Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-10-02
"Voluminotls and vast, serpent armed
With mortal sting p--"


With mortal sting --."
But events of late have worn an aspect, that
forcshadows the utter annih1ation of the South.
We have submitted to wrongs and encroach-
mcnts upon our privileges so long, that to Cypress
us has almost become prcscriptivc right. We
have nothing left to sustain our cause, but justice
and the Constitution. behind whose sacred col
umns we should take shelter, and there struggle
for otit rights, till the columns themselves shall
be swept from the arches, and our bodies shall lie
mingled with the ruins Of the noble pile. No
shadow of principle should be yielded, even in
the case Of the admission of California. Cali
fornia may be vaueless to Southern men. 1t is
not q question of profit and loss. 1t is question
Of freedom and serrithdc. It may become a
question of life and death.
The manufacture of that Territory into State,
by executive and military interfcrcnce-the
adoption of its constitution, and the formation Of
its regular government, BY temporary residents
from the United States, BY Indians Me4icans,
outlaws and fugitives from justice, without ci,i-
zcnship: and without any Of the qualifications of
legal voters; and its recognition as one of fhc
sovereign members Of this Confderacy-al
blended in one act, perfect d fraHd, the most
sttpehdous and wicked that blnckcns the annals
of any civilized nation. It forms n part of the
grand design TO extend the principles of the
&C JV1,not IL
of the North, but over that of the West and the
South-ovcr the Territory purchased by the
sacrifices and the valor of our own sons, leading
the van, defending the flag, and sustaining the
doubtful issue of the conflict, in every battle that
-.iie nerussfn oi the amar-
lean arms.
Our immediate pccuniary interest in the mat
ter, might truly be Of little moment, but when
We reflect that the establishment of the princi-
pie for which our enemies contend, will give
thcm an overwhelming and irresistible majority
in the clicr couhcils of the country, and will
place our property and lives at the absolute dis
posal of men, whom, we have found, that no
sentiments Of honor or Justice can bind, it be-
comes a subject in which our liberties, our po-
litcal salvation, our very existence is involved
II we yield IN inch in the struggle, we arc de-
graded-we are slaves, and deserve to be ac-
cursed. We arc no SONS of the men of the
revolution, but bastards to their spirit and their
blood!
A firm resolve, then. and 4 determined union
amongst ourselves, and 4 constant readiness for
the most decisive action is the only means of
averting, for a moment, our threatened caami-
ties, or Of vindicatng our honor and dignity
among men.
Fellow Citizens, when read the history Of
this Government, and the wrongs of my section,
my heart burns, with Indignation, at fhc tame
fUrbcarancc of Southern men. A fatal lcthargy
has seized their minds. Their utter ruin has
been deliberately planned, and the design is rs
transparent as the light of heaven, and yet. with
a sluggish Indifference TO their I'M iurics and to
the respect Of mankind, worse than that of the
degenerate Athcnians or the effeminatc Fcnc-
tians, they suffer every act, in the whole system
of their expressions, to be performed. with bare
ly show Of resentment. The fiery soul If
Demosthencs did cnkindIc his people to make a
feeble effort against Philip; but, while migh,icr
than Philip is comprising our downfall, with
steady, uncrring purpose, there is scarcely one
man Of us prepared to do battle for his liberty
there is yet not one banner fairly in the field.
"--Now, whether it lie
Besinl oblivion, some craven scrupe
Or thinking too precisely on the event.
A thought. which, quartercd, hath but one part
wisdom.
And. ever, three parts cowarl.-I do mot know
Why yet uc live to say, This things 10 do;
Since ire have cause, and will, and strength and !
means,
70 do it. Examples, gross rs earth exhort u.s."
Why, has every act Of the last Congress not
,een part Of plot, first, to lull US into sccur-
y, and then, to bind US, hand and foot. There
not move left us" zoe are completely check
uatcd" Yes. There is n move; and it is
traight forward on the Chcss-board. Let US
move directly against the crcumvalation of the
ncmy, though We should uncountcr perfect
torn Of FIRE; for If we remain within the city,
ur ranparts cannot save us-we are doomed TO
erish. STAR REDOUBT.
->e~-- ,