,
as have nothing to lose by expressing them.
! have never sought office-I have never seen
the day when I would have held an office
under the Federal Government. lcould not
DO 80, at this time, withou. feeling of per-