Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-06-19
REPLY nc CAPT. P. S. BROOKS.


ment of your course ard the motive to il. This
announcement we made from feeling of pride
and satisfaction. Such had been our relations Of
personal kindness, that re eagerly caught up a
view so honorable to yourself and so gratifying to
u.s. Other highly respectable papers in the State
were similarly affected by our statement. It is q
matter of regret that both we and they should be
led by yourself to change an opinion, which we
had so gladly embraced.
But we have said that "even according to your
own explanation we were very nearly right in
what we wrote Do not understand us now Us at.
tempting to convict you of inconsistency. This is
far from our thoughts. Our purpose is only to
show you that you are making distinction with
out differencc-that your own "dcclaration +"
and our remark are really synonymous, or, least,
that they do not clash. You say that you object
10 can acknowledgment Of dtsscnsions at home. 7"
We only said that you were opposed to "any thing
(such as one-sided public meetngs) that might
lead TO diuision at home." You say you would
keep others from witnessing our discussions. WE
remarked, in substance, that you disapprored any
any thing that might give rise to palpable diui-
sion." Oar word is the stronger of the two. If
disscnsions are to be deprecated, how much more
so is actual diutsion' If you would avoid can
acknowledgement of dissensions on account Of
its "cf1ect abroad" would You not, with at least
equal anxiety, avoid IN acknowledgment of a
diuision of or people? Now, how nre we to
avoid this? We have not and cannot have q
double Chinese WALL around US, to intercept
the vision of our Southern brethren. A clear
knowledge, on their part, Of the exact condition Of
things in South Carolina, cannot be prevented by
any obstruction, moral or mechanical, that we are
aware Of They are watching us in the distance
with eagle eyes-lhey are deeply concerned in our
cause and eagerly alive to the importance of the
issue we are approaching and it is useless to
speak of binding them to the truth as it really is
They must know it and they ,cin know it. If any
one believe that the "effect abroad" of dissen.
sions or division at home, will be dsastrous-tha,
it is result to be avoided above ali things-let
him discountenance those dissensions and rebuke
every tendency to division. "Let the axe be laid
to the root of the tree "-let the evil thing be e1.
trpated-let all of us unite as brothers for this
holy purpose. Otherwise dissensions cannot be
quelled-division cannot be prevented-and the
"efect abroad cannot fail TO be injurious, if moi
fatal, to the Southern cause. Our non-acknowl
cdgement will be thing Of naught, if circum
stances demonstrate that zee are divided.
The course of our State, until very recently
has been one Of perfect unanimity. 1t may be
compared to the uninterrupted flow of anoble nrel
moving calmly but steadily on in its proper chan
nell The looker-on saw not IN eddy or single
commencement upon its surface. But all said
"it is majestic stream" The scene is now be
ing changed The work of obstructing its course
has been commenced A blended feeling Of envy
and hatred has inspired hostile crotcd in another
section with the determination TO trouble its water
and to destroy its beauty. Some good friends q
home have been deuded into the belief that it il
crpedient to do the same. Dams are in progress
of erection, whrlpools are already to be seen ant
those who once gazed with wonder and delgh
upon the calm force of its powerful current, ar
touched with sympathetic sorrow uponrecognisinl
being marrcd and defaced. The illustration vii
be readily applied. South Carolina has hereto
fore been unit. Her strength has been attribu
table, in great degree, to this fact. 1t is tn,
Union of her people, upon principle, that has wor
for her the love and admiration of so many gallan
spirits throughout the South.
To destroy the moral effect of this unanimity is
now the sacrilegous object ofthat "hosiie cro,od'
of Abolitionists, Frcsoilers and consolidationiss
The sappers and miners of the enemy arr
at work for this infamous purpose. The en-
gnes of Executive power are being brought tt
| bear to produce the same result. The hopes o
Federal rewards and the fears of Federal displeas
ure are being inslled into the ears of our citizens
by the agents Of wicked Administration. They
cxult already that the current of South Carolina
feeling is partially checked We will not say tha
there is party among us, which seconds these eff
forts TO ruin forever the influence of their native
State. No-wiM .tep exceptions, our people arc
still united in their hatred of Northern aggression
and would scorn TO be associated with any North
ern combination, whose object was 10 weaken the
Southern cause. But we must be permitted tc
are now crying aloud to the people, to "beware
Of the precipice," are not doing precisely what
our common enemy would have them do, had he
the control Of their actions-whethcr those, who
struggle to prove the pi,iablc weakness Of South
Carolina, arc not catering delicious morscls for
those who would gloryin our Observation-Disclosures
those who hold up separate State action to ridicuc
as =" delirium," and insanity" are not striking
dangerous blow at the Right Of Secession, by
leading directly to the belief that it is nugatory
and useless right. All this, we know, is not in
tended but We fear il is the effect really produced
nevertheless. In consideration then of the peril
Gus admissions and the indirect encouragement OF
our common foes, which the arguments Of the OPP
position convey, we entreat our friend, and all
others who think as lie does, to abstain from the
use Of ultra-appeals and ultra expressions, calcu-
lated to excite such preudices and passions as may
lead to serious and ruinous distraction Of the
old Palmetto State. Remember that until course
Of action was adopted, there was no division in
the State Remember that there was little or no
murmuring, until the first step in this course was
taken-wc mean the election Of the Convention.
You intimate yourself that the opposition is but
just now begun. You say that the people are just
awaking they are all 'pale" and breatlless,
"gazing'' and wondering" at the frontier to
which they have been brought in their sleep. De
II, inb1 of