Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-03-26

was conceded TO them. and deny the benefit OF
its provisions to the South that made HE con.
cession. Now, ] am willing to propose game
of fair play. Let the opinion of the people, as
it may he formed in the process of territorial
existence, determine the character Of the State,
and whether the State presenting herself for nd
mission shall admit or exclude slavery be no bar
TO her admission.
Sir, that compromise, rs it has been called, has
, never been observed. There never has been an
opportunity offered when those who cry out
about its abrogaton have not been willing 10
violate its true intendment. | say ito true in
,endlnent, because south of that line it was nl-
ways understood that the people should have a
! right to hold slaves or not, according to their
own option. In regard to the Territory of Kan.
sas, think it might we'll have been left drba-
I table ground-n, ither to call il save-holding
nor non:slaveholding State.
! 1t was an occasion when we might have
! cemenfed, in some measure. the bonds of The
ancient brotherhood; but no, sir, we find that
gentlemen come in with the Bible in one hand
10 preach against slavery, and the torch in the
other. That is the attitude in which they pre-.
sent themselves In the temple of our common
deliberatons--the torch in one hand and the
Bible in ,he other the pulpit and Sharp's rife
Under the banner ofiheology, incendiaries march,
with torches in their hands, proclaiming Gods
will, but doing their own.
have stated ONE reason why the Missouri
! line should have been disregarded by the South
ern people, Now 60 further, and say, in re-
gard 10 the immediate issue on which the Presi-
dent has made The proclamation, he is justified.
How was it brought abbul ? said before, that
Governor Reeder was responsible fur il. | say
so now. By what authority did keeder go. lo
Kansas? He went there under the authority Of
law regularly constituting Territorial Gov
ernment. He went there to BIZ lis Governor,
aud to carry out The provisions Of that law, just
as much as if The Missouri line had not been re-:
peaed. Reeder received his commission ny a
tenant under landlord and have always said
that it was one OF the wsest provisions of the
common law that no tenant should be allowed
to dispute his landlords title. He was placed
here as i sentinel; but what Was his course
He first assembled the Legislature at Pawnee
City. They were not long there before they
adjourned to the Shawnee Mission. He refused
tO sanction the adjournment, and the very first
bill brought to him afterwards was one charter
ing the Kickapoo Ferry Company, think. He
refused to maintain the authority which had been
conferred Oh him, aud without which he would
have been criminal intruder. AS be was thers
under The color Of law, he was in u position 10
do much evil or 10 do much good He was the
trusted officer on 4tlie Quarterback in Storm,
and by his judgment might save the vessel. lie
refused to continue with his trust and has given
rise to fearful trial.
Well, sir, when Reeder would not do his duty
and carry out the provisions Of the law, what
was the President ~ do Remove him of course.
When he was removed, what Was The next step?
I'huse who call themselves free Suite settlers,
emigrants sent out by The aud societies, assem.
bled ut Big Springs, aud nominated Us their
Governor (perhaps may be mistaken, as their
Delegate to Congress) this man, whu was in
open rebellion to lis own aullority--a man who
had disputed the title under which he entered
the Territory. They not only did that, but they
instituted proceedings for establishing govern
lnent to invest themselves, under tho name OF
squatter sovereignty, with, suppose, the right
usurpers. They had second meeting at Tope-
Ia, aud adopted constitution in convention,
and under that constitution elections have been
held, and governor, judges, and members Of
the Legislature have been elected. That Legis-
lalure was to assemble yesterday. God knows
what may be The tragedy growing out Of the
4lh of March, 1856. Sir, Lie news Uf what Oc-
CURED in Kansas on the 4th of March, 1856,
may bring US the intelligence which will be the
knell Of the institutions will not say Of the
Union-of this country; for | hope there is Wis
dom enough lett to preserve republican institu-
tions in durable form, should tile present Union
be no more.
What was the President to do under these cir.
cumslances! Who brought about lhs caiaslro-
phe What is the attitude Of these men? They
have taken The law into their own hands, and
when they did 80 they implored David K. Al.
Gibson for merry, and hs saved them. Here |
will do him the justice to say that he has not
heretofore passed the Rubcon with the spirit of
an ambitious ruler; but if hereafter he ever
passes that Rubcon, all his olence-and it
is very large-wilI not enable him to overlook
the taunts and insults which have been heaped
upon him. If David r. Atchison shall ever pass
the line again, aud say rs Caesar did, Z" have
passed the Rubcon, and now draw the sword"
should dread the contest, for The very reason
that he who goes into matters Of this kind with
reluctance is most to be feared. Remember, sir,
that Hector, at the siege of Troy, was The
last 10 espouse the cause Uf one who had done
dishonor to Pripms house, and he wis the last
TO desert it, HI persisted for the coward who
got him into the difficulty. The proud patriot
was averse to the quarrel Of effeminate Paris
but once in, he was the lust to yield up the Lou.
or of the house of Priam.
Sir, this subject enlarges itself very much in
the estimation OF gentlemen who have spoken
upon it,. shall use no epilhets towards the
Senator from New Hampshire. | have thus far
attempted to avoid them. have characterized
his speech, but have used no epthcts. The
Senator from New Hampshire undertakes to say
that, throughout The whole Of the controversy
in relation to The public domain of the United
States, the South have been the aggressors.
"SouiIlern aggression" was the term on his lips
Southern aggression--Southern insolence and
dough.tace treason on the part of his own coun-
trymen Both statements are untrue. ! do not
impute to him personal untruth. l make the re-
mark in historical and parliamentary debate,
and am speaking of transactions. Let the
Senator answer me ons question. When Vir-
ginia ceded the Northwestern Territory, out of
which five free States have been created, was it
Southern aggression! When she parted with
that domain, and gave it over to the non.sIave-
holding population of the North, WAS it South
ern aggression! She parted with her domain
and bestowed it as bounty upon those who have
enjoyed it. will not say who is the Cordelia
or the Regan in the sisterhood, but can say
who has been the Lear. II was the Old Domin-
ion. Little did Virginia think, when she planted
those States by her own hand, that they would
give rise 10 controversy in which all opinion,
would be inculcated by which she should be re-