Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-01-29

electlOn OF the next lTeSluclL, W heel)
quiet and peaceable on the most danger
GUS topics on which they have been run
ming their career for many years past.
They only rant the plundcr Of The General
Government 10 enable them 10 carry on The
acar against the South at future day."
Men may be disposed to cast all these
warnings aside, and treat them as mere
political clap.trap. The source from
which they emanate may induce them to
regard them with more Indifference than
if they were uttered by any other leading
paper Of the North; but we cannot so
view them. The political history of the
past few years corroborates the truth of
the convictions thus presented, and in the
present time there is unhappily too much
concurrent testimony in favor of their
sounduess. Recent Legislative electors
and political caucus appointments in Mas
sachusetts show that free soilism rules the
hour, and in other States we have noted
transactions as they occurred, which
proved beyond any dispute that anti-slave-
ry holds the control of all popular elec-
tons. Having largely the majority, and
aided by the detection of Southern public
men, he must be blind indeed who does
not sec that the Federal Government in
all its ramifcatons must be thoroughly
anti.slavery in its tone and anti-Southern
in its policy to sustain any set of men who
may administer its affairs.
We now take occasion to lay before
our readers the warning words of a true
friend of the South, Of man who has
nothing to hope or expect from the spoils
or honor of a public ofIice-of a man,
too, who, having been member Of the
Cabinet of Van Burcn, may well be sup
posed to know and to understand tho
roughly the whole details Of Northern
policy, and who has no motive to expose
them, but that which is supreme in the
breast OF every patriot. We entreat our
readers to ponder on this brief but power
full exhortation. tisfrom q letter recent
ly written by the Hon. +. X. Paulding:
"[ pretend to no claim to intrude my
opinions or offer my advice to the people
of the South, on any other ground but
that of an old and sincere friend to their
rights as guaranteed by the Constitution.
In that character | may be permitted to
say few words on their present position
and future prospects. The time, l fear,
is not far when the blind will see, the deaf
hear, and the most drowsy awake from
their slumbers. therefore respectfully,
but earnestly, warn them to be wary,
watchful, and Jealous; for there are times
when even jealousy is Il virtue. Let them
be wide awake, for they have an enemy
that never sleeps. warn them against
the web that is weaving around them. !
warn them against the pledges Of any
future candidate for the Presidency from
the North, lest they give their suf'rages
to an u lbolitionist in disguise; for nothing
is more certain than that no candidate
who gives satisfactory assurances to the
South can hope for support in the North,
unless he is secretly pledged to violate or
evadc them. I1carn them to preserre and
maintain distinct and separate organi-
za'ion, instead Of relying on either Of the
coatcnding parties in the North, both Of
1rhich are more or less dependent on abo-
Htion support. Their only secure position
is that Of self. dependence. / warn them
against their enemies enlisted under the
banner of British philanthropy, and espe.
cially against their pretended friends en-
listed under the flag Of that Union of
which they are sapping the very founda-
ton. warn them against all who tell
them of the 'soundness of public scnti-
ment in tue North And, above all, I
reiterate my oft-repeated warning, to unite
as men embarked in one bottom, and who
must sink or swim together. So shall
they save themselves and the Union-by
at once securing their own rights, and the
Constitution by which they are sustained
from violation. II they cannot or will
not do this, then we'll may the British
Scribes and Pharisces triumphantly pro.
claim that SLAVERY Is DOOMED"
What Southern man can read these
honest opinions of an experienced and
venerable public man, and not feel a con-
viction that truth is stamped on them
And if this conviction comes home to the
minds of the people their duty is clear
they cannot enter into the approaching
Presidential canvass and be true to the
South, to their own most vital interests.
If it be conceded that the other South
ern States have abandoned for the present
their efforts to stem the torrent of aggres.
sion on their rights, and we believe this
seems to be conceded, then South Caro-
lima, who has not yet definitely avowed
the line Of policy she will adopt touching
this momentous subject, has weighty
responsibility to meet. The great ques.
ton remains how will she meet it; how
will tho delegates of her people assem-
bled in convention discharge the trust
committed to them! Many of her most
distinguished public men are in that body;
and there are few, very few, among its
members, who, if we believe their own
frank avowals, do not subscribe to every
word Of warning uttered by Mr.. Paulding.