Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-03-12


mony and good feeling will continue to bless
our political well.beiug, and the patriotism
of our people will be CO extensive, at least
with The boundaries Of the State. But turn
loose among US the two great parties sough
to be formed. From the numerical strength
and homogeneous interests Of the mounial'
Districts, the controlling party would soon
gather its forces there, and by its union ant
strength. might easily sway the political des
tnies of tue State. Imagine The wild tanat
icisn,, the moral and political corrup,ious Of
the great paties in the Union, seizing upon
the minds of our tellow.cilizens in that re.
gion-is it difficult to see, looming in the
/, future, serious danger to the rights and
property of the middle and lower Districts
Effect these changes, and in less THAI hall
a century, you will form in the State almost
new North and new Sou,h-a new up
country and new Iow.country, with the
line of division some eighty or one hundred
miles above its present position. And when
that time comes (if ever it should-whch
God forbid !! we might we'll wish for Parishes
and for Parish representation all over the
low and middle Districts! Do any wish to
weaken the political power and the safe
guards to property, in our own sectIons to
distract the public councils Of the States to
reap an abundant harvest OF discord, civil
strife, and bitter sectional animositiesl Let
them conspire to work out these changes,
and succeed in their object A full gratifi-
cation Of their wishes await them. But how
should they pause and tremtle before at
tempting to plunge the State into career,
that must involve it in consequences SO fear.
fui and disastrous! Have they no dread
in rearing their fame upon the miseries and
misforlunes OF their country!
"-s there not some chosen curse,
Some hidden thunder in the stores of lleav'n,
Red with uncommon wrath, to blast tie man
Who owes his greatness to his country's ruin ~
For one prefer to let things stand as they
are unless could see some prospect OF Inn
proving our condition. prefer to chersIsh
aud preserve the harmony and kind feeling
now existing among the people OF our Stale,
to opening up scenes Of strife, discord, and
sectional hatred. Above all, wish still to
hold fast to our State CoNsrIrUrIoN-the
great, rrincn, sorcreign wW Of tic people Of
South CaroIina-thc noble charter OF our
liberties, and the cause Of our political pros.
perity and happiness. What but this has
kept US in the road to prosperity and to
honorable fame! What else has made us
all South Carolinians, animated by almost
one spirit of devotion to our much.loved
little State! What else has preserved Il
lust balance of power between the various
sections of the state, and secured the inter.
ests and welfare of all When, however,
efforts are making to destroy this balance of
powcr-to disturb the beautiful harmony in
the body politic-to give undue influence
to some sections, and to leave others unpro-
tected-to throw us, AS it were, upon The
wide sea of innovation, to be waited wher-
ever The shifting breezes Of party ambition
my carry us, feel itmy duty, as one seek
ing the welfare of his native State, stern.
uously to oppose this move. | prefer yet
awhile, at least, clinging to the old vessel oil
State, which has borne us safely through so
many storms aud tlials, to venturing upon
this new, nntrird barque; and If, in contn,
uing our voyage together, the interests OF the
different sections are to be endangered, by
being turned loose to seek new safeguards
and protection, can any complain of us, who
occupy the middle Districts for mailing our
colors to the mast, most likely to. bear US
smoothly on in our future passage, and save
us from Il wreck!
Where this spirit Of political change, when
once set at liberty, will hereafter carry US,
God, in His Providence, can alone tell
That there is danger ahead needs not the
eye of the Philosopher to perceive. Odd
notions Of reform are sprnging up all over
our country and State; which, under the
lead of the political Sciosts OF the day, are
provoking mischief and disaster in our po.
lilical relations. IN some portions OF the
country, nothing seems too sacred for the
daring touch of the innovator. The hands
of desecration are laid with equal reckless
ness upon our most tme.honured institutions,
and upon the broad principle Of liberty, es.
tabished with so much toll and bloodshed
by the fathers Of our Republic. Shall we
suffer these great unnatural throes of the
political pulse of the North to invade and
agitate our own minds and hearts! How
destructive would it not be, TO our permanent
peace and happiness! How subversive OF
the great edifce OF our political liberties !!
A government, which is adapted to the ge-
Mus of a people=-which is based ON cor.
rect principles of our nature, and has stood
the test Of time, may occasionally require
amendments to suit the growing wants of
society, but will rarely, if ever, need reform.
ing. It will stand good to-day, tomorrow,
and forever, as immutable as the great priq.
cipIes of our nature, Oh which it is based.--
Hence, some wise statesmen and phi!oso.
phers* have held" That the preservation OF
States depends upon little more than REFORM
ing and bringing them dack to their ancient
customs" And this aphorism receives con.
irmaton in the fact, that nearly all charters
of liberty, obtained in the succeeding his.
tory of nations, have been little more than
acknowledgements afancieni rights. When,
therefore, our posterty shall have gone
through the who lie cycle Of political changes
and so.caed reforms, still later generations
could, probably, do nothing better than re-
cur, to the excellent gQvernpent, which
sone now seem so anxious to abandon.
trust, Fellow. Citizens, in conclusion, it
may please an all.wise Providence, to pre-
serve us long in the enjoyment Of the noble
ConstiutiQH. which has secured for Us 50
much political happiness and prosperity