Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-01-23
= WHAT poEsUNroE MEANT

The Charleston Mercury, IN commenting upon
the Message of President Pierre, uses the fol-
lowing language, t..,,,-s..-.,.,; :,
With such principles Is are yindicated in the
Message, il wond matter little, whether the
South were IN majority or minority, in one or
both Housea of Congress-. Let them be estab-
lished, and we should have all that we have ever
saked--security from extraneous interference
and hostility. ~ :. ns:7, ~
nWeregard, therefore, this gathering up aud
condensation Of the whole question Of the rights
Of the States in reference to slavery, as present
ing a new, feature in Federal politics; as afford.
ing m issuo, founded upon constitutional princi.
PIES, whereby men will be compelled to deter
mine whether they nre ready to sustain, Or to
break pp, the compact of the Union. 1t has
syideutiy como to this; and the President has
shown his superiority to mere party, in taking
the question farther back than all existing party
divisions, and eliminating and exposing the frst
principles from which the later dissensions have
sprung. 1t ia bya recurrence to these princi
pies alone that any healthy reconstruction of
the Old and reyered Union of our Fathers cdn be
accomplished; and it is only by sustaining the
inrnwho are true to these principles, that we
can hope to give TO such constitutional: move
uent a character of dignity, consistency, and
wholesome promise, as will justify the sympa.
thy and support Of the people at large.
70 the Southern States, the necessity of a
union in the support of these principles was
never 40 apparent as at present In fact such
union now is our only political life. If we
yield Il, wo are broken into fragments, and are
luit in vortex of factions, the best of which
are Indifferent to our safety, md the majority of
which are our relentless enemies. We can only
unite upon the principles that are so clear and
impressiyely set forth in the Presidents Mes
sage; and for the present ut least, he must of
necessity be the standard bearer and the repre-
sentative of all who desire the preservation of
the Federal Union on principles which are con-
sistent with the conservation of the rights of
the States, and the internal peace and good un-
derstanding Of the members of the CoRfedera-
cy.""
What docs our contemporary mean by a union
Of the Southern States2 Will the Mercury ex-
plain! President Pierce has laid down platform
Of principles, which, If sustained. will be all the
South has ever asked for. Will the entire
South unite In an effort to establish this plat
fortn! The Mercury urges such union, aad
atthe same time exerts its powerful influence to
defeat that union
Every Southern State will be fully represen-
ted:in the Cincinnati Convention, and South
them II lime and PIa0e when an effort VIII Be
made to establish this very platform which is so
highly extoed by the Mercury, and yet it urges
South Carolin4 to adopt the disunion policy-to
reject the friendly overtures of her sister slave
Sla,es'and thus, perhaps, defeat the nomination
Of the author of the auded platform, and it may
be daah the cherished hopes of the entire
South 10 the ground. Can such result be the
object Of oar contemporary! We know it is
moi, but such would be the effect Of policy it
adyocatc1.
If President Pierce muat of necessity be the
standard bearer and the representative of all
who desire the preservation Of the Federal
Union, on principles which are consistent with
the conservation of the rights Of the States,
and the internal peace and good understanding
Of the members of the confederacy, how must
his installation take place! 1t is fixed fact-a
certainty beyond all doubt, that the Cincinnati
Convention must and viii. select the standard
bearer Of the Democratic party. And yet, the
man who the Mercury says must of necessity
be- the standard-bearer Of the party, may be
defeated, and his truly conservative platform
trampled in the dust, by the absence of South
Carolina delegation in that body. Could the
Mercury contemplate such a result without
shuddsring at the responsibility which would
respect the high toned chivalry which prompts
the cosrxe Of our friends; but the duys of chiy-
airy are past. We have to contend with stern
roaliiss As they exist, and not as we would
Wish tilem.-Choraw Gazette.