Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-04-22
From the Charleston Mercury.
Letter from Hon. ID. Wallace.
WASHING TON, April II, 1852.


ter of the 25th ult. You ask me what, in
my judgment, the Convention, soon to as.
ssemble in South Carolina, should do? Be
fore this question can be wisely answered,
we must form 4 just conception of the con-
dition of things, in reference to which the
Convention must shape its action. Events
have very clearly indicated what the action
of the Convention should be. The people
of the South have decided that there shall be
10 resistance to the Compromise mca-
sures of the last Congress. The Conven-
ton, then, can do no act, that will produce
resistance for past wrongs, either within the
State, or beyond her borders. 1t Is true. that
a large majority Of the members OF the Con-
vention are in favor of secession. But il is
equally true, that majority of the people Of
South Carolina have decided against immedi-
ate secession, unless, in cooperation with
the Southern States. This cooperation can
not be obtained now, and the decision OF our
people is, therefore, and acquescence at least
for the present, in the Compromise. The
majority of our people being thus opposed
to the only form Of resistance, which, under
existing circumstances, the State could auopt'
it will not, in my opinion, be either proper
or expedient for the Convention to pass IN
ordinance of Secession; for deem it to be
the plain duty of the Convention, 10 conform
to the expressed will Of the people in this
REGARD. The State should not resort to Sc
cession, without large majority of the peo-
ple be in favor of it, and rs that majority Is
opposed to it, consider the question as be-
ing settled for the present.
The question then arises, what can the
Convention do to promote the public good
within our own borders! Before this ques-
ton can be determined, we should know
whether evils exist in the State, which admit
of remedy, and if so, what are they, and
what is the remedy? In November, 1850,
we were n united people. Events which
have happened since have made us dvl-
ded people; and while we continue to be
thus divided, our political and moral power,
which should be cXerted alone in opposition
to the usurpation and injustice Of the Federal
Government, will be exhausted in demorallz-
ing and Improbable conflicts among our.
selves. This is an unnatural condition OF
things, and ought not 10 continue; tor while
it continues, we not only cannot advance:
but must reccdc, according to an admitted
principle of political science; and unless our
intestine divisions shall cease, a Gorern-
ncnl party will Mt no distant date be formed
and acquire strength and consequence in the
State. Recent events in the South have
clearly demonstrated the proposition that
the time for dissolution Of the Union has
not arrived. If that event shall ever happen,
it will be brought about, by the gradual pro-
gress of public opinion, which in conse:
9uence of the abuse of power, by the Federal
Government, has within the last few years
made rapid advance in that direction. A
great event like this, cannot be forced in ad.
vance of public opinion. The public mind
must be ripe for it before it will ever take
place. This adaptation of the public mind
to the cxigcncy of the times, has ever prccc
ded all revolutions, and all attempts TO &c
complish Il fundamental change in the exist
ing form of government, before the public
mind was prepared for, and willed such
change, have ever resulted in failure.
Nor can another canvass in South-Carolina
RaR sstH Aas i mt stss Ef5h ffe
issues presented by the central government
without success, and cannot bring my mind
TO the conclusion, that another struggle
would result differently from that which we
have already realized The people of our
sister States have not sympathised with us,
10 the extent Of our hopes, and we should
learn wisdom from the past. Another fail
urc to achieve success in resistance to wrong
will do our cause infinite mischief. What
we want now, is reunion Of our people up
on our old State Rights, Republican plat
form: and until this reunion shall take
place, il is clear that we can do nothing to
advance the great cause Of Southern rights.
The intestine divisions which now exist in
the State, are therefore an evil, which in my
Judgment the Convention should remedy, if
possible.
1t is with much diffidence, that venture
to indicate the policy, which the Convention
ought to pursue; but as you, as member
of the Convention, ask for an expression Of
nv opinion, will comply with your request
with frankness and candor.
Those who lead = State, in times of great
public DANGER are Jound to achcire success
if within the compass of human means. The
Convention about to assemble. should not
lose sight of this principle. We rant no
more futures The question is not now,
what we would do, but what can we do I?
The Convention should act according to the
circumstances in which we are placed, and
not other wise. Its first aim should be, to
use all the means within its power, to res.
tore to the State the power it has lost, by
the divisions which now so unhappily pre-
vail among our people.
You inform me, that the opinion is enter
tanned by some, that the members ofthe Con-
vention, who are in favor of secession, ought
to resign. do not believe, that any menl-
Der ought to resign, under any circumstan-
ccs which exist now, or which are likely 10
arise; but that every member of the Con-
vrntion ought to 60 into that body, not rs
the partisans of n party, but as Carulinians,
act for the honor and happiness of the whole
State; and as the public voice has deter
mined, authoritatively, that there shall be no
separate action, this expressed will of the
people should be obeyed. The Convention
will deserve, and think receive, the appro-
baton, if it shall heal, and not widen, the
differences which now distract and paralyze
the energies and counsels of the State. The
present party distinctions should not be per-
mitted to exist any longer. No good man
or true patriot can desire their continuance.
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