Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-04-22
LET PEACE BE RESTORED.

Of her previous history. As might have been
expected from such state of things, her poslton'
ut present. is less honorable to herself and less
useful to Southern interests than 1t has ever before
BEEN Could the unprecedented schlsms ana uh'
fortunate dissensions Of the past summer nave
been counted upon, at this time last year, with
any degree Of probability, there are many VINO
would have Stunned these evils in their first ap'
proaches. Blu; human wisdom, weak at the BEST
was in this instance, led astray by seemingly
rational conclusions. Itcould not readily be an
,ic;na,ed that a State, which had been always
characterized by loftiness of Intention and bold
ness Of execution, would ever become vacillating
and irresolu,e, however trying the emergency
which presented itself. 1t could not easily pe
imagined that people, who had always indicated
Ms their creed, "millions for the defence OF their
Rights" could be suddenly metamorphosed into
calculating race, cautiously weighing the costs OF
resistance TO- against the evils OF ecquiescence In
measures of extreme oppression. 1t coniu not DC
expected that population,. which had been TOR
MANY years instructed to determine their course
for themselves and of themselves, and to depend
upon their own right arms for maintaining that
course. could SO soon have declared their inclIna'
tions and desires subserrient 10 the decision OF
others, even though these others 'rerc TRENDS.
Yet such things as these have taken place
among u.s. Thus it is that many have been Dill
terlv deceived. Thus tits that political enter
prize of daring and, it. may be, desperate char
acter was speedily set on. foot. and as speedily
condemned. 1t was doubtless regarded ny us
orrina,ors as The safest because the bnldest and
most imposing mode Of procedure in defence OF
our interests and privileges as (recmen. In esil'
mating its virtue and efficacy, they had moi in
view the possibility of;hultings or falterlngs or
doubts in our own ranks, decming that these conId
never be- And herein did they full in forecast
The impartial judge Of the Carolina character
will decide that they had good reason 10 cherish
this belief, however wide Of the reality. That
they reckoned incorrectly here, cannot then be
charged agans, them as even an obvious error
much less as fault. And yet it has resulted IN
placing us in the uncnriable position of a COM
monwcal,h promising great things and doing
nothing. :, H.. .,
|
olium there be,) which attaches 10 this condition
of things, is chargcable upon another party IN
our midst Our wish now is to see peace restored
to our lately distracted ranks and TO feel that VIC
arc all, again, brothers in deed and IN truth.
Union Mt home has made for us whatever OF char
actcr we enjoy as q State, and has given 10 us
whatever OF influence we possess among the
American n governments ], is indeed, with small
reppblics especially, "the one thing needful," }"
the peril of great price," Without it, theyslnk
into weakness and insignifcance With it, they
nrc morally if not physically strong, and can ap'
peal with mighty effect to the public opinion oi
the civilized world.
Far greater are the dangers 10 he apprchcndcd
from the hlighting influences Of civil strife, IN
country situated like this our fair Carolina. She
is Tor has the name of beingl Free and lndepen'
dent member of Confederation. The central
organ of this confederation, in part her creation
has become gigantic ana orerbcarns in its pro-
portions. Its tendency y swallow up the original
ing yearly more palpable and dangerous. Its
pnwer, thus directed, is at war with the interests
of the Southern States continually; and will
eventually succeed in stripping them of their
equality and, perhaps, of the commonest benefits
of freedom, If suferedto SO on unchecked by the
proper opposing influences. These influences are
only to be found in the determined resistance nf
each sovregn State acting foritself The central
organ and its engines understand we'll that this is
the only difficulty which impedcs their progress to
thar b.vt
transport, divisions in the States, and arifu!ly
foster them into distracting quarrels Therefore
il is that they bribc prominent Souiherners 10
treason against their own homes Therefore it is
that they exert their whole patronage (Which is
already enormous and rapidly increasingly TO bcget
among us n party who will bow down TO the SUI
preme central authority and obey its behests even
to the sacrifice Of their native hears and ancient
privileges. Here is the danger that impcnds and
threatens soon to number the story of American
freedom among the brief but beautiful visions Of
the past.
Enmity to Southern prosperity may remit, but
never ceases. We may be calmed, by political
anodynes skhfully administered, into occasional
repose but we are not suffered to sleep long before
we are again aroused by The sting Of oppression s
lash. Again are we ldlled, and again oppressed.
And this dreadful process may work ont our COM
plete destruction in the end.
So thought the Secessionists last year, and this
apprehension, as much as any other cause,
prompted them to declare for immediate resis.
tance.
But the time has passed-thc sting is partially
forgottcn-and shall we fall again into the sleep
of indifference Shall we suffer the State to roll
on suggishly into the maelstrom of Federal cor.
ruption! Will Co-operationists consent to this
Can Secessionists abide the thought. II moi,
then we say to them, shake off every feeling Of
opposition among yourselves-drop the party
names which You yet bear, (hey do not become
you now)-and be once more what you were but
two short years ago, ere yet your noble CALHOUN
expired-Carolinians- more, nothing less.
Has ambition entered the Losoms Of any ambl'
ton to reach an eminence through party influence
which, il is feared, cannot be attained by lndi.
viduuf merit and worth! Let it be banlshed as 4
poisonous plant suited only to the dank beds oil
corruption and vice. Has envy been iengendered
among those who have hitherto felt towards each
other warmth Of kindness and cordialHy, al
most equal to that which pervades the domestic
crclc' Let it be rooted ont Mt once, and let for
mer confidence be restored Thus alone can we