Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-07-08
THE MERCURYss ARTICLES.

WHICH appculcu III ialc nunper VI tuo Aut1ttoe''
We observe and appreciate the dignfod courtesy of
our cotemporarys comments and shall reply to them
with feelings Of the most friendly regard
The MERcURY,s PREFACE.
In its issue of june 3Oth the Mercury expresses its
intention to clay before its Haders the allegations of
the Adrerscr and to assignth reasons which, in it's
opinion render them both falacious and unjust" This
intention is coupled with IN earnest depreciation Of
any such newspaper warfare as may tend to fomcnt
divisions among the people of the State. We agree
with cotemporary, that there is no need Of such
a condition of things at this time when there is no
practical issue before the people, and it shall not
be our fault if any undue warmth Of feeling result
from the present other similar discussions. The
article of the Adrerscr upon the course Of the Ner-
curry and the Della was not indited to elicit strife but
rather to offer, in spirit If respectful rcmonsrancc,
some suggestions of policy. (which occurred to our
view rs not only correct but demanded by tho true
interests of our State and section.
Having only limited space in weekly sheet at
our command We will be necessitated to condense as
much as possible what we shall write in support OF
the views have indicated in order that our reon
der may not be too far behind tho several articles
which take US to task Two of those articles we pub
sh conspicuously upon this page; and without iur-
ther remark proceed to consider them.
The MERcURY's 1sT ARTICLE.
The first paragraph of tho Mercury announces that
papers abiding faith that "undcr Of the circum
stances it has deprecated will the South be doomed
to destruction It is directly nferablo also that the
Mercury does not now believe that the South WILL
"contnue TO submit" We mark the hopefulness OF
these expressions with much satisfaction They are
precisely what the Aperser has Of late thought ana
sad basing its opinion upon the declared platform OF
the South Carolina cooperatOnists of 52' upon the
Georgia platform of the period, upon the pres
ent bold attitude of that Empire State Of the SOUTH
upon the high tone of other Southern States upon the
triumph of the principles Of State Rights and state
Equality in those States upon the necessity OF sne
products of Southern agriculture to the wants OF
mankind upon the inherent soundness of our domes-
tic system, and ast but not least upon the harmony
of interests md the rapidly increasing nfliaaon OF
sentiment which latterly mark the Southern people
in their common Southern cause. Is it not upon the
same considerations we veue 10 ask, that the 9ler-
curys faith is founded? If so there is thus far no
difference between Us.
But the Mercury proceeds to contest certain taets
alluded to by us in connection with the proposition
that the position of the South in the Confedcracyis Is
at this very moment more powerful than 1t mas oeen
for many years. and the ground is taken that IN so
far MS the influence Of the Federal Executive, tho
Federal Supreme Court and the Federal United States
Senate are to be considered they have ever been up
on the side Of our constitutional rights as fully rs
thew are now. Mr.. Fmore's Administration and its
concomitants are made the case in point. We admit
that Mr. Fillmore was conservative patriot-staes-
man of sterling integrity who might well compare IN
that regard with our present venerable Chief Mags-
trate But in instituting parallel between the
strength which the South received at his hands, and
that which she is likely to receive from the present
Federal Executive several circumstances are to be
weighed Mr.. Buchanan is at the head OF party
which alone of all others is conservative OF the rights
of the South. So was not Mr.. Fillmore. MIR. Bueh-
anan has gone into power by the united voice OF the
Southern States So did not Mr.. Fillmore. MIR.
Buchanan is acting with the South, and among tho
leading features of his administrations declared poll
cy the maintenance of her equal rights stands prom-
ncnt. It was not so in the case of Mr. Flnore's ad-
mnistration There were hinderances to the earnest
and effective cooperation Of the South with Mr.. Fill
more's aerances arising from the
very political antagoniss Hch carried him in con-
ne.ion with others into power There is nothing Of
the kind in the case of Mr. Buchanan. Without fur
ther elucdation every intelligent reader will perceive
the essential difference which these circumstances make
between tho two Administrations in question, for all
purposes of practical benefit to the cause Of the South
Again, it is said that the Federal Supreme Court
was rs faithful then to the constitutional rights OF the
South rs it is now" To the honor of this high judi
cial tribunal wo believe it may bo said with truth
that it was then (as now truc to the Constitution so
far Us developments had tested its patriotic wisdom
but upon the vial question of slavery it was not then
so by any such papable direct specific decision Us
the one recently promulgcd in tho celebrated Dred
Scott casc That brilliant record stands forth now,
an emblazonment Of our rights before the country
and the world. There is no longer hook to hang
doubt upon. There is now no semblancc OF amblgul-
ty left for Aboonism to dstort to its purposes nor
a shadow of excuse for further double dealing in our
own ranks. What was underlined, has been defined
What was held to be an open question, has been final
" adjudicated. The argument has boon heard to Its
greatest hcgth the decree pronounced and the cause
marked Ended" by the most solemn authority oi
the land 1t has raised for new castle OF defence
oranst the assaults of our fanatic foes at the North
and from its outer wall wo will hang out the bAnnor
~. m ii
mate victory 1t has cleared away tho rubbish that
vet remained to impede the advancement OF perfect
agreement among the politicians of eur scction and
left the field of duty plain that no man South OF
Mason Di1ons line ever hereafter havo the ef-
rontery to occupy lower ground than that which 1t
illustrates and establishes.
Tho Mercury will surely ngree that this Is a most
important step in the direction Of Southern strength
in the Confedcracy;" and the Federal Supreme
Courts siding with constitutional rights on this
wise and in this degree, is certainly such cause OF
coneratulaton to the whole South as We have not had
for many years-But here we must objectto the Ner-
eurys reading of our paragraph upon this point 1t
misapprehends us in intuating that We mentioned
the support of the Federal Executive the Supreme
Court and the United States Senate rs the only facts
to sustain the allegation that our strength IN the Con-
federacy was greater than for years past. we de-
signed this proposition to stand for itself upon otnef
and higher grounds-some of which We indicate IN
the foregoing part of this artice,-and suPeradded
tho facts in question opposed to tho idea that our
"enemies we're thickening on every side" That this
is the correct rendering of language, every reader
will readily perceive by reference to the clause quoted