Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-09-08
MONTGOMERY, Ala, a3rd Aug, 1858.

fAoNi"ohhhi3 ALA, SUN ]AuSj 1SoS'
Gentlemen: have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt Of YOUR favor Of the 10th inst, in
vitilg me to a dinner to lie Given to Your imme-
date representative, the lion. NJ. L. BoNHAM,
at Elgciiul,l Court House, OH tue 2nd ul Sept.
next.
Believe me, Gentlemen, nothing would atlord
lue more real plea ure, than TO unite with y"u
and your friends III paying due honor to your
noble and gallant representative, at tie time
and place abuv. mention; but my peculiar sit
ustion aad ba'ine.s relations preclude my per-
sonal prc,ence with yon.
Surely, if there ever was time, when the
people Of the South should stand by their rep
reSentstivcs, when they have stood by them,
that time has now arrived-and since the death
of the lsmente1 Quitman, your immediate rep
resentativc stands alone i'll the South, ~ the
fa: uhful and undaunted standard bearer OF the
State Rights and Southern Rights flags, for in
his vote on the conference bill SO called, he bid
defiance to the intrigues and influence Of party ;
and maintained with patriotic tirmness, the true
principle OF American liberty-that people,
being frceinen assembled to form government,
h ave the rights to form and adopt such govern
ment as may b:St please themscves-snd this,
without control Or influence from any men, OF
body Of men. Smother this principle, and We
shall not have either the name or semblance of
liberty lett. For, if one onsiitution does not
guarantee the right Of self government, then it
is not constitution in favor Of liberty, but
directly destructive Of it.
much regret to say, that in this State, there
i divi.un among the people on the subject of
this Conference Bill. Yet, do not intend to
say, that any one man can be found except our
Senators and Representatives in Congress, who
advocate the passage Of this Bastard Statute
all intend to say is, that the divisions among
the people is, a' to the course proper to pursue,
under existing circumstances. We all admire
our Senators and Representatives; and hold
them Us friends Of tie South, to be men good
anil true; and therefore "a men do not condemn
them; but disapprove and condemn their vote.
Yet, do not intend to say, even this is unlrcr-
sal forit is mourn(uly true, that we have among
IFS, even now. some who believe in the infalabil-
ity Of the Democratic party proper; and, that
like any other sovereign, it "cah iO no HrOng :"
and such persons cast ulon true Southern men,
the cpithets Of Traitor Fire-cster, aid "Trifling
Politicians" Thee men "are joined to their
Ilol>"-let them alone.
1t cannot be long, before the party now strong
and increasing in power, will control the Gov
crnment-and bring with thom principles and
doctrines so corrnpting and degrading to the
South, that but one voice will be heard among
us: and that will he to arms. God grant may
err in this o.inion. love the Union given by
the Constitution but when both tho Constitu-
ton and the consequent Union are so pervaded,
az to become instruments Of degradation and
oppression, the people who will calmly submit,
deserve not the name of ireemen.
Some of Us out here, are endeavoring to add
another, and we think important plank to the
Democratic platform, it is, "no more compro-
miscs"-this will bind US to our Constitutional
Rights-de,nandng nothing more, and accept
ing nothing lesi. This understand to be the
spirit of your noble Representative, and for
which he is surely most justly entitled to the
honors you now do him. In which do most
| heartily join.
Respectfully, your obedent servant,
THO. WILLIAMS.