Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-10-02


the Co-operationisls; as a party, to regulate the
Sovereign Convention of the State by lettering
instructions, we shall respectfully deprecatc the
effort as an unfortunate and il-limed, though hon.
est step. They who propose it, would not them
selves wish IT, under these circumstances, TO e1er-
else any controlling influence: 1t seems to us to
be evident that, before the adoption of this policy
by our friends of the Cooperation party could
take place, another fruitful source of division and
distraction would be discovered TO exist III the
new issue then brought before the State-whether
o. not will be expcdient for the delegates TO the
Convention to be controlled by instructions
Many, who doubt the wisdom of separate action,
would doubt still more the policy Of attempting to
annnl the authority of n body regularly clothed
with the highest power which any free people can
impart to their agents. For what would be the
tendency of this new discussion? Most assurcdly
this: to draw the public mind from the main and
'all-important question of our dire wrongs and the
remcdy..;o plunge the State into some abstract dis
putation the final resting place of sovereign
ty its divisibiliiy, inherency, &c.-and TO awaken
u storm of popular excitement OH some collateral
question of Statc.reform, which skiful dema-
gogues might conduct not only to the absorption
of the present struggle with Federal oppression,
but to the destruction of our present admirably
arranged and excellenlly- working system of State
polity. For these reasons, and others to which we
may allude hereafter, we cannot (untll some more
widely diffnsed expression of the popular will
reaches us) approve the manner in which the Ex-
POSITION under consideration proposes to harrass
and retard the free action of OUR Convention. If
it be said that we are contravening the wishes OF
the pcople we ask it to be considered in passing,
that We, and those with whom we think, are also
the pcoplc--and while others arc protesting, we
also propose to protest, and "most solemnly" too,
against being in anywisc bound to support sug-
ceslions cmanaing from a moety of what we be-
lievc to be Il minority party. We respect their
differences of opinion, and yet, at the same time,
would advise every one to pontler we'll the conse-
quenccs of their present proposition, before es-
pousing it.
But this proposition to instruct our Convention
Delegates, seems to its authors themselves, to need
some excuse; and one is accordingly given, which
we are surprised TO see gravely put forth in the
document before lis, for the hundredth time.
"Your Convention Of Delegates, which met in
Charleston in May last, set us the example-ihey
passed n resolution of instructions-why not we ~
Now to set the matter rest more, let US see
the resolution spoken OF. Here it is:
l. "Rcsolccd. That this meeting looks with
confidence and hope to the Convention of The peo-
pie, to exert the sovereign power of the State in
defence Of its rights at the earliest practicable
period, and in the most cffeciual manner; and to
the Legislature, to adopt the mast speedy and
cficciual measures towards the same end
"Thc confidence and hope" that certain
measures will be carried out, is clearly expressed
but where are the Instructions! Where is the
specific measure mentioned, which either The Con-
veniion or the Legislature is instructed, or even
requested TO do or not to do! in n resolution in
tended to instruct, very different language is al
ways used-and to see this, we need go no further
than the resolution appended to the Exposition
under discussion. Let US read that also:
R4e~4.e&r Elas ana are Hereby in
strucicd, that prior to the first day Of January.
1853, they give vote for. or cuuntenance to any
ordinance or measure, which has for its object the
separate secession of the State of South Carolina
There is the cooperation resoution-thr other
was the secession resolution. What difference !!
THE first is, in tone temper and expression, the
language rather of an inferior TO n superior-and
yet the meeting which adopted it, was, equally
with the late cooperation meeting, an asscmblaGc
of sovereign citizens of South Carolina. and quite
rs intelligent. The second has the air and style
rather ola mandate, upon the dsobedience ofwhich
another mandate might he forthcoming. This is
the master speaking TO the servant-and this is in
slrucion: The other, according to all the rules of
construction by which we have learned language,
is the ultcrancc Of mere hope. sentiment, a
thought. without 4 single essential requisite of In.
siructons. But il is said that more than this was
intended, fIom the fact that certain resolution Of
fered by Mr.. Orr. was voted down in that Convcn-
tion Now the attentivs observer Of the political
movements in our Stale. will remember that Il re-
solution Offered by Mr.. Carroll at the Charleston
cooperation meeting. was rejected in the same
manner: although it was afterwards urged that
the sentiment Of said resolution was in no degree
Objectionable. 1t was thought that it might have
the effect Of producing unnecessary confusion in
the meeting. Why not allow the Convention of
Delegates the same ground ofohiccion to Mr.. Orr's
resolution! In all such assemblies. it is invaria-
bly, the practice to arrange some regular plan Of
proceeding, TO save time and avoid the necessity
of proliy explanations Such n plan was submit
ted to most if not all Of the Delegations present at
tho Charleston Convention, shortly previous to
their Introduction TO the meeting. II met their al
most unanimous sanction. The address and res0-
luiiuns expressive of the feelings Of the body,
was fully proved by their adoption fter mature
discussion. Ii was supposed that Mr.. Orr and his
co-adiuiors knew this to be the case. Their al
tempt then 10 throw aside the other resolutions by
4 substitute. was regarded somewhat in the light
in which Mr.. Cnrrolls resolution was by the
Charleston cooperation meeting. 1t was set aside
from no opposition to the views it contained, fur
tcr than that it did not contain quite all they de-
sired 20 express. Least of all, the conclusions
be fairly drawn that its rejection proceeded from
any desire to dictate TO or instruct any one, or to
give prominence 10 any particular party. ii any
thing of the sort had been really thought of, would
there not haze been 4 concerted movement TO pro-
cure the instant approval ofthc Convention course
by the different associations! 1t could have been
done with ease at that time and would have given
much greater power 10 us action. But this was
not even atlcmpted.-It is insisted by some, that
Tho .l,p1,