Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-10-01


on.s.s i. "a, .vvAlug 10 non-intercouse with
Great Britain. think the Dispatch is 10 error
in counselIing this course. In "a it may possi-
bly, have had something to recommend it. But
it is difficult to show that it influenced, in the
slightest degree, the question Of independence.
Those who adopted it hoped, no doubt. to make
some impression on the mercantile classes in
Great Britain, that might react favorably upon
the ruling class. The history of the Revolution
shows that it was weak measure, although no
doubt the friends of lhe Colonists in the mother
country made the best of it.
The contest in which we are engaged with
the Northern section Of the Confederacy, has
much more bitterness and intensity than the
Revolutionary struggle. In IA many patriots
looked to the possibility Of reconciliation.
Mauy still believed that u farther continuance
of the connection with Great Britain would not
of necessity fatally involve the fortunes Of the
Colonies. Hence halfway measures and tempo
rising cxpedienls mislcnd them and deluded them
for some time.
But in our case, there can he but lite room
for delusion, except among those who are will
fully blind. Our enemies certainly take no pains
whatever to deceive US. They play their game
very openly. Their war has been carried on
with great directness and consistency for thirty
five wears. 1t is war in which success on their
part involves US not only in disgrace, but utter
ruin-a disgrace and ruin, compared with which,
nothing Of disaster and calamity that has befal-
len civilized communities deserves serious con.
sideration. The degradation of the Southern
peoule. the dissertation of our Southern homes,
The desolation of our Southern felds-these are
inevitable, il we fall in The contest that the
Northern section is waging against US. And
now we are told by Southern mon, at the elev-
sntb hour, in the very crisis of our fate, "do
mt buy of the North" "do not sell to the
North j" Weak, weak-worse than weak Does
NOT the Southern man who counsels thus know
that the whole course of the confederate egs-
Iaiion has been such, and will ever be such, as
to riyet US commercially 10 the North? To tell
US not TO buy Of nor sell to the North, Is to tell
us neither to buy nor sell as long as this Union
lasts. The North knows this full well, and
LAUGHS to scorn all such weak and puny devices
She knows full well that her commercial supre
macy necessarily follows in the wake of her po
litical domination and that the South is but
dreaming dreams, never to be realized, when she
talks of Independent Southern Commerce willis
this Union continues.
aThe Richmond Dispatch" advises that which
;s utterly impracticabe, because your Legislation
had mace it so-and that which, were it practi
cable. would be Intellectual, because that which
is more potent than legislation has the mastery
of tbe Northern mind. You cannot "ministe
to mind diseased J" it rejects all medication, i
defes all logic. Besides, fanaticism apalt tn
Northern mind is bent on ruling and running
and YOU cannot prevent it, if you remain in tn
Union. You have been retreating, and conced
ing. and compromising, for thirty.fve years
You have lost your equality in the Senate, ant
can never recover it. A confederacy compose.
of UNEQUAL hostile sections must be destroyed
or the minor section must be destroyed by tn
major. The very idea of confederacy. comprl
sing hostile sections, is political solecism.
pray the Dispatch not to be holding out t
US these illusory measures-thes agnes tatua
} thew can but lure US 10 our doom. Let it rathe
nresent to our contemplation more substantit
Objects. Let it ask US whether there can be an
aense in the attempt to keep in union hostil
people? Whether there can be any wisdom
attempting to keep up union between tn
North and the South, when equality Qhe Wit
, nrineiple of that union) is irretrievably los
, Whether the commonest prudence should nj
compel the South to dissolve connection whic
is annually transferring millions Of her none