Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-08-15
A. e. BUTLER.
DR.. o. R. DRoYLEs, Chairman, &c.
Letter from Hon. +. w. Pickens, er-men,bcr
to Congress from South Carolina.

Letter from Hon. f. w. Pickens, er-membcr
to Congress from South Carolina.
EDGEwooD, July .l9, 1855.
GENTS: received your kind invitation to join
YOU at dinner TO be given to your distinguish
ed representative in Congress, and would be
pleased to b. present, if my constant engage
menls would permit. | hope his abilities and
active talents will render hun enlinenlly useful
10 his State, in the great emergencies that must
inevitably arise. Any thing from us humble IN
individual as myself. would of course be consid-
cred almost q trespass upon your time, and yet
| cannot forbear saying, that it appears to me
the Southern States occupy a somewhat differ
ent position now, to what they have done for
the last twenty-five years: A Fugitive Slave
Law has been passed, supposed to be efficient,
the Nebraska Bill has been passed, The Mis-
souri, Compromise line has been repealed. The
North complain Of all these nets us grievances
! not to be borne. They demand their repeal
| they also demand the abolition of slavery in the
Districs'ol Colunbia-lhe prohibition OF inter.
change of slaves between the Southern States,
and the rejection Of any other State tolerating
slavery in its constitution Now these are all
positive measures. I'VE stand on the defensive.
Heretofore we have complained of great griev-
ances and were compelled 10 moye--llow they
arc forced to move. And in this point Of view,
We have Il stronger position than for years, it
| we are only wise and sincere | suppose the
first distinct move will be 10 reject Kansas on
her application as slave State. There ia n
large majority in the next House of Repsesen-
tatives against the admission of .slaye State.
Let them reject the application. | will not.pre-
sune to say what we will do in such an event.
They cant restore the Missouri Compromise
nor repeal the Fugitive Slave B--nor abolish
Slavery in the District OF Columbia, or any
thing of the kind, because the President and the
Senate are both against them. The only real
issue they can practically tender ut present is
for the majority in the lower House of Congress-
to reject the application of slave State.
rather think, from the course OF public opin-
ion, that the Southern States, under The lead OF
Virginia, will be considered the great guardians
and protectors of tho Foreign interest and po,
li,ica influence of foreigners in these United
States, and that the leaders of the old rank and
file Democracy of the Northern Slates,. who
have been routed by: recent organizations there,
will rally and lead the Foreign influence in the
Middle and North Western States, 80 as to form
powerful and active party who will look upon
their opponents with intense bitterness and feel
the deepest sympathy with the South as their
political guardians in the Union. They will be
.tnade.to feel that there is n party amongst them
at:home, whose object is to degrade. their politi
cal equality. and they will ally themselves with
the Slayehodng States, in order to foster n
political power, to keep in check what they will
look upon rs hostile dominant party at home.
So the effect of all recent moves is 10 allay all
bitterness and division in the South, while they
have crented intense excitement ana bitter strug.
gles at the Norlh--and this will continue to Be
The case. The great presidential question is
now pressing for u settlement too. This in
/ wolves the division Of seventy millions Of dollars
a year, or S92s,ooo,Ooo for tile next four years.
This is great stake, and too many live by it,
to allow ef any violent issue being made that
might produce a rupture. Under these circum-
.stunces, 1 donbt whether the minority elected to
tho House CT Representatives will eyer dare re-
ject the application Of State for admission be.