Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-07-22
From the Charleston Mercury,
THE EDGEFIELD ADVERTISER.
NUMBER EIGHT.

THE EDGEFIELD ADVERTISER.
NUMBER EIGHT.
"Bnt again, the Mercury and the Delta are i'm
polite in urging their rather extreme views atthlS
time. II there were an occasion for action-if
there were any present act of wrong by the Gcnera
Government upon which to rally the South
would be meaning, there would be force IN these
urgent calls upon the people Of the South to vindl-
cate their tarniShed honor even to the severance o
the Union if need be. But when no such occa-
sion exists when no such act is perpctrated-and
when it is clear that the great Southern mlnd Is
ouiet if not contented how futile is toupft the
voice of extreme advice, as though the destroyer
were at our DOORS The people think otherwise,
believe otherwise, and they will come to look upon
the cry of warning with dstrust, when 1t shall ap-
pear that it reaches them in sunshine as well as In
storm"
Fearful lest our cotemporary tire of US, we
will now close our remarks on his editorial, with
a few comments on his rebukes OF the very tu-
tile course we pursue in urging our "e&treme
views at this time" The Advertiser admits
that if there was any occasion for action-if
there were any present act OF wrong by the
General Government upon which to rally the
South. there would he point and meaning IN our
course: but maintains as there is no such oc-
casion for action we are unwise to indicate the
position of the South in the Union, or to discuss
the means of protection against the dangers
which surround her.
If indeed the public affairs and political po-
sition of the South are in the advantageous and
prosperous condition our cotemporary seems to
suppose, our course is doubtless extremely un-
wise. What need is there of preparation or
effort, when all things are peaceful and welt :!
But take our view of the condition Of the South
which we have endeavored to expose in con-
sidering bis structures upon us-and our course
is the logical and necessary sequence to our
views Let us now compare our respective po-
sitions, that judgment may be passed on their
relative correctness and wisdom
Our cotemporary maintains that the South
was never more powerful than she is now in the
Union; that the Federal Executive, the Fed,
eral Judiciary, the Federal Senate is, and 1t Is
altogether probable the next Federal House OF
REPRESENTATIVES will be, on the side of the con-
stitutional rights Of the South; that ant-slave-
ry tendencies were never weaker in our frontier
States that our sentinel-men were never so
we'll fore-arned; the Southern States never so
completely united, whilst the exponents OF Nor
thern Abotionisrn give unmistakable evidences
Of modification and disappointment; that the
powers that be' at Washington are all with us ;
that the South stands on the Georgia Platform
of 1852; we lave gained a repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise we have gained more en-
plicit recognition of our rights as to fugitive
Slaves; we have gained some lessenlns OF the
burden of Tariff exactions, and may, without
infatuaton, expect greater justice in the future.
And in view of all these mighty advantages,
the Advertiser asks, "Where is the vortex ?''
Now we, on the other hand, cannot see that
the South was never more powerful i'll the Union
than it is now-even for the reason that the
Federal Executive, the Federal Judiciary, the
Federal Senate, and it is altogether probable
that the Federal House of Representatives, will
be on the side of the constitutional rights of the
South. All these have been for us for the last
twenty years, on the general subject of slavery
yet the South has been growing weaker and
the North stronger in the Union. Nor can we
see that the anti-slayery tendencies in our from
tier States are growing wcaker-or that our
sentinel.men were never so we'll forearmed-or
that the Southern States were never so COM
pletely united, whilst Abolitonism is covering
or that the powers that be are all with as
or that the Georgia Platform of 1852 is worth
anything-or that we have gained anything by
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise or the
late notifications of the Tariff, or by more
explicit recognition Of our rights as to our flu
eitive slaves Differing thus in our views OF
facts, it is not at all surprising that the Adver-
tiser and ourselves differ in policy. Whilst,
therefore, we are endeavoring to inform and
arouse the South to high position of prepara-
ton for the dangers which are before her, our
cotemporary folds his hands complacontly in
sleep and murmurs out dreamily, "where is the
vortex7"
In his blissful attitude Of passive contcntment,
he waits for some "occaSion for actiOn"-somc
"present act of wrong by tue General Govern
mentn-before he will stir or prepare to meet it.
We think this exactly the policy our Northern
foes would desire US to pursue. Without prep
aration to prevent or resist these aggression
with no organization to meet and discomfit their
organization for our attack and overthrow
waiting until they accomplish their objective
would then rise up, when too late, to defeat
their action; and it could again be urged, as it
has already been urged successfully, it is too
dangerous to meet the issue by dissolying the
Union On the contrary, if the Southern peo-
pie would prepare themselves fully on the ground
of Southern rights as the one cardinal principle,
and stand ready to act, either in repelling at
tacks on their rights and institutions, or to re-
dress them as soon as made, would they not be
more powerful than now, as well in the counsels
of the Union as for ulteror action, if necessary?
Did preparation to meet an enemy ever make a
people weaker to protect themselves from the
assaults? Did qualifications to understand and
defend their rights ever make people less able
to enforce them? And if our yiewsarc correct
is it not the duty of public press at the South
to Law before the people of the South the un-
mistakeable evidences Of vindictive hostility to-
wards those institutions manifested by the peo-
ple of the North-of feebleness or of treachery
toward their interests, exhibited by the General
Gorernmcnt-of the deceptive lullabys Of peace
and contentment, sung by National partizans
and blind Union-savers- the deplorabe igno-
rance, vacillation, trcachery and division which
reirns in the Southland the stern necessity
Which presses upon her, more than on any other
people in the world, by watchiulness, : pFepaIa 1,
vindication Of her RIG Its and salvation of her
institutions, in the struggle against remorse-
less tanaticis,n which will never pause until it !