Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-03-10
THE PROSPECT POLITICAL, CONTINUED.

American Confederation is in no immediate danger
of dissolution.
In 1888 violent issue was made by the State of
South Carolina, which many men solemnly regarded
as the beginning Of the end" of our FEDERAL Union
But the storm passed. over, the waves subaded, and
q peaceful adjustment speedily gave quiet to the
country and postponed the evil day.
In 1851, not South Carolina only, but Mifsiasippi
and Virginia alao, were upon the eve Of action, with
view to disruption of the Confedcracy; And again
the excitement of the day wss allayed BY the calm
counsels of moderate men Virginia receded frst
Mississippi next, and lastly the Palmetto State.
Both of these periods of danger were marked by
actual outstanding grievances. Both wero brought
about not only for the salvation of principle but
for the preservation of positive good. Yet the genius
of the Republic restrained the rage Of the political
tempest in either crisis, holding up before her chill
dren the olivecaf of conciliation to temper their
animosities and disspate their differences.
Again, in 1855, arose another quarrel, and orators
in Congress told US of tho cloud that hung over
Kansas, with blood-red border, and surcbargod
with all the elements of destruction" That cloud,
like its predecessors of 33 and 51 is rapidly disap
pearing before the sunlight of American Conserva-
tism; And in few days, 1t may be- the country will
again be relieved from any prominent distracting
issue.
Thus has the Union withstood repeated shocks Of
great violence, and by each one of them its perIna
nency has been signally strengthened; Because BY
all Of them the Government has been improved and
made more acceptable to the honest men of every
section. Tho extreme actors in each Of these periods
of political excitement have been instruments Of good
to the country at large They havo been, in truth,
the real preservors of the American Union. The
NulliGers of 33, tho Secessonists Of 81, and the
Southern Democrats Of the present day, havo done
more for the porpetuity Of American Institutions
than all other parties Of the last half-century 1t
the bold stand Of the Nulifers, that checked the
tendency of the Federal Government to Csntraliza-
tion at period when the doctrine of State Rights
was ignored forgotten by three fourths of the peo-
pie of tho United states,-that opened tho eyes Of
the country to the enormities of the then) Ameri-
System" of ta1ation.-and that gave riso to The
heatlfu reaction in that important branch Of Fed
eral Legislation, which has ever since been slowly
but steadily on the increase 1t was the threatened
action of the Secessonsts 0f the South, controlled
and restrained though they were by the caution and
forbearance of their brethren that first awoke the
solid property holders and patriotic statesmcn Of tho
North to the necessity of crushing out the power Of
Abotonism in their secton,-and (what is better
still) which prevented tho moro moderate party OF
the Southern States from taking any lower ground
than the one which was deliberately annousced by
Georga, now known to- the country as the Georgia
Platform" and which is understood to bo the political
utmatum of the Southern people. 1t is the unhinch-
ing and united front presented by the Southern Domo-
Gratis Of this day, beyond oil question, which has not
only ruled tho country's choice Of President but
which has impressed the justice Of our Southern
cause upon the masses of the North to extent that
cunnot full to work out tho overthrow of fanaticism
and the triumph Of tho Constitution.
1t would thus appear that the Union has vitality
which our political dissensions have not thus fur I'M.
paired On the contrary, those dissensions have in
their results increased that vitality, by imparting to
the body polite more hOalthlul tono, and spirit of
justice nearer akin to that in which the Constitution
of the Union had its conception. Judging then hy
that safest guide the clamp of experience it logi
cal to conclude not only that the COnfcderacy is in
immediate danger of dissolution, but that it will 60
ON Strengthening, and 70 strengthen, until it shall
indeed become the great Yfrod fastyhich its fOun-
ders designed i. to bosl FIFE say aa having been a
NullGer in '33 and Secegsionst in 81, and being
now DisuniOnist upon the Kansa, issue of the
present hour. Our reasoning is, that the philosophy
Of the Republics safety i. 10 be found in these ex-
treme types Of political watchfulness. Had there
been no Nufcrs in '33 and no Secossonists in 81,
there might not have been e1istau now, that conscr
rative Democracy before whose gallant banners the
enemies Of the Constitution arc at this moment quail
ing in dsmay. 1t is the turbulent issues that have
been raised by the fiery spirits Of the Union during
tho past thirty years, which have kept the ship Of
State high up the free wave of progress; And so
long US wo continue to wrange for the right and rise
up in rs were against the wrong 30 long will
there be safe lodgment for the hopes of freedom
under the flag Of tho Union.
But there othOr light. by which NC discern tho
truth of proposition, in addition to those which
sparkle from the lamp Of experience. They are to
lie found in the assured excellence Of our Federal
Constitution, in the still glowing ties of our Rcvolu-
tionary History, in the prided greatness Of the Amer
can nnne and, last but not ieast in tho prevail
ing motive of sef-interest. These the influences
that mould the moderate men in periods Of great
citcment. 1t is needless to enlarge upon them here
Every reader will appreciate their force. Suffice it
10 say, that they real, operative influences, which
have told, and will tell, and ought to tell to certain
cY trnt rnOn tho futc of the American Union. Tho
last wc enun,crate may perhaps be excepted from
this communication But the others are such pa
riuS may feel without rcprOach and yield to largely
withou; condemnation. Each one Of them is lign-
men of union between the people Of tho different
sections which American statesman will leave out
of the estimate in calculating the future fate Of his
country
Shall We be told that tho views we here express nre
sngularly tued when the Alabama and Texas Leg
isaures have just passed pruspectodSunion resolves
and when the halls Of Congress are answering back
these demonstrations in terms of sternost purport?
We reply, that these very facts contribute to
us that the Ecpublic will suffer no dctriment. Nine
cheers to those gallant States for what they have
done Aud thanks to the Southern men in Congress
who have budly backed their un1inchng constituon-
cies 1t is only necessary that Dsunon shall stare
the American people fully in the face, to make thom
shake of the manacos Of prejudice and partyism and
return to the fnh of thor fathers. Let the excite
rnent grow higher still, if it must. 1t is all for tho
best There is safety in the storm. If nothing less
will do let disunion begin to take effect. "0nce be-
gum" it may be said, "and it will never STOP" We