Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-09-28
should we be saction.1 or not

Carolina, shat we should not be. The rest OF us feel
shat we should be. Those who maintain the negative
of this proposition would perhaps style themselves
National Democrats; while those who uphold the al
frmaiire prefer the appellulion Oh Southern ftghs
Democrats. The former believe that the conservative
element Of Southern aafety is the friendly disposition
Of the bulk OF Northern brethren The latter feel
confident that eur suest and in fact our only real pro-
lection, is to rally the Southern penPe, in defence or
Southern interests and Southern institutions under
Southern banner and this is what they mean by Sec
tonaism What arc the respective grounds upon
which these two opinions rest! We can see none for
the first Indicated and must therefore leave lis
development to those familiar 18th the premises
which gave i. birth. OF the second wo will indise
word or two.
The North and The South have never Ind any real
affinity for each other. Were it not for the gains
which Yankee sngnciy we'll counts npon as spring
ing from conneIion with our portion OF the Union,
it is perfectly fair to suppose that this conne1on
would aoon be broken up by the people OF the North
Ever ainco the days Of the Revolution the greatest
Jealousy and ill-feeing have existed between these
two grand divisions Of the confederacy, or rather We
should say in the North towards the South. Even
during the Revolution itself, while Southern blood
was freely spills upon Northern plains and in defence
Of Norlh-ra homes il was with difficulty that North
soldiers could be induced coma to the rescue Of
our endangered section. This every one will admit
to be in accordance with the true record of facts.
The Federal annals from that time down show but
one continued series Of dissensions and disputes be-
the North and the South, in almost all oil which
the lattor has been compelledS by the domineerng
spirit of the North, to give ground even TO the extent,
sometimes, of submitting 10 injustice and oppression OF
The most pernicous character. This passive ncqnles.
cence, before the hgh-handed rule of the dominant
North, has not been with lis much the result OF
quang spirit Of earnest desire TO perpctnale f
possble) the Union which cur father, had taught lis
TO revere. But our Northern opponents have never,
for moment, given us credit for the sacrifices we
have constrained ourselves to make, that we might
dwell together in unity. Onihe contrary, they have
almost invariably exhibited deepseaIed eDmity 10
any measure tending TO the advancement of Southern
interests, and have looked upon our patriotic patience
under injury. rs but additional inducemen 10 wound
US more and more vitality. And these symptoms OF
antipahy were clearly manirst long before The slave
nv agitation had assumed shape and name. The
history Of the country, we maintain, conclnsively
shows that the people of the North and the people of
the South tthe fault lying entirely NTH The former
have never had any real affinity for each olher but
that they have stood tby The fault Of the North,
from the very commencement Of the Governmenp ar.
rayed against each other, section against section 1t
was an intimate acquaintance with this fact, and all
the circumstances Of ons.sitled legislation which had
brought it about, that made CALHOUN, McDUFFIE and
COOPER, aeclionalisis in principle and in action during
all the latter part Of their lives And they were EN-
ireIy justified in assuming That aunrle. Were ;!cy
no, indeed forced to it, Was it not but the instinct
of ,ef preservation tha. impclrd them! When the
great orator Of South Carolina Stood before The as
,embcd representatives of ali The States aud depicted
the "decny, gloum and desolaon' which Northern
majUr;ies, by their abuse Of power, were nhout to
bring upon hiu beloved South-when he there un.
masked that monster, Protection, and unveiled
scheme which, for Internal reach.ry and corruption
could only be compared 10 Moore's deinOnac prophet
of khorazan-when ho warned Congress that The
peace OF the Union was gqne and urged the South to
stand upnn her rigg, and resist to the extremity of
war, will any say thai he was sectional, antina-
tonal and therefore wrongl Was not secIionaiism,'
a. here displayed the most exalted kind of patriotism
the kind which prompts men 10 risk life and SUBJ
stance in defence Of their families their fre.siJcs und
all their dearest interests!
Bu, Sec,ionalism at Tho South was virtue then,
10 il no, much moro since the an1iagery spirit has
breathcd activity and energy, ml,chirf and enmiiy
into the largest sub divisions Of the political orgnnza-
tions Of tile North! The principles Of The Abolition
ists proper may as yet be confined TO comparatively
small number. But under the false flag Of Frecsoil.
ism Tan embodiment of principles far more plausible
and consequently more dangerous 10 the SoutD near
ly all lilo resi- are listed, whethe. Wings or Demo.
cra,s A "uoble trio' here and there nlay romInnnd
gallant few 10 the rescue Of tatlered Constilu
,ion Blu, tho great body Of the population North Of
Mason and Dxon's limo, the hos! Of our opposrrs $50
10 speak, have deliberately awurn upon lle alars Of
their political faith that The extension of our domestic
institution shall go step farther over the territories
of lh. United States. We will be pointed here to he
Nebraska bill US evidence that thi' exclusive spirit ia
no, SO controlling in it's influences as may have been
apprchended. In reply, we urge that It's passage was
effected on The grounds that il did nothing for the er-
tension Of slouery-that the nrory in dispute would
forever be worthless 10 Southerners with their slaves
that j, was bare admission Of principle (for the
time being ,hey nigh. have added) which would Ger.
tany bo imperative 90 far as bencfng the South,
in any degree was considered But, although forced
through in lhls manner, by the aid of n few spirited
and indcpsnden. Northern gentlemen, what have been
The subsequent developments! Do we not see The
Northern masses furious in their Indignation because
Of that very enactment! Can there Be rlouht that
AL overwhelming majority in the tso caedJ free States
are outraged by il. passage. Do not all tie ndica
lions by which reasonable men can judgr-the tone"f
the public press, The Of public resolu:ions the
temper of political meetings, the madness of excited
mobs the voice Of the pupit, tho whispered hut EN-
phatc murmurs OF the we'll llmenning, and the hendlsh
OF tho bad-al 90 show that there doesa
this time exist, throughout the length and breadth ot
these Whe.savery Stntes, permanently rooted hos
,ty to our Southern rountryl And is ,hho time
for Sousherners to condemn Soh,herner' because it
ia urged thnt should at form the square "i de-
fence, that may present to our rec kess conieder
a.es, whatever side they may attack US, irm and
solid 'front.' which shall, perchance, slartle and stop
them in their revolutionary career Is this tms'
in short TO foster an insane and stupid na,ona'm a
the expense Of that Southern seconalIsm, which Is
our only hope in view Of the mighty odds that may
soon no brought to bear upon us, in WOW oi the
final struggle that approache, for all we hold Gear and
valuable on Garth! We trust that those who have
mcditoted so dangerous experiment will pause and
ponder we'll its effects. Mature reflection will surely
oave them from so fatal mistake.