Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-06-12
FOR THE ADVERTISER.
To Col. ARTHUR SIMKINs

My Dear Sir I'm your notice Of the "meet-
ing in Hamburg" on Saturday last, observed
that my motive for not attending, is stated to
rest Z" on the ground of opposition to any thing
that might lead to dioision at horae."
Iweuld certainly dcpreeate the violence of
party dissensions upon question involving no
difference of principle, but am very for from
desiring no division of opinion upon measure,
which can neither advocate or approve. Al
though am satisfied that my motive is both
understood and appreciated by yourself, yet it
win be more clearly conveyed to the minds of
others, by my declaration that it aoas the effect
abroad of an acknowledgment of dissensions
at home, which influenced my decision. The
success of our friends of the State Rights Parties
in Alabama and Mississippi, who are actively la
boring to secure in those States, the adoption Of
the Carolina platform, depends as they tell US,
in great degree, upon the unanimity and firm
ness of this State, and it was my honest desire
to avoid the slightest impediment, which by
possibility might occur to retard the cooperation
of those States. For my own part, do not be-
lieve that either of those States, or that any
other Southern State will be prepared to act
with South Carolina, before her prospective Con-
vention shall have been barred by the Statute Of
limitations, and while feel it duty to present
to the world, an unbroken front, l feel it also a
duty to impress upon our o,on people the entire
futiity of Separate State Secession, as remedy
for the evils we already endure, or as protec.
ton against others of immeasurably greater
magnitude.
Could my wish accomplish it, would have
South Carolina cncircled by double Chinese
wall, until the question of cooperation was de-
finitely settled by those States to which many
are anxiously looking: and / would do it with
the triple object Of giving to cooperation the
fairest play, by Withholding the fact of our d.
vision-of keeping family differences exclusively
within the family, until harmony is restored by
the impossibility of cooperation becoming mani
fest-and of sparing the State the deep mortif-
cation of being taunted by her enemies, for re-
ceeding from precipice to which the patriotic,
but (as think, with due deference) unwise zeal
of the secession party have led her, and from
which abyss she can be preserved but by gentle,
yet firm remonstranccs.
That South Carolina will secede, for causes
which at present exist, and without the co-ope-
ton Of other States is now. proposition, out Of
the pale of reason. bare majority would not
dare it, nor would it be justified by the expressed
wishes of three-tourths of all the people Even
if we were unanimous and guaranteed against
insult or injury by every Nation on earth the
propriety and cxpcdiency of separate State Sc
cession, would be 20 me altogether problematical.
What is to be gained by secession2
Will it arenge the insult or injustice which we
all admit has been done us2 Do we recover By
it one foot of the territory of which the South
has been deprived Will we not by the act of
secession, voluntarily divest every owner of
slaves, of the right Of removing his property to
the fertile lands of Mississippi, Louisiana, Ar
kansas and Texas, which arc worth more to him
than every acre west of the Rocky Mountains ?
The denial of the right to the Southern master,
to remove his slave property to any territory held
in common by the States of the Union, is what
is called the " most odious feature" of the Com
promise Bill, and in order to resist it, VIC are
invited to adopt measure Of redress which en-
tails ard brings to our own doors, andin our own
day and generation, all and more besides, of the
very evils which now threaten, but at distance.
Have we not circumscribed slavery enough, that
we should still curtail its limits and abandon our
interest in the extensive forests Of the West, by
the act of secession am incapable of perceiv-
ing in the plan proposed, any philosophy but that
contained in the injunction" If any man sue
thee at the law and take away thy coat, let him
have thy cloak Also" Rest assured that these
questions will force themselves upon the minds
of the people. They have not yet been fully
aroused to the condition to which their own su-
piness has brought them. They will neither
enquire or care, whether the election of Dele
gates to the Convention was prccipitated by tile
sccessionists or the opposition. They will frank
ly acknowledge that the Legislature was sincere
that the Delegates to the Convention were
candid and that their own Indifference to State
affairs has permitted their being carried asleep,
to dangerous frontier where they have just
awaked
breathless-pale- amazed,
All gaze.-all wonder"
They are beginning to realize, that "cvery
change is not an improvement" and they will
act accordingly-mark it. And I here enter my
solemn protest against the attempt which know
will be made, to cast the odium Of the recoi'
upon those who never joined in the charge, and
who by their prudence and foresight arrested
many q beloved and valued friend upon the brink
of a precipice where they had been borne by the
delirium of separate State secession.
Let those who sowed the whirlwind, reap its
fruits. can but express my regret that our po-
tcal relations, do not partake of that cordially
which has characterized our personal intercourse
and which trust will be preserved in the sin
cerity in which it is now cherished by your
friend and
ubcd't servant,
p, S. Brooks.