Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-12-19


fail in the electoral college, the House will elec
President hostile to our political optniens, J
not to our institutions. If it should be Seward
or any other Black Republican, and an effor
should be made to carry out their platform, .the'
see no means whereby the Government itsel
can be preserved Suclran election must pro
duce disunion, 'bIoodshed, and anarchy. Ar
we prepared for it? And If yea, will we not b
grossly dercIct to humanity if we neglect ;t'
use all The effortsin our power to avert the cafas
trophe, so long rs We can preserve the Govern
ment consistently with our own safety ant
rights?
Our sister States Of the South begin 10 appre
ciate the magnitude of the crisis which awaits
our section. They perceive that the next con
vention isto be one of much more than usua
Importance, and they are preparing for an able
and efficient representation there. Our sister
Georgia, has already taken the initiative to secur.
unity and harmony among the States OF TIM
South, on questions Of vital importance to us a.
a"section. The Democratic and AntfKnoH
Nothing; PARTY, Of that State through Cobb
Toombs, iyerson, Stephens, Warner, Hillyer Bal
ley, Lamar, Scriven, and many other distinguish
ed sons-former Wings and Democrats, State
Rights and Union men-have taken ground ir
favor Of sending delegates 10 that convention
have declared the belief that the Democratic
party ut the North WAS the only constitutional
partY--have reiterated tic Georgia platform
upon which most of the politicians OF this State
as think, properly stand, and propose to. IN
struct their delegates to insist, at Cincinnati
upon platform which shall--frst, recognise and
adopt tie principles established in the Kansas.
Nebraska net; second, that neither the Missouri
com promise, nor any other anti.slavery restric.
tion; shall! teteafier be extended over airy terri.
tory of the United States third, the prompt md
faithful execution Of the fugitive slave law, and
its permanent continuance on the statute-book
The last resolution, at the late mass meeting Of
the'party-at Miilcdgeviile, addresses usi in Ian;
guagc which commends itsefft to every Demo
crat in the South: = - e: 7
Resolrrd, That The Democratic and Anti.
Know Nothing party in all our sister States, and
especially Of the Soalhern States, are respectfully
and earnestly requested te take the foregoing
resolutions into their early consideration, and
cooperate acith as in the policy and objects in
tended to be thereby secured"
Such is ,tireir appeal to the South. We have
heard much of Southern union being necessary
10 our sufetv. Wenow have it in our power, by
cordial cooperation with our Southern sisters, to
secure ito secure it on such basis RS will
permanently preserve our institutions. We can
here make our demand, and with united South,
we can offer it to the true men of the North. II
we net wisely, and present such m nilmatum,
doubt not that thousands, perhaps millions, at
the North, will esponse and maintain 1t; forlt is
platform Of the Constitution, and there are
hosts of conservalircamen who | know are
prepared to maintain the Constitution OF our
fathers.
Will we reject il with silent ontempt--adhere
to our isolation, and stubborny refuse 10 frater-
nize with her, and all the balance OF our South
ern sisters? Who doubts that all the South viii
be represented there! and can it be said, truth
fully, that our voice can be of no avail or weight,
when the ullinatnm shall be laid down? If we
send delegates, who cnn say that our votes may
not secure reliable nominee and a sound plat
form? Will the instructions of Georgia to her
delegates be more or less potent with the indorse-
ment of al or Of only a portion of the South
If; indeed, fanaticism is in the ascendant in the
North, and cannot be overcome. then what initi-
alive step towards Southern Union, for the last
resort,-can be more effective than to unite all
the South on the Georgia platform and instruc-
tions? Our influence in counsel and 10 action
will be increased, whenever we show hearty
disposition to harmonize. with our sisters IN t,ie
South. Have we not heretofore kept aloof from
their consultations in every instance, save in the
Nashville convention; and t!rat was movement
which did not derive sny popularity in the South
from being suspected Of having originated in
South Carolina. Sooner or later we must learn
the important truth, that the fate and destiny of
the entire South is Identical. Isolation will give
neither security nor concert. When we meet
Virginia and Georgia, Alabama and MississippI,
in consultation, us at Cincinnati, it is the supren-
acy of Pharisaism to flippantly denounce such
association rs either dangerous or degrading.
North Carolina, Missouri, Florida, and Texas,
will be there represented; and are we too exal-
ted or conceited to meet them at the same coun-
Gil board?
We shall meet there many liberal men from
the North; those who in their section have done
good service against political abolitionism.-
When we insist upon our Platform with firm
ness, and they see we only make demand OF
our constitutional rights, they will coneede it ;
and when they 90 home, they will prosecute the
canvass in good faith, upon the principles enun-
ciated at the convention. Concert among our
selves, with the aid of the conservative men at
the North, may enable us to save the constitu-
tional Union; If that cannot be preserved, 1t
will enable US to save ourselves and our institu-
TONS Are we alone to have unoccupied seats,
when such grave matters arc to be decided by
the Cincinnati convention! f. IT,
=. Suppose the Democracy of this State should
decide not to send delegates, audthe other States
of tho South should follow her example, who
would be voted for9 Could the party, epen al
the South, without some concert which could
only be secured by meeting, rally upon the same
man? No well-informed person would venture
an affirmative answer; what would be the result
The Democratic party would certainly be de.
fented, and the Know Nothing, or Black Re-
publican party, would as certainly be successful
Our policy, then, would inevitably bring upon
us defeat; and if We are to be saved from Free
Soil President, it is only to be done by the party
in the other States assembling and making. q
nomination in which we refuse Ia. participate.
Even those who are opposing the sending OF
delegates, doubt not, rejoice in the hope that
the other States, despite our inpracticable ex-
ample, will meet and nominate candidates.
But it violates the time honored policy oil
the State" say tho directors. That NAV be
true, and yet should be Of little consequence in
deciding our course now. The divine sight OF
Kings" to rule the people, was consecraied by
the lapse of centuries; and if that had been con.
elusive Of The question, our fathers were guilty
of a grave offence when they announced the
plebeian doctrine, that the people had the right
to govern themselves and make their own laws
1t may be wise to wear cloak to.day, and very
foolish tomorrow, and yet involve no 1nconsis'
tency. 1t is much easier-lo assert the existence
of the practice than to prove its wisdom, We
have persisted in it fol. fifteen years, aud have
made no converts by precept or example. Al
the other Suites in tho Union nop send dele