Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-04-17


candidate uniformly successful. Even New
York has gone over to Seward, horse, foot
and dragons.
Ny position is based upon my belief, lst
that any effort at secession by slave State,
which is not positively, wholly and thorough
" triumphant, Independent of, and in abso-
lutte exclusion of any compromise whatever,
will be the final doom of slavery and the ut
ter ruin of the South; 2ndly. in the truth of
a quaint remark made by John Randolph,
"that fanalicism never stops short of Heaven
or Hell, and 3dly, that its next encroachment
will unfailingly rally the South.
1t cannot be shown that any State other
than South Carolina, is aoac ready to act;
nor have we any right to expect aid, comfort
or support, from any but the State of Ala
bama. In the address of committee of the
States Right party in that State, there is, it
is true, pledge to sustain any seeding State:
but this is not done by authority. We have
no committal even from Alabama as State.
Tn truth we have reason to believe that the
other Southern States are diSirclined TO any
action even by South Carolina-for they
know she desires to move, that she intends
to act and yet not one word OF encourage
ment, not promise to sustain, have any Of
them officially or informally given with the
one exception. If then they give us the cold
shoulder no,o, with what reason can we expect
them to rally to our rescue when sin erfrem-
is?" Is it human nature or the habit OF ma
tions to form alliances with the weak? And
vet this is the argument in favor of secession
per Sc. Could we suspect the other South
ern States of the meanness of looking on
and awaiting the effect of South Carolina Sc
cession, intending to join her if successful
and to pity her if she fail, the prospect would
not be more gloomy than it now is in the abb
sence of any official promise of support
Virginia-oncc the venerable mother of the
South, teaching honor by example, is now a
moral matricdc and for the wages of federal
spoil, presumes to tamper with the virtue of
her eldest daughter. She has deliberately
put on the livery of Mr.. Clay and seems un-
blushingly reconciled to his compromise per
Sc. VIII Carolna's sister who "stoops to
folly" fly to her aid and confirm her in the
| right, or will she rather seek to reduce the
fair Carolina TO her own level! Have we
the sympathies of North Carolina? Why
Sir too fifths of her population are as rank
aboEilionists as Giddings or Hale, and infinite
ly more sincere in the faith than either of
them as for the balance, they would serve
wherever the pay was best, and eheerfulfy
leap summersetts from the Paint mountain
into the French Broad, for 81 per month.
Why then, should South Carolina with the
tide SO plainly adverse, set sail upon an un-
tried voyage, single and alone, when there is
in the Southwestern ofing, at least hope
of sufficient help, to guide'the Slip of State
with honor and security? Why not wait
little time until common danger, threatening
a common interest, produces co operation,
(and, disguise it as you may, there are dan
gers and certain distress, at least of a COM
mcrcii.l nature,) and the probabilities of aid
sufficient to dispc1l every difficulty, warrant
us in suspenaing our action for time Pru--
dence "cricth at the gate" move not alone,
until every hope o. cooperation is exhausted.
You would ask me, 1chcn will this be de-
termined? and reply-certainly upon the
amendment or repeal Of the Fugitive Slave
Law, the abolishment of Slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia. or at Navy Yards and Forts,
&C., or the prohibition of the traffic between
the States, or any kindred measure, and /
firmly believe that some act of the kind will
be passed by the next Congress.
would not have you suppose that deem
the aggression by Congress, already commit
ted upon the rights and interests of the
South, to be insufficient causes for q with
drawal of the Southern States. hold them
to be the grinding expressions of Federal
usurpation and consolidated tyranny. l wait
not for cause of action, but for ability to act
successfully-for united action by the op-
pressed, and wait patiently because believe
that the South. in spite of reasonable infu-
cnces, will be forced to unite. When every
reasonable hope of union at the South shall
have vanished, then will the emergency justi-
fy desperation, and then let South Carolina,
single and alone, take the breach, trusting in
kind Providence and a good cause.
Your Correspondent asks, I" if they (our
Representatives. have done moro than carry
out the clearly implied wishes of large ma
iority of each and every section of the Dis
trict!" think they have. cannot recall
myself, (nor can any one Of whom have
made the inquiry,) single occasion when the
call of State Convention was discussed be-
fore the people. The Candidates hammered
upon the Bank. The people were looking to
the Nashville Convention 1t was understood
at The first meeting of the Southern Convcn.