Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-02-12
OUR TRUE POLICY.

our history We will be pardoned it, umong the
rest, we hazard few thoughts upon this impor-
tart subject.
The people of South Carolina, by an unmis-
takeablc vote, have decided that, under present
circumstances, it is utterly inexpedent for us to
hoist the colors Of separate Indepcntlency. With
this decision in full view, our eyistant Convention
will not, of course, take any steps which might
lead us into an attitude distinctly repudiated.
To suppose them capable Of duing anything of
the sort, is to attribute TO them the licentous spir-
it of reckless revolutionsts Presumptuous and
unfounded must bc the suspicious which have
been insnuated, in this point of view, against this
| honorable and honest body of men. Secession
! by South Carolina alone, on the score of wrongs
heretofore endured, is numbered and filed away in
the archives Of the past. We deeply regret the
| circumstances of division and distraction at home
which have brought the State 10 this position; ;
! for we ever had ana, have still, n firm confidence
in the feasibility and power Of separate Stale ac-
tion But, rs We have sad tile mandate of the
sovereign people of this commonwealth has gone
forll-and, for the time being, that remedy is not
to be considered.
Nor do we Think with the present condition Of
things in South Carolina, that any halfway mea-
sures such as were sketched out by some of our
politicians last year, should now be rentured
upon Because, in the first place, those measures,
properly understood, are nothing less than incipicn
steps towards the condemned policy Of separate
action. And, in the second place, they are too
weak and inefficient TO command the confidence
and support of either party. 1t would therefore,
be both dangerous and useless TO press forward
any thing of the sort at this time.
Again, we cannot find any reasons to recommend
this thing of South Carolina playing "Achies
! in his ten.''-drawing herself within her shell,
like n boY-errapn, in suen obstinacy, while
every other Southern sister is wide awake and
struggling, with commendable zeal. 10 make tile
hes, of a hard case. 1t is neither philosophical,
nor is it in accordance with the spirit of the age
to fall back thus upon an empty and unavailing
dignity. The days are gone by when n proud
people could strike their opprcssors with terror by
lofty bu, quicscent Indignation. The world has
become emincntly practical and singnlarly impcr
!
Justice which, history says, have heretofore innn-
earcd men and nations to noble and disintercsted
concessi ions. Nothing now can he expected from
! tie nierposi,ion of barren right. unarcompanied
hv determination to maintain it regolu,ely or
perish in the aitcmpt-nothing but the sneers and
contempt of far the greater portion of mankind
These remarks when applied to the case of our
lonr.boasird State become more sadly truthful
than any devoted son of hers is disposed to admit
| Yes-she has at length hccomc 4 hy-word for en-.
! RACED impotcncy-and, siEce The wocful termna-
ton of last years domestic strife. she is indeed
looked upon by majority Of her confedcraics AZ
being little better than fretful community Of
childish Ifotspurs. who live by the stimulus of an
occasional quarrel, in which the tongue md pen
are the only weapons to be apprchendcd. Had
the policy of the Secessinnists prevailed, by
majority sufficient to have rendered our action
7 iar different would have been the estimation
! placed upon the character Of South Carolina.
But as it is. we much fear that her influence has
been vastly diminished, if not completely annulled
| il is in view of this apprehension, that we speak
of her as guring illustration of the utter stupid.
ity of States standing aloof in moody apathy,
while all tho world around is in Il race for the
mastery, paying no more attention to the frmngs
of little Carolina than eager travellers would to
tile dull smoke of n newly. .capsiZcd sicam.engine.
! This may seem 10 be digression. merely for the
purpose of venting little spleen against those
who defeated the energetic and manly action. al.
vised BY the so-called Frc.eatcrs of 81. Far
| from il. We have not the slightest llwill towards
any individual for having acted thus. But We
! think all must now admit that South Carolina S
moral influence has suffered terrible teclcnsion,
since the certainty has gone forth to her enemies
that she s not to be feared and TO her friends, that
she is not TO he looked to rs leader. If this be
su, how imperious the necessity which now calls
upon her to leave her tent of imberility-to grd
on her armor, and step forth 'in.o the ring
where all the rest of her associates are actively
striving for the advantages Unless she does this,
there is no other fate in store for her than to be-
spoken of by coming generations, as an impracl.
cable little State, ever boasting Of rights which
she never dared maintain, and making an excuse
of her Indignation to avoid an equal participation
in the cares and disquictudcs OF tho American
Republic.
From the foregoing remarks it may be seen that
we are inclined to the opinion that, inasmuch as
Carolina chivalry is in shocking decline at this
particular time, we should make Carolina slirewd-
ness felt both in tho affairs Of the American Gov
ernmcnt aud in the Commerce OF the world.
We should bend all our energies to the great
work Of enhancing the wealth and general pros
pcrity of our State and people. Seeing that it is
scarcely possible for us at present, to assume an
attitude Of independence, We should labor, with
patriotic ambition, to bring about the time when
it will DC the manifest interest of others to show
us that forhearance which they never will yield
at the bidding of Justice and Right. To this end
! liberal encouragement should be given, BY lesis'
! laive enactment, to all undertakings wliich are
likely TO increase the happiness and affluence OF
any and every grade of our population. 1t should
! be the study of every one, whose influence may
be felt in the civil administration Of our state
government, TO make that government subser-
Went, as far as possible, to the advancement OF
our wealth and consequent Importance among
! the members of the great American League; !;
|