Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-10-08
From the Charleston Standard.
TILE CRISIS OF 1856.
NO. II.

NO. II.
"To do that" ulat is, to resist the anti.sarery ag
gressono fixed majority of non-saveholding States,
" concert Of action must be necessary-not to saw
the Union, for it would be then too aie-but 10 saw
ourselves. Thus, is my view concert is the one thing
needful."-J. C. Calhoun.
have yentured, in my last number, TO depre
cate the indulgence, on the present occasion, o.
that spirit of intolerance and proscription-as
mischevous in politics as in religion-which,
fear, is rather besetting sin with many, ever
among The most honest and pure of South Ca
roina patriots. For myself, do not admire the
Pharisee, though he may be no hypocrite;
have no taste for the mouthing of Sempronius
even if he had not proved traitor; I do mol
like bully, though as all exception to the gene.
raj rule, he may be brave and, in my opinion
true wisdom, if not always modest, will at least
forbear to express contempt for those whom she
desires to win.
propose now to show that in South Caro-.
lima uuanimity, in the impending peris, is not
hopeless-nay, that by a reasonable course OF
moderation and forbearance, it may be relied on
with confidence.
In recurring to the past though shall 60 no
further back than l847, and shall advert to moth
ing which was not familiar but recently, the rea.
der, think, will find many things which will
appear new, and which he may find worth pom
dering
The sentiment n South Carolina on the SUBJ
ject of The Wilmot Proviso, in l847, was, per-
haps, as nearly unanimous as was ever exhibited
among any People in any age. When, in March
of that year, Mr. Calhoun appeared at the great
meeting, in the Theatre, in Charleston, Wings
and Democrats, Union men and Nullifiers, met
fraternally, and expressed in common a spirit Of
stern defiance. The same feeling was exhibited
from the SeaOord 10 the mountains, from Pick
ems 10 Horny. The State was 4 unit.
In December, 1913, with IN excitement more
intense, the unanimity was still the same. The
Legislature at its session passed, by acclama-
ton, the following resolution, adopted as 4 firm
resolve. and from which the State has never
swerved-
"Resolred unanimously, That the time for
discussion by the slaveholding States, rs TO their
exclusion from the territory recently acquired
from Mexico, has passed, and that this general
Assembly, representing the feelings of the State
of South Car o!ina, is prepared TO cooperate auh
her sister STATES in resisting the applications of
the principles Of the Wilmot Proviso t. such
territory, at any and every hazard"
In December l849, with an unanimity still
unimpaired, the following joint resolution Was
adopted
"Resolred, That in the event Of the passage
by Congress of the WiImot Proviso, or any
kindred measure, his Excellency the Governor be
requested forthwith 10 convene the Legislature,
in order to take such steps as The rights, inter-
ests and homer of this State, and Of the whols
South, shall demand"
This IN Tan Snnotn ,ynu rnnnnono nipd hv fho
following report: - - - = -
"In the Senate, December l3, lS49. The
Committee on Federal Relations, to whom was
referred so much Of the message of his Excel
lency the Governor as relates to the recommen-
dalion Of the people Of The State Of Mississippi,
for convention Of the people of The Southern
States, to be held in Nashville, in June next, and
also so much Of the message as relates to the
conveniug Of the Legislature of tEis State in
the event Of the passage by Congress Of thc
Wilmot Proviso, or any kindred measure, beg
leave 10 report: That they cordially concur with
the views expressed by his Excellency the Gov.
ernor as to the necessity on hc pa,i Of The SoGtIt-
er1s people Of united action against tie enrroacl.
menls upon their domestic Institutions, and their
condition Of equality in this confederacy, by the
people of the North, and by the Congress of the
lofty and dgnlcd position assumed by the peo-
pie Of The State of Mississippi, against any
such infractuns Of the compromises of The Con.
s,itution and the appeal which she has made TO
her sister States of the South to unite with her
in common counsel against common aggression.
The Committee are of the opinion expressed by
this Legislature mt its last session, that the pc
riod of decisive action has arrived, and that the
a., ne cbo ho
promptly TO take such steps as the other States
ton demands. The committee, therefore, in
conformity with their own opinions, and, as they
believe, with line expressed and understood wish
es of the Legislature and of the people of The
whole State, recommend for adoption the fol-
lowing resolutions" &c.
And in the House of Representatives, was
adopted on the same subject, the report following
SIN the House of Representatives, December
18, lS49. The Committee on Federal Relations,
to whom was referred 80 much Of the Cover
nors Message, rs relates 10 the recommends
lion to The Southern States bya Convention
of the people of Mississippi to send delegates
to meet at Nashville, TO consult in common, upon
common rights, 'rah uie'c to unity Of action.
"And, also, so much of the message as re-
lates TO the convening of the Legislature upon
the Wimot Proviso, or any kindred measure be-
coming law of Congress, report that the peo-
| pic Of This State entertain an ardent desire and
| fixed determination to resist the lawcss and un-
just oncroachments of Congress, on tho rights
of the South. and have pledged themselves,
through their Legislators to cooperate with the
other southern states, in opposition to all such
| noocurnu fNhov tharnforn nnncur with hia F,y-
cellency in the belief, that South Carolina halls
with delight the proffer of the people of Missile.
sippi, Of meeting by delegates in common coun-
sci, at Nashville, and will heartily and promptly
send delegates there to represent them. That
they concur also with his Exccllcncy in the pro-
priety of calling together the Legislature, should
any such contingency occur, rs is alluded to by
his Excelency, and therefore recommend the
adoption of the following resolutions" &C.
In 1850, though the issue was changed by tho
adoption in Congress of the celebrated Com
promise measures, it cannot be forgotten how
small was the falling off in South Carolina
though in other parts of the South the cheat
had operated but two successfully in producing
division and dsunion. Can any Charlestonan
fail TO remember the outburst of Indignation
with which disappointed public visited a mod.
est attempt at conciIiation, from the pen of q
respected and favorite citizen, then the Collcc.
tor of the port? use language none too
strong, when say that his position, though skill.
fully and eoquently as well as courteously sus.
tained. was erecrated by community almost
unanimous Two replies were published, one
attributed 10 our feow.citizen, the Hon. A. G.
Magrath, and the other to Ben G. PRESLEY, ESQ.,
zl,,lo