Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-08-14
WHY SHOULD cARoL1s!ANs ouarRELq

factions within our borders. Our people have
OF resistance to Federal injustice. This unanimity
las been the true source Of whatever power we
have exercised over the course and destiny of the
american States That this influence. hitherto,
has not been inconsidcsable, will be admitted by
ell but our most scnselcss or blinded aLversaries'
In speaking to Carolinians, it is unnecessary to
a''duce the proof Of our assertion, when I'VE say
tia. no other State in the Union has made greater
or moro effective excrtons 10 paralyze the hand
OF lsurpaion and to advance the true interests of
our common country by enlightened Republican
lcriSlntion. ANDREW JACKSON, were he alive,
would himself generously bear testimony to the
nower of Carolina interpnsit:on-and the Free
Trade party of the world are compelled to ac-
knowledge the benefits which have accrued from
Carolina craftsmanship. We are not desirous, if
We had the ability, Of trnmpeting the praises of
South Carolina in the cars OF the American people
with our vain.gloriors propcnsitics," and it is
ut length come to pass that the exquisite sensib-
ties Of certain CdroEEians are shocked by any
reference to the laurel wreath of their mother 5
fame. But. we may, nevertheless, talk of these
hings among ourselyes and for ourselves, without
being charged with the design of ro5hing others of
their deserts Il is sau!ary 10 recall at times The
memory of that energy ard enthusiasm which
have never yet carried us to The extent of folly
which have never yet failed Of achieving to 4
greater or less degree, the object had ir view.
Especially may it prove advantageous, when Dis
cord threatens to destroy our Characteristic unity
cf purpose and TO annihilate our power for good
Let every Carclinian now revert TO the history
Of his State, and let him examine anew her claims
to distinction-her right to a pre-eminent position
among her sisters If he believes the record, he
will find that those claims are higl,-lhat right.
Let him imagine Scuih Carolina to
have been IN inactive ard ;c-pil member of this
cUnfcderacy for the last 30 ycars--hesi,a:ing in
principle and irrcsoiutc in action. Let him sup
pose that no State arose to supply her place in the
great politica! drama-.hat no State became the
express and declared champion of those principles
which she has ilustrated-that 10 State had been
found ready to throw itself into the breach 10 stay
the progress Of consolidation-that no State had
her sovereignty TO save the South from
the evils Of oppressive taxation Let him suppose, in
word, the name Of South Carolina, the people Of
South Carolina and the principles of South Caro-
lima never TO have existed, and llien let him ask
himself, what would this govcrnmen; have been
now! lie will find, ii he is disposed TO answer the
question truly, that his State has ever been the
in every battle for Southern Rights-hc
will find that, but for her, the Dcspcim Of ma
jority might have bcen at this very time, tramp
ling the helpless South into the very dust Of
degradation Let him search for the real causes
which have made his State CT indispensable
agent in the preservation of the Sor.h-aye, and
of the American Republic,-and. if he search
he will find that it was because
her people have ever had the "intslIigence to un-
derstand their rights and the spirit to maintain
them" He will find that it was because she ever
fclt, as sovereign Stat. ougt to feel, trustful of
her own strenglh-,lus acting out her creed. He
will find that it was because she was ever ready,
while respecting the rights Of others, to run all
risks in the defence of her own-hecause she ever
lsT H'IScil uIVi ii'
she ever determined for herself
and needed no ont.side menaces--and. last and
greatest of ALL because her people were ever clan
nish, eager to sustain their State, right or mrong,
and, rs consequence, invariably united in her
hours of trial If this brief Interpretation of our
past Influence and its causes be no. truthful, then
have we studied tho political history Of our com.
TO but lIl,c advantage. If it be true
,and we think few will deny it, lien We ask all
10 keep it steadily in view, while we press home
upon them the question q, the head Of this article
s Why should Caroliniaas quarrel now -
Why divide Staic which has never known
division Sec you not that you dare q most dan-
serous uncertainty. See you no. l!a! You make
, move! page in lis,ory,ra page which shall, for
le first time. tel! how old Sourh Carolina was at
length "drid.d against herself" lear You not
the shouts of triumph which will bust from our
icspscrs and rcvi.ers rs they learn the precious
news of our downfall. Hear you not The groans
and curses of those who had been coniding i'll US
with perfect security and whose daily prayers
were for the SUCCESS Of our action Oh! in God's
holy name. let not the pride Of opinion cause you
to persist in this effort 10 divide South Carolina.
T, is but just begun with fell determination. May
it not vet be stayed! Is there no balm in Gilcad! 2!
We have no apprehension whatever Of South
Carolina being carried for submission. The evil
lencc 10 the reverse of this is conclusive TO every
one who has closely watched and fairly weighed
the sentiment of the State. Bu, The bare consitu-
tional power of action will not, we fear, be sufli-
rieni for our triumph. IF the decision Of the State
is frownc,l upon by 4 considerable minority OF her
citizens, the danger of imbccility Of execution be-
comes imminent at once. This we must avoid, If
it be possible. We are called upon 10 do so, by
all that We hold dear upon cartl--by our hopes OF
Freedom and 1ndcrcndence-by tho happiness Of
our children and our children's chlren-by all
that we have been and all that VIC hope to bc-by
the memory of Carolinas past fame and the anlici-
patton of her future glory These, fellow-cilizcns,
are not unmeaning expressions to ill n paragraph
We speak the earnest thought Of our inmost soul.
Who, but a recrean.---a heartless recreant, could
he guilty of aiIecation or Cuplicity at time like
the present! We are deeply serious when We
ask you to pIoppse, if you can, some midway
ground upon which we may all stand with honor.
We cannot and will not come 10 you. How can
you ask it We had taken our position i'll accord
ancc with what we then conceived to be and still
think is our sacred duty, long before you inmated
your platform. We spoke for you as well as our
u.