Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-11-28
WHAT ARE WE TO DO !"

the news from The land Of gold.
"wHAT ARE WE TO DOT"
TIE Mercurys three several articles in reply to our
last article under the above caption have just fully
come to hand-too ste fear, to admit Of so extern
ded notice as their length and elaborateness would
seem to require. If we dispose of Them somewhat
summarily our contemporary must attribute it 10 any
thing but the want Of proper respect ior his views
For convenience sake, we shall take the Mercury's
articles scriatm. And, first 10 the article Of Nov l9h
It begins with extracts, from our reply, OF such
passages as suit the purposes of rejonder, utterly
ignoring, then and thereafter, the many and strong
qualifications with which these passages placed in
direct jurta. position. The conclusion is forthwith
drawn tha, our argument is based upon two planks,
frs, the unity of our Stale, and second union of the
South.
"Ffra dten," says the Mercury, ",riu the partici.
patton of South Carolina in the Cincinnati Contention
preserve the unity ofthc Sta,e?" And half.coumn
is devoted 10 the cucidalon Of the negative Of this
question.
Here is seemingly deliberate effort to distort our
views and mis.staie position, which We find it
difficult, excuse in fair and hIsh.toned sheet us
Ille Mercury. We did not say that our States going
into Convention would unite our people. 1t was the
appearance Of actual divisions amongst US, the very
same 10 which the Mercury alludes, that prompted
our suggestions in this matter We had heard the
same cry of National Democracy in our mountains"
which startled the Iiercurys chad witnessed
the angry response which this "cry elected from The
lowlands Of South Carolina and We thought We
foresaw 10 use the ercurys words, that the result
-,
1t was time when such divisions were most earnest
y 10 be deprecated And it occurred to us just then
to throw out proposition by which they might be
averled. We did conscientously, and with asngle
view TO the peace of State and the Union Of the
South. The Mercury calls US TO account as though
we had aimed blow at the very heart Of South Caro-.
lina's onor. We reply in the rational and Suggestive
tone of our first article still holding up the union Of
people prerequisite any action the State
nigh, adopt in the premises. Whereupsn the Mercury
bestows upon his three long drawn articles the first
Of which is expended in combating position which
exists solely ia the brain Of our a.snilant. We will only
now add that honestly supposed our very guarded
proposition would afford ground upon which all rea.
sonahly conservative men in ths State could unite;
and despite the ercurys Jealous ezertons TO give it
al VIC oiSpoScu SCt w hoiu " oe
opinion 1.-THE reverse shall prove to be correct we
have but acted the part Of an humble bat Independent
Carolinian and shall experience semblance Of NOR
tficaton that our views have been overridden. We
proceed to the Mcrcurys article of November soth:
1t opens with flourish Of trumpets, scarcely excell
ed since that day Of romantic memory when six heralds
sounded The entrance Of certain proud Tempar into
the lists OF ST. George, near TO the Preceptoy Of
Templestowe." A highsounding paragraph, that
,aigh, form the introduction Philippe, leads
contemporary on into another, the burden uf which is 10
Set forth the erroneous and unralledor inuendo that
we are seeking concealment Of our objecls" under
the proposition We have had the honor Of promulging.
The injustice of such fling has doubtless been per-
ceved by The good of our cotemporay before This
and we prefer to orbear further comment thereupon.
The argumen, Of the Mercury, to show that our
plan will have no good effect upon Southern union, is
embodied in the one.thrd portion Of this second
article and is to the effect as follows: First
the assertion tina. South Carolinas going into Con-
venton with her sister States Of the South must
fail in achieving any in defence Of our rights
And the given is because it can only effect
nnion Of the Democratic party. The assumption is
annexed, that it will intensity The bitterness Of party
feeling at the South and rather increase our divisions.
The triumph then of the Democracy in the Southern
States has amounted to nothing. And the halleujahs
Of the Mercury at each victory have been
but empty phrases. And Democratic majoriiies in
the Southern States are humbugs for any real good.
How is this Did not the Mercury believe, in 1851,
that if South Carolina had proven for separate State
action by the resu, of the popular vote, such action
would have been had! Is itrealy nothing for party
to obtain control of State! Is il nothing for
party to obtain control of the Union! Is 1t
nothing for party to obtain control OF the whole
Union! If the Democratic party in the ascenden-
cy in South Carolina does it not shape the course OF
the S,ate Is not the same true of Virginia, Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi and the rest II then the Demo-
cratic party vctoriousrn all the Southern States,
is the fruit to be the triumph of their policy what
ever it may BIS And is it nothing, looking at the
question from this to unite the Democratic
party South in defence Of Southern Rights! This is
all have ever thought TO gain as the immediate re.
suit Of cooperation with sister States in ths mat
ter of the Cincinnati Convention! But the indirect
results might be greater, far greater. If We do not
bring the Democratic party in Conventon fully up to
the notch of Southern requirement, we fall back upon
ourselves and become united Southern party. Would
that we could become at once and without any in.
termsdate effort in another direction. But this effort
ws compelled TO make, to satisfy all in our ranks
that it /, nscsEsary to draw the line Of demarcation
between the two great sections, the North and the