Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-01-21
A POLITICAL DIALOGUE.

take position knowingly at that time. But my feel
ings all ran that way. My friends were nulllfers;
those whom admired were nulliiers; Mr. CALHOUN
MIR. McDUFFIE, Gov. HAYNE, Judge BUTLER and
many1oiher distinguished men, were nulliiiers; the
almost universal shou' Of my State was tor Nulilhca
tion; and, in short. uas nullitier
Ertremist-very well. And you were also Sc
ce ssionst in 1851!
Conservative -Empha,icallv, YES.
Ertrem;st-A nullifer in '33 and secesslonist IN
,51 and now a conservative how do you reconcile
this last position with your former faith
Conserratiue-T find no difficulty in my own mlnd'
however patent TIE seeming Inconsistency may pre-
sent itself to yours My conscientious desire as
noli,cian alwars was-(of course yon understand me
10 mean since nv mind has been at all inclined TO the
consideration of snch mattersl-awoys was, to see
advanced, in triumph and in glory the great prnc''
ples of our Constitution the sfeat elements OF our
Considerations strength, the mightiest one OF wheh
is The sovereignty Of the individual S'atea and the
eoual rights of American ctzens:. Notification,
although now exploded as political remedy did I'm
the instance of '33) no little good Even those op'
nosed to the policy have been constrained TO admit.
that happy results rapidly followed its agitation In
Sonh Carolina; And this doubtless 80, not from
any inherent, strength in the measure ITSELF but on &C.
count Of the high objects of Justice and equality had
in view by its advoraes. We ,Dere nufers in South
Carolina not to dissolve the Union but TO reform the
government.
Ertremist.-And will you tell me that your Seces'
sion movement was characterized by like conserva'
tism?
=
Consertatiue-As far as the strength and wisdom
of that party is affected by your enquiry, answer
1t uas There were good many Hotapurs in our
ranks who descaned upon the merits of that Crisis
upon pure disunion grounds. They were dsnnonlsts
pcr se Not so with the real worth of the party The
Secession record will show, to the satisfaction OF eve
~ impartial man. that the of Carolina were
prompted TO that effort last resort, 10 stay the en-
croachmen,s of an inscriptions and unconstitutional
majority OF course the proposed measure was dis
union one in name But who believes, now, that (if
successfully it would have proven other than most
powerful conservative measure! Had South Carolina
seeded there would have been no blood spilt There
would have been revenue cutters TO threaten her
seaport. But the event would have placed great
question before the American Congress 1t would
have been question between South Carolina and
the General Government, in the decision OF which
the voice OF the slave States would have been
potent 1t would have precipa,ed the tral-hght be-
tween Constitutional patriotism and Higher Law
fana,cism, which our present political captains tell
rs must come on sooner or later. The Secessioniss
felt that this was the real strength Of their movement
and i, was this that gave Them boldness and zeal.
Their effort failed. They yielded gracefully to The
majority of their Slate brethern. A lew Were cha-
srineI and rashly swore that they were done battling
for the Constitution the South and every other object
of political hope But the great body of that party
| accepted the decision against them as an adequate
condemnation of their policy. The old divisions
ceased The only field Of operations since practicable
is that upon which The Democracy wages war against
both its ancient and its new-angIed fees Upon that
field are all our sister States of the Souh energecal'
" engaged. Upon that field is marshalled, now, q
great army that is TO gh, out the identical ends sought
to be obtained BY the Carolina Nuliiers OF 33 and
the Carolina Secessionsts Of 81. And there stands
South Carolina, Secessionis,s and CU-operarfohsls
Il is her true ground for the nonce. Whether it will
| remain So is TO be determined by future develop
menls.
Extremist-But do you not see that Aholilionism
s 9npant NJ North, and that our only hope is in
nI1inlkaf :Snilh f,rsthe sake Of the South!
is indeed rampant as
goG say and is no less that The Union Of the
South is The true of her safety. But united how
and for what! answer, united by the oonds of pa.
ro,ism and of interests united upon Constitutional
principles; united to achieve triumph in the Union
united u save the whole country, first, aud, If that
shall be impossible. then united TO sare ourselves.
This is the understanding Of our position as enter.
,ained by The entire South except few such nVe,er'
ate, unreasonable and impracicable extremists as
YOURSELF
Ertremist.-Say what you will, am for South
Carolina standing aloo she has done, Till the time
for action arrives
Conservative Then you are either Southern
fanatic or Southern fbuster, and have no more 10
say 10 you.