Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-07-17

cording though, to the provisions OF our Consti.
tuition, and to the practice of our government,
any territory belonging 70 the United States has
an almost indefeasible right, with certain num-
Der of inhabitants, and after complying with GER
tain named conditions, to become member of
our Confcderacy, and to enjoy every privilege
belonging to the Thirteen Original States. The
English Constitution, in this regard, widely diff
fers from ours, as transcendenty excellent as we
have usually found the workmanship Of our
fathers to be. Hcr conquered provinces can
never attain to the rank of "Old England in
the Commonwealth, and mongrel nations can
never gain an equal participation in her govern
ment with herself. The general policy Of Eng
land in her control of the American Colonies
was wise, though in particular instance, unsuc-
cessful, and it was, perhaps, in strict accordance
with her duty to herself, though it was the duty
and glory of the colonies to rebel.
If we should continue to receive fresh access
sions Of land, at every point of the compass, and
to run, with such terrible speed, the course SO
fairly commenced by us, the government will
finally lose its controlling energy ;-integrity and
good faith will be disregarded in the execution of
the law ;-conhicting interests will spring up, in
various sections of the country, and sway the
different States with more potency than the Con-
stitution and statutes of the land that section
which has the preponderance Of power, will ex-
ercisc it, to the degradation and destruction of
the others-it will subvert there liberties, and
reduce them to shame: and the consequences
will be anarchy-a military chieftain--despotism,
and total oblivion.
Affairs already admonlsh us, that we are ap-
preaching dreadful, if not fatal, catastrophe.
The lapse of very short period will enable the
West to dictate every law to the Old States, that
achieved our Independence, with the blood of
their children. Her population is increasing so
rapidly that, in the course of quarter or half
of century, her numbers will double those of
all the other States taken together. The Presi-
dent is even now compelled to grant nearly eve
ry appointment Western man demands. A
large majority of the officers appointed by him,
during the Mexican war, came from the setting
spn, or from the great Mississippi, and lbs tribu-
tary streams. "The Star Of Empire'' is culmi-
mating westward. The western horizon is aIrea-
dy lighted up, with its resplendent glories. The
West, ut this moment, controls the patronage,
and monopolizcs the profits of the government,
and governs the destinies of the nation. The |
Southern sun has been shorn of his beams, and
his glory has departed. In the war with Mexico,
the North and West gained oil the South
bled.-she offered up, the purest and richest sac
ri6ces on the altar of patriotism, but she reaped
none of the fruits of victory. OF the immense
territory ceded to the United States by the treaty
of peace, the Southern States, in the indignant
language of distinguished Senator, have re-
ceived Esau's part No.-I beg pardon of my
noblc-minded friend.-His illustration was not |
altogether happy.-The blessing" of blind old
Isaac was, surely, bestowed upon the younger
born; but Jacob has refused the mess Of pottage.
The only desirable portions of the land acquired |
by the war, are the mining regions, and one
other represented as exceedingly fertile, and well
suited for the production Of almost every variety
of grain and delicious fruit. In the former the |
labor of slaves would be Of incalculable worth, !
and their price would be enhanced an hundred
per cent on their first arrival in the country. Yet
by executive interference, and by the sanction Of
a corrupt and tyrannical Congress, slavery has
been prohibited from California, and the South
has been wholly preeluded from this ample and
legitimate source of profit, and debarred from
this noble field for the display of her enterprise
and intrepidty. The other section advcrted to,
which is, indeed, perfect paradse-a garden of
Eden transplanted into the New World, has also
been placed beyond the reach of Southern men.
They will not be permitted to emigrate to it with
their property, and pay their money for a little
corner of the garden, in which to fix their habi-
tation, and rest their wearied limbs and they
will be Knocked at, and laughed to scorn for dar-
ing to presume upon an assertion of those rights,
which were purchased by their generous yalor,
and sealed with their blood.
To accomplish their selfish aims, and to delude
the honest part Of the American people into their
own monstrous designs Of ambition, the advo-
Gates of territorial aggrandizement have amused
the country with arguments and illustrations sim
gularly bold and ingenious. Their favoritc no
tion, and the one, they advance, with most plau-
sbility, seems to be, that every additional State
will serve as cheek and corrective on the ex-
travagance and usurpation Of tile others, and,
while it will extend the area of freedom, will
give increased force to that principal of Union,
with which its sisters are imbued, and which
gives the only promise Of the duration Of our
present confederacy. The constellation Of States
is compared to the great planetary system above
us-all revolving about the Federal Government,
as the stars move round the spendid orb, that
lights up our heavens and makes the day-and
all receiving from it, and imparting to each other,
that health and vigor, and support, which are
by the genial rays of the sun, to every
planet that journeys through the starry firma-
ment on high" The gorgeous drapery of
Heaven, and the glories of the infinite work
manship of God, are thus thrown around the
imagination to dsz1le, to bewilder, and 70 betray.