Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-11-22
From the South Carolinian.
The Question Before Us,

the halls OF Congress but upon some South
ern field. For this opinion have referred
you TO the late elections at the North.
have shown that Il few despised fanatics in
the fourth of century have grown into Il
mighty party, controlling manly, if not all,
of the nonslaveholLiny States; that this
party has increased, is increasing, and no
man can seriously define any point where
lis march is likely to be arrested, shout Of
abolishing slavery in these United States.
proceed now to the next reason for this
opinion. The Episcopal Church in this
country has for the fourth of century with
stood the fury of this Ianaticism. Rtposi"g
upon her time. honored name, she has looked
with calm contempt upon the low strife that
has ragged around her towers, aud rent in
twain bodies less stable than herself. Her
friends have gloried in the belief that she
was the great conservative christian body
Of this cOuntry-.the great breakwater
against which the waves OF lanaticism would
spend their violence in vain. She has done
well acted nobly-and deserves honor at
our hands for the stern resistance which she
has offered to the violence OF lanaticisni, aud
the faithful rebukes bestowed upon its vul gar
outrages. But alas, where are our hopes
to-day! What is the position now Of this
conservative christian church upon the slave
ry question! All afloat-shvering in the
breeze and destined soon to so to pieces
upon this issue. What are the facts upon
which this opinion is formed! 1t is The sad
and deplorable fact that bishops-the but
lresses of this builling-are yielding to this
pressure of circumstances Dr. Wainwright,
the late Bishop of New York; Bishop Pot.
Ter, of Pennsylvania; and Dr.. Tyng, of
New York, have given in their adhesion p
the abolition patty make this statement
not upon personal knowledge, but uuon the
most unqurslionable authority. Aud while
am forced to use these names in this coll
necton, fu. what believe useful purpose,
must avow my conviction that they are
Justly distinguished for learning, piety and
usefulness But good aud learned men may
do very bad aud foolish things. Richard
Baxter was La Old y Nell ,=E'T
These distinguished prelates would be
much shocked, suppose, at being ranked
among vulgar aboliiionists. They are par
excellence" only F." IreesoiIers." But what
do care about The name of the machine
that you are making for my destruction!-
They are giving aid and countpnance TO our
enemies; hence they must be held as ene-
mics themselves.
do not believe, nor would insinuate,
that these good.men intend or wish US any
harm; but when my life is the stake at play,
mast look into the effect, not the 'notirc Of
Il mans conduct. These virluous men do
not thirst for blood; but in the ranks OF
their party are to be found Parkers and Gar
risons; and when the blood. hounds are let
loose, what hand will be strong enough again
10 leash them? am well persuaded that
many good men Of the abolition party do
not see to what complexion they are driving
things. They do not understand that the
law which aIInlishrs slavery has 10 be wri!tcn
in blood But it behooves thuse who will
furnish the ucaterial for the writing TO he"in
to lhuk of it. They are making war upon
us, and the time for people to defend them.
selves is mhi!e they hare arms in their hands
When the day arrives for the last deadly
conflict, these good, innocent men will stand
aghast, aud lit up in holy horror their trem.
bling hands; but it will not be ecclesiastical
canons that will decide the issue OF that day.
1t is easier to raise the 'wbirwind than to
direct the storm. These bishops would do
well to study the history OF the Presbyterian
clergy in the great rebellion of lG4O. A
wiser or more virluous body Of men have
never risen in the church than those dissent
luz ministers. 1t was this same Fata Nor.
gand-liberty-that induced them to unite
themselves with designing and bond-thirsty
men. They little dreamed to what end they
were lending their aid. When they found
themselves upon The verge of usurpati"n and
treason, they raised up their hands aud vol
ces in horror; but to what end! In times
or revolution and discord it is the violent and
the lawess who rule; the rest ae but the
tools. The same lesson is taught us in the
history of the Girondsts. They mantuIly
threw themselves into the breach to stop the
violence of their party; bat on y to lose
their own heads. Thus we may learn that
so far as we are concerned, we have the
same danger to apprehend from the ireesoil
party as frnm the old abolition faction.
There is another aspect Of this matter
still more deserving our consideration. why
have these reverend gentlemen just discover.
ed their duty in relation to slavery They
are not youths, just forming opinions upon
moral questions They were men of mature
minds, and had settled opinions upon the
slavery question when it was first agI'ated.
WHY SO late in enlisting in the crusade
against slavery. There is no mistnkins this
point The outer pressure has. become loo
strong. Nor does this at all imply want
of moral principle in these gentlemen. That
man who can resist the ceaseless drifting of
torrent, must be obstinate, must be apathe.
tic, must be strong, must rise above the in.
fluenre Of human sympathy. Thy are but
men Of {" like passions and infirmilies with
ourselves" and the tide that flows is sweep
ing them away. Hence let US learn the
strength of it.
Let no one deceive himself with the
thought that these are but few men--the
great body of the church may still be sound.
When the mighty have fallen, will the mass
of mediucrity struggle for martyrs crown
FALKLAND.
An English writer says you can tell when
you are surrounded by dozen Americans,
by the following unerring test: Three Will
he fnund smoking cigars. aud the other nine