Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-02-16
EDGEWOOD, lst Feb, 1853

EDGEh OoU, lSt cO, 1000
Gentlemen: was absent from home for 4
week, and did not receive your letter, notify.
ing ME that you wee instructed to invite /" all
the candidates for Congress" to meet mex.
sale day at AbbeviIle to address the people, &c
until my return and this is the first leisure mo-
Inent have had to answer Was nominated
f5r Congress ut first without my. knowledge.
and some few weeks ago | withdrew my name
upon the express ground that. under the er's.
ting circumstances, could not consent to enter
in,o an active canvass. Upon the earnest en-
Greatly Of many citizens from various quarters,
and from the very best friends have in the
u rid. was prevailed upon To allow them To
run me, but upon the understanding that was
not to 20 into the canvass personally; and
have already respectively refused two other
calls to address the people, because Of this un-
derstanding. ] am deeply attached to the peo-
pie of Abbevillc from all the associations OF my
life, rs we'll rs from all the historical recollec.
lions Connected with the early settlement and
defence Of the District by our fo.etathers. and |
would do anything that i man ought to do TO
meet their wishes.
If there was any great public question imne-
distey in issue upon which the country WdS
Giri!eI into parties, | would not hesitate mn-
ment rs to my course-l would meet anywhere
in the discussion Of those questions, and There
should be no voter who would be ignorant OF
any sentiment entertained OH the questions ut
issue But in your resolution and invitation
there is no such question ntlmated and 1t would
result emphatically in an "actlve canvass" for
personal claims and merits between the candI-
dates Now, in such Il contest al preSen, con-
fess nothing would be more unpleasant Than 10
appear 10 become the solicitous advocate OF my
own claims. 1t strikes me, that the pecuiar
fitness and merits of all of us, who are now
before the public for their choice, is clearly Il
ease, III the eriSting state Of the country, for The
calm and deliberate judgment Of the pee pie.
True, we live in IN eventful age, aud we are
on the eve of mighty events The surface Of
she world seems, at present, smooth, but there
are deep and angry currents running beneath.
All seriety is ina state OF energy that has never
been kuown before. Our Government occupies
o position Of vast responsibility, not only as
concerns our OWN welfare, but the welfare OF
mankind Wise craftsmanship may do much
towards giving sound direction TO events, and
advancing the blessings Of chartered liberty.
Lenoranae or bad judgment might produce
eonyulsiOa that would throw every thing into
confusion.
The Cuba ones,ion, with all its vast and
mighty collateral issues, may be forced upon Us
at any moment and let no man deceive himself
under an idea he may have no interest in it. 1t
il connected with chain Of events that deeply
involves the final destiny of the, shveholding
race; aud, whatever is TO be that destiny, is the
greatest problem that is to be worked out in
modern society. 1t will require profound judg
ment and thorough knowledge to carry US
through the difficulties that lie in the future
Patriotism, soitened by Cancellation; wisdom,
sustained by firmneas, may save US and our
children but, without these, our doom is fixed
hive the greatest confidence in the personal
integrity Of the President elect, and the sound
principles OF his public life nobly devoted 1o
The public good; b alloaD me to sag that The day
of 9cnge7 TO minority Interests is GIoays thGt day