Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-08-14


domestic violence. Admitting the fact
that we are protected by the general gov
ernment from foreign invasion, what price
do we pay for itl Whilst we pay into
the public treasury millions annual y in
the shape of tribute, to protect us from
foreign invasion, are we not threatened
by the protecting power itself with the
sword of domestic violence? Are we
not told now, that if we dare to take such
steps we deem essential to our preserva.
ton, that our country will be devastated
by the domestic violence of the sword,
placed in the hand of the general govern.
ment to protect US from all such aggres-
sions! And by the taxes of which we
arc plundercd, we furnish the means of
our own subjugation. These are the
benefits of the Union-belore the idol OF
which we are required to fall down and
worship. A government like this could
enkindle in his bosom no sentiment but
the most Mveterate hatred, and people
who still pay their fealty to it, and bow
before it in obsequious obedience, deserve
to be slaves. That part of the compact
therefore which guarantees each State
from domestic violence, is abregated, and
the sword which was to protect us is the
instrument by which our country is to be
deluged in blood.
There is but single item left-that of
protection against foreign power, Tor in
the act of inaicting upon US the devasta..
ton threatened, every personal right and
every right of property must be destroyed.
Protection against foreign enemy alone
remains. If we be subjugated-if we
must criuge under the rod of a master.
what boots it to US whether the rod be
held over us by the King Of Britain or
the abolition government of the North !
Even if the protection against foreign
power he observed in good faith, it is a
right without any value, and we should
scorn it under such circumstances. :.
In the present state of the world, what,
ever fears we may entertain of foreign
invasion, are little more than imaginary
Commerce constitutes the bonds into
which the world has entered to keep the
international peace. The cotton of the
South is more potent element in pre-:
/ serving the peace 81 the world than al
the navies and armies of Europe. The
crown of England's sovereign would moi
be safe if the great staples of the South
were Withdrawn from the commerce oi
the world for twelve months. What peo.
pie on earth are more liable to oppression
than we are under these circumstances
Who so defencelcss and powcrless to pro-
tect themsclvesl And with these facts
before us, shah we longer delude our.
selves with the phantom Of liberty, when
all its attributes are denied u.s.
We are on our bacis--tllc tyrant stands
over us ready to inilict the last stab, and
shall we pausc9 If we resist not, will it
not be said, and with too much truth, that
we fear the consequences? BY timid,
vacilating course Of policy, will we not
in effect say to the tyrant, "we know oul
wrongs-thcy have penetrated deep into
the public hcart--we know we are dis
neutrality-suspicious. that ere long
our ruin vii! be consummated. We know
that power which seeks to dishonor 9
people will not stop short of conquering
them, hut we are aware that we are toe
weak to resist you?" A people who car
thus reflect, cannot long retain vestige
of the spirit of liberty.
On the other hand, let US consider
what we are to gain by the proposed
action of the State. If we succeed, Ia:
he believed we would) in practically
demonstrating the right of State tt
to sccede, we shall have established upo'
sure basis the only veto power tina
can ever hold the tyranny of the govern
mcnt in check. We will have laid thu
foundation for security, equality, ant
independence in the Union or of a bette
government out of ia governmen
which must in the end result in a South
ern confederacy, upon tile establishment
of which depends the last hope of liberty
on this continent. But suppose we make
the effort and fail, and we in fact be sub
iugated, an event which he did not be
licve ever will happen, even in that ex
trcmity. our condition will be no wors
that which awaits us in the Union. Ii
every view Of the case, therefore, seces
sion seems to be the policy which alon
can secure our honor and our liberty.
This is briefly our position. Our wrong
must be redressed, and we must hav
guarantees for the future. We cannot b.
so false to ourselves or our children as t.
submit Is it matter Of surprise that w
should have arrived at period in on
history, when we are called on by tn
highest obligations of patriotic duty, t.
take our rights into our own hands, ant
to reform the Statea Whoever suppose,
, that our liberties were placed upon sucI
sure basis that they would last foreve
without an effort from us to defend them
We have heretofore placed too much con
fidence in the history of our government
Beware! lest it prove fatal delusion.
We must apply the remedy of civ
war or seeession-for there can be n
, submission. Between the two he coul'