Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-08-11
MIR. Y;AlNccE,Y,s 'L,;,EAoUE-MovEMENT.

ment for the formation throughout the South OF what
he dosisnatcs as "Southern Leagues" We barely
alluded to this matter In previous number. That
our readers may be enabled to judge better of the
merits of the sntOrprizs, We here copy m extract
from the Constitution of the Montgomery Association
Of Leaguer. framed perhaps by Mr.. YANcsr himsslf:
Contribution OF rHR MONTGOMERY LEAGUE OF UNITED
soUTuERNERs.
believing that the South is in need of some efh:
cient and organized mode Of concentrating public
opinion upon public and measures, and of infu.
encng and guiding politics parties with view to
tho advancement and protection Of her constitutional
rights-and that the want Of this has enabled all po
tical parties tu sacrifice those rights to their own
necessities:
And believing further that it is the duty of the
South to use all proper means to maintain her rights
within the Union, with view to being justified be-
fore the world in rssuming the powers she has dele
gated to the General Government, in the event she
fails to obtain justice in the Union, organize our
selves under tho following Constitution =.
Art. S. Tho object Of this League, IT, by the Of
proper MEANS to create sound public opinion in tho
South on the suhjoct of enforcing the rights Of the
South in the Union. Among its primary ideas are:
/. No more compromise Of those rghts, either In
party platforms or in national legislation; ,. full
recognition und maintenance Of those rights, aspara-
mount to the safety Of the Federal Administration
or tho success. OF National Partcs; 5. The elevation
to the public councils OF tile a0lest anu parest ooun
ern men.
Art. g. This League will nominate no candidate
for any Office State ur Federal-but its members are
pledged to use all honorable means to secure the
nomination. by the respective parties to which they
belong Of sound, able and pure men Of the Southern
Rights school"
It was At FIRST hcralded, that the aim Of Mr.. YAM
cIr and his colaborers disuniou, or in the Ian
guage attributed to of them, the "precipi.
tatins Of the Cotton States into revolution 1t now
appears that this construction Of their purposes
erroneous and that their avowed aim is to "enfurce
the rights of the South in the Union." Reg ,rded in
this light the movement is cutited to the respectful
consideration Of the Southern people, at least in SO
far as it contemplatos, in good faith, the strengthen
ing of our section in the political contentious that
likely to rcndor famous the next few years of oui
existence as people. 1t is asserted by portion o
the Alabama presa that the object Of the new move
mont is power and Office for its orginators but there
appears no just ground for doubling that it does in
reality spring from Jealous regard for the rights
and the honor of the South
And yet, like many other crratic demonstrations
which claim merit on the ground Of "good inten
TONS" the Inauguration of the present effort at this
particular juncture is certainly about rs unwso aa il
may bo allowed to be patri.tc. 1t is so for many
reasons, among which the following:
/. Because, dsavow the point as its authors may
it is simply the formation Of new political party
While still insgni6cant it is very possible that they
may adhere to their proposed fundamental law" M
Mr.. YAScRY has it, of mover nominating candidate
for any Office State or Federal" But once let then
acquire sufficient numerical strength in any State t.
decide elections, and It is than folly to suppose
that guors" will do otherwise than elect "Lea
guers," and what arc they then but party?
2. Whether party in terms or not, the tendency
of the thing is towards Southern distraction. Take
any ono Southern State, say Alabama, as an illus
tration There stands the Democratic party in strength
and confidence, operated upon by the belief that the
own organization sufficient for all purposes Of South
ern triumph in the Union. "Southcrn Leaguery'
lift. its head to the light in new, separate and dis
tinct organization At once tho old guard" is aroused
to reflection. "What does this mean?" say they
care we, with our we'll known Southern feelings anc
principles suspected Of unsoundness, that this new
bantling must step forth to correct the bearings Of
our polcyf" The spirit of opposition hus its birth
on the instant The old party secs the party
under whatever professions Disguised and treats il
accordingly. Strife and wrangling Immediately en-
sue, and if the sonye Of the people do not decide
that it be crushed in its infancy, political schisu
follows and the State is distracted by opposing fac
tions. Such is the course Of this question now il
Alabama. II the people shall say that the Demo
cratic party is not sufficient to the end Of Southern
safety in the Union, and that Leagueryis then Lea
query will have its day, and with it the undoubted con
| troll of Office in Alabama, State and Federal. Du
in the mean time the Democracy will Gght for vic
tory, strong in ts hopes Of eventual success ant
thus will Alabama present the spectacle Of divided
people when mort it is needed that each Southern
State shall stand peaceful and united In Georgia
and other Southern States, the consequences nigh
be more disastrous, for there the division might re-
suit in placing Know NOthngisn in power, thus per
haps sacrificing both the Democratic party and the
South in one fatal campaign. But all this is th'
merest absurdity Of conjecture. Such revolution
caunot surely be effected in the .cemented ranks
of the Southern people. Yet such is the tendency
Leaguery involving risk of infinite loss without th'
prospect Of attaining any good that is not already at
tainable through the Democratic organization.
5. And this anticipates third position against th.
new development of Mr.. YAscEY and it is, that the
Democratic party IL an organization Of Southern
strength every way calculated to meet and avert the
present and tn. prospective rcrs that threaten til.
peace and well-beng of our country. To be con-
ynced of this, luok to the principles Of that party
look to its aims,-look to its acts. Are they moi
all in consonanee with the best interests Of our
ton? How could il be otherwise, when the Demo.
cracy and tho South are now almost convertible
termsY The bone and sncw of our section, its talent
its patriotism, its worth, already organized un.
der the Democratic banner. Will Leaysery be CON-
posed Of better materials than this Is it not high
pitch Of vain glory to say that all this ability, all
this energy all this zeal for Southern rights, now
congregated in the Democratic CAMP is utterly in.
sufficient to do what the true grit of LBAGuERY is 60
ing to do2 Surely these gentlemen of the LEAGUES
do not consider what it is to have fought such battles
as havc beon fought by this "old guard of the
Constitution; thoy undcrrate tho worth of veterans
whom experience has taught to temper boldney with
wisdom, fory zoal with rational conservatism. Who
will say that our Southern interests would bo rs safe
In the keeping of an untried band Of extremists
patrioc and brave though they e)-as in the witch
full guardianship of host who have hitherto fought
but to conquer, and among whose leaders are to be
found all the ablest ststeamon Of the South2 Have
regard to the complexion Of that host at this time.
Sec along its line the proud insignia of every South
ern State See at its head q Venerable Statesman.