Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-08-31


inr humanity can rcnd it OPEN or even That edito-
rial Sir, which simply requests them to consult
iudicous economy wise forbearance in eontrlbu-
ting their means 1.-The common advancement OF
the country, to any works Of public utility, illus
trating either the bounty, talents, or skill OF Their
countrymen. They have done nothing for the last
twenty years, to promote the interests Of their
blood-bought Republic and Of their dear and hon
ored State, except, by the most rigid Parsimony to
amass little personal wealth ard few goods and
chattcls and their keenest enterprise and the very
utmost stretch of their generosity have only dis
played themselves, in such trng hazards, as shaw
ing few notes. attm ten to fifteen per cent? and
in lending some small amounts Of money, on Sooa
security, to their suffering felluw- -nan, at from,
twelve and q half to twenty-five per cent per an
mum. It is the sordidncss Of these human n@belngs,
and their want of public spirit and enthusiasm, that
an enlightened press should expose and denouncr,
and upon which it should tax its freedom and
ability They are not only behind the progress oi
the age, and asleep TO the mighty events and SUBJ
lime achievements, which are now crownng the
moral aud intellectual grandeur Of our race, and
marking our day and generation as the brightest era
in the worlds history, but they are so actuated BY
shameful and shameless selfshness, and so shrouded
in moral and mental blindness, that so far from
giving their mites, to roll on the mighty current Of
great designs, their hearts, their SOULS and their
whole understandings seem locked up i'll the dark
chest that contains their boarded gains, and they
are unable even family to realize the bright and go-
rous vison-he glit,ering and gorgeous panorama,
that is passing in review before them.
The Palmetto State is lagsing far in the rear OF
Georgia, in developing her natural resources, and
in clciting and engaging the enterprise and ngenu-
ty Of her citizens The latter State, with scarcely
half the comparative individual wealth, and with
judiciary infinitely inferior, has almostzor quite
double the extent of. Rail Road owned BY the for
mcr. Two or three great causes have retarded the
prosperity and the general enterprise Of South Caro-
lima, which you will permit me, in this con'nunica-
ton, to disclose and explain. r. -.
- Our State lhs been in constant pet add wrangle
with the General Government, ever since about the
year 1920. Mrs. Caudle could present but feeble
idea of hcr noise and scoding, and nothing but
femanine weakness and indecison have distinguish
ed her character and conduct at those exigencies,
|. when. the herosm and chiralry Of her sons were
called upon to make gallant stand for liberty and
honor. The State unfortunately has never felt her
want of strength until the arrival of those fearful
emergencies, when prompt and manly action, and
selisacricng devotion were the only alternatives left
to frcemen Still it is but fair to say, that South Caro-
j.lina bluster and bravado had q saluiary political
bearing, although the gallant State was made aware
but too late, Of her inubil, to cope with the Gene
raj, Government, andtits rapacious and ido!atroui
j minions.
The alarm we have continually sounded on th'
subjects of..thc Tariff, and Slavery and Northern
crpdity, havehad the effect, most undoubtedly o
awakening the South 10 a sense Of her immnen
. danger, and OF rousing her patriotic children to
more wa,chful guardianship Of their rights, and t
a clearer conception ofther duties as members Of
great, liberal republican family. That portion 0
the country was fast becoming wholly ob!ivious 0
her true interests, and of the abon,nable, disgrace
: charter of her Liberties, when her attention wa
arrested by taic warning voice Of CALHOUN, and th
urlr p0wcFIiI
logic Of HARPER, TURSDuLL and other worthless 0
resisless tide Of oppression, and enabled th'
country once more to look to the future with hope
confidence. and exul,a,ion.
Secession was originally well meant, and was
patriotic movement, which, though being so gen
orally m:sconc,ived or fouly mistreatcd and mis-
Bile between the leaders Of the State, for the rot
cal ascendency, vas nevertheless, most highly
beneficial to he whole South, and conservative o
the Constitution OF the land. To it, and to the
general anxiety and discomfort it inspired through
out all of the slave-holling States, may be justl,
aseribed our present security, the universal and
unqualified aequiescence in tile compromise, and ir
the Bill for the rendition of fugitive slaves, the lib
cral complex en- of President PIERcE's Cabinet, the
promotion Of 50 many sterling State Rights men, tc
high and responsible posts in the Government, and
the radical and happy change Of the whole repub-
lie on the subject Of Slavery.
! It must be admitted, nevertheless that although
nullifcation aimed ga noble siroke,n-a a high
tafif-st its consequences to South Carolina were
not. Of unmxed good In the easerncss Of her
eloquent Statesmen to promote free. trade, and TO
throw off the odious burthen under which we were
perisbing. thex- proceeded futlsr than harolyato
oppose the unequal and unjust system of taxation
that had been imposed upon us, and made war
upon all schemes of internal improvement by the
Government, as etexs used by the friends Of high
d discriminating duties for exhaustng the treasury,
and inducing something Ike a necessity for adopt
provements were thus abused, by sordid, unscru-
pulous majorty,+it was unquestionably right to
offer opposition TO then-or, at least, such course
in our distinguished leaders were excusable under
the appalling circunsiances-that so threatened
overwhelming ruin and degradation to the South.
Such a mode Of warfare, though, INN humble
judgement, was unphosophical, and gave evidence
rather of the fertile resources of advocates and of
that strong instinct which "snutFed tyranny in the
tainted gale" than Of that high courage which
dares to redress wrong ON the moment of its infic-
ton, and of that lofty devoted patriotism which
scorns an indirect method Of resenng injustice, it
matters not how indirectly soever, it may be perpe-
trated blythe ministers Of oppression and despotism.
To denounce internal improvements, which, abb.