Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-07-15
From the Charleston Mercury.
THE EDGEFIELD ADVERTISER.
NUMBER FIVE.

From the Charleston Mercury.
THE EDGEFlELD ADVERTISER.
NUMBER FIVE.
"still it is perseverngly intimated that we are
upon The verge OF vortex, in which we may soon
be swallowed up with all that We hold dear and
the place among nations which knew US once, is to
know us no more forever. What and where is this
vortex? Is to be found in Black Republicanism 2
The South knows that enemy well, and, with that
knowledge, feels secure Of her ability to vanqush
its endeavors for evil. Is it to be found in the
powers that be?' They are all for us. Is it in
Southern dissensions We were never more united.
Is it in Southern concession The South stands
firm upon the Georgia platform of 1852. Is it III
Congressional oppression! We have gained the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise, more explicit
recognition Of rights as to fugitive slaves, some
lessenng Of the burden OF tariff exaetions-and We
may without nfatuation expect yet greater justice
in the future Or is it in the crushing pressure Of
an outside civilization? Leit suffice 10 say that our
labor clothes the world. Where, then, we ark
again, and what, is this vorex2"
We continue our discussion of the points
raised by the Advertiser in the extract at the
head Of our last editorial
The Advertiser asks, does the vortex consist
in Southern dissensons? We were never more
united. Is it in Southern concessions? The
South stands firm on the Georgia Platform of
1882"
On the point of Southern dissensions and
Southern union, we have already spoken. If
the Southern people ore united either in spirit
or in policy, for the protection of their rights
and institutions, We have been so unfortunate as
never to have seen any evidences of it, although
the South is more satisfied than ever with the
institution of slavery. According to our esti
mate-perhaps mistaken-the spirit of resis.
tance in the South is now lower than it was in
1850 and 1852. Then there was, at first at least,
an apparent union of the South for resistance.
Then there was great organization-the South
ern Rights Party-which appeared to be the
one great party of the South. Where is that
party now? Is there no damage done to South
ern rights since then? The North has been ar
rayed against the South in bitter sectional
struggle on account of the institution of slavery.
Since then the anti.slavery element in the Union
has aspired to control the Government in all its
branches; and deadly contest has taken place,
in which the aim is nothing short of our subver-
sion or ruin. Since then, the lines of antago-
nism and separation between the North and the
South have grown deeper every day. But no
party organization has arisen in the South, to
meet the antagonist party organization i'll the
North, and looking to our security and peace.
Does the Advertiser believe that there are none
in the South restive under this state of things ?
Docs it really, under such reasoning as it puts
forth, unbroken by single indignant remon.
STRANGE or .murmur Of dlsapprobation, believe
that there is general union in the South of
oontentment and acquieScence? IT so, we think
it is mistaken. We have faith that the great
cause Of the South will yet arise, and will fight
its way through dissensionS, apathy and treache-
ry, to q final and complete redemption. But we
see no grounds for thinking that the South has
been, OF is, now united in spirit and policy for
the protection of her rights and institutions
But we have "thc Georgia Platform of 1852,
which contains the limits Of our concession J.
We really are astonished at our cOtemporary $
reliance on platforms to protect the South, after
its very decided experience. Is it so iniantlle in
politics as not to have seen platforms on the
subject of both slavery and the tariff trampled
under foot, when the time comes for making
them good? We remember once seeing, in the
papers, sharp discussion in Congress between
Representative from South Carolina and Mr..
Tbbats, of Kentucky National Democrat
which pointedly illustrates the general value
of platforms. The South Carolinian quoted the
Baltimore Democratic Platform upon Mr.. Tib-
bats, to rcbuke his projects of Internal Improve
ment. Mr.. Tibbats treated the reference to the
Baltimore resolutions with dcrision and con.
tempt, as the quintessence of verdancy. He
asked if the gentleman did not know that those
resolutions of the Democratic party were adopt
ed only to subserve purpose-to elect Presi.
dent? Now, we do not mean to say that the
Georgia Platform was only made to serve pur-
pose But we do say, that because 1t erists, is
ho nf ot,o uA1n
perience has proved that State pride, however
high, will not surmount the discretion or the
interests, real or imaginary, Of those who may
be called on to redeem State committals of the
past. We have faith in the spirit of the people
of Georgia, but not 4 particle in the potency of
the platform they adopted in 1852. If they be
not ready, without that platform, to redeem their
rights, they never will redeem them with it. Still
less do we.beliere that the South will vindicatc
her rights on account of the existence of this
platform.
1t is simple programme of principles or
policy, and platforms can be readily evaded.
They can be observed entire and yet defeated.
One of the positions taken in the Georgia plat
formis, that if Territory is rejected by Con-
gress as q State, on account of its constitution
tolerating slavery, Georgia will secede from the
Union. viii our cotemporary, whilst sweeping
the political heavens with his telescope, let it
rest awhile on Kansas, and see the efficacy Of
the Georgia platform work. If the pro.slavery
party is not bullied or bought up by Federal
honors and patronage through National Demo
cratic agents, it will certainly present Kansas to
Congress for admission into the Union with a
pro.sIavery constitution. This will be an awk-
ward event to all "the powers that be- in Wash
ington, but especially to certain Georgian who
has climbed up to power by " Nationality
Should Kansas be admitted into the Union
with pro.savery constitution, the. Democratic
party will be overthrown by the Black Republi-
cans at the North and naked sectional issue
made. And, should it be rejected, there stands
the Georgia platform to be made good by the
secession of Georgia. And how could the diff
Guilty then be ovcrcome2 1t could be got over
most easily by sending two Southern "Nation-
als' into the Territory, backed as now by the
authority and patronage of the Federal Govern
ment. The pro-slayery party could be bullied,
or wheeled, or bought of into q National Demo J