Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-09-29
LETTERS FROM DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMEN
TO THE BONHAM DINNER.
MARSHALL, TrxAs. August a5, 1855

UeMtEWeHs 1Our lufltallOu W atlcuu Lie
dinner to be given to my old friend and school
mate, MlLLEDGE L. BoNHAM, has just been re-
ceived and | hasten to reply to night so as not
to lose the mornings mail. I can not be with
you in person, and yet would not be altogether
absent.
gladly embrace the opportunity, which
your invitation offers, Of expressing my appre-
citation Of the moral courage, unselfsh devotion
to principle, and pure patriotism exhibited by
your immediate Representative in his vote upon
the Conference Committee Bill. The question
presented was one, in the decision of which, the
most unerring judgment might have been at
fault. It is only on such an occasion thathigh
cumstances unfinching nerve and unselfish de-
votion to country act upon the dictates of rea-
son without reference to the opinions Of others.
The Kansas question had become one of diff
fcult solution. If she were rejected it was
clearly because of the slavery clause in her
Constitution. A wrong would thus be done to
the South. That we might bear, or not, as We
Saw fit. But principle was involved, and a
wrong was done to the Constitution BY her re-
lection. Congress can not reject State apply
ing for admission because she has institutions
similar to those Of States in the Union. The
people of State can not be converted, by an
act of Congress, into inhabitants Of Territory.
But, on the other hand, if Kansas were admit
ted two Black Republican Senators would at
once take their seats in the councils Of the
country. How long would Slavery be protec-
ted in the State? Modern Statesmaislip has
discovered that constitution not ratified by
popular vote, is no Constitution. Ergo none
of the old thirteen" had Constitutions South
Carolina has none now. 1t has also discovered
that the doctrine, that organic Law has binding
effect even for a day, against the will of a ma
jority, is doctrine odious and obsolete. In
other words, that Sovereignty does not reside
in the people-in the whole people, but in a
part-that is in a majority. Sovereign power,
it says, can only be exercised at the ballot-bo1.
Yet it admits that laws passed by Legislature
can only be repealed by the Legislature, and
in the mode prescribed-and that, till SO re-
pealed, they are binding. But organic law
the law, by the authority of which the Legisla-
ture acts, may be repealed at any time and in
any manner the majority decides. The Declara-
tion of Independence was made by the Cont
mental Congress. The members of that body
were not elected by the people, their act was
never ratified by the people at the ballot-box.
Therefore, we are still subjects of the British
crown. GA Daniel has come to judgment" in
the person of Robert j. Walker. In the bet
ter days Of the Republic, it was supposed that
State Government could sustain itself, BY
even calling in the military and naval power Of
the Federal Government against domestic insur
rection. Now, Governments are supposed to
exist by permission of the majority, whenever
and however ascertained. But had Kansas
been admitted, would the State Government
have attempted to sustain itself against Tope-
ka movement? Entertaining the views Mr..
Buchanan does on this subject would lie have
responded to the call if made? Was it not
foregone conclusion then that slavery, and slave
holders would have been expelled the country,
had Kansas been admitted? Was it our busi-
ness then to urge the admission? Cui bono ?
Non-interreation was the Kansas doctrine. Was
it observed? Did not Walker intervene lie
was removed it is true, but not till he had done
the mischief After we were badly bitten the
dog was called off. But for the difficulty of
converting State into Territory, have no
hesitation in saying the South could, with pro-
priety, have objected to the admission. The
laws have never been enforced there. Men
guilty Of murder and treason have been par
doned before conviction officers
have been ordered not to prosecute-out-laws
have been allowed to live at large. Men who
were allowed by law to carry property into the
Territory, had right to expect that they, and
their property, would he protected by law.
Until the laws are enforced, and all kinds of
property protected, no fair experiment can be
made in the settlement of the Territory.
But "there is divinity that shapes our ends
rough-hue them as we may" Kansas has been
refused admission. We did not do it. One of
the conditions is that it shall remain Terrific
ry till it has population Of nincty-three thou
sand. That is in tho bond. The past We can
not control. We have only to do with the fu-
ture and the present. "Let the dead bury their
dead" Leaving the past to take care of itself
we should say that slavery now exists by law
in the Territory, and demand that it be protec-
ted by law. Treason should not be pardoned
but punished. Those carrying property of any
kind into the Territory should he secured by
the Federal Government in its peaceable and
quiet enjoyment. If this is done and it is found
after fair experiment that the Territory is not
adapted to slave labor We should be content
but not till ther. When the requisite popula-
ton is in the Territory, it should be permitted
to adopt State Constitution, and be admitted
into the Union with or without slavery-but
not till then. Let the United South make this
he dereict in the performance of its duty. We
are not yet SO low.
am answered the battle has been lost and
won-the verdict is already rendered-kansas
will be admitted by the next Congress with a
free soil Constitution without reference to popu-
lation. say, Congress will do no such thing
five are true to ourselves. Let South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi say with per-
feet good temper-coolly and deliberately
that out Of this blessed Union they will 60
upon the happening Of such an event-and such
nm event will never happen. l say to the Union
savers that the Union is in no danger but from
them; and that, but for them, it would never
have been aught but a blessing. Their timidity
has, heretofore, invited aggression. Hereafter
it may induce the North to commit some act Of
rash folly that will precipitate dissolution.
Never will the North knowingly and deliber-
ately force such an issue. Let Kansas bleed if
she has fancy for it. Northern Manufactu-
rers will never leave their looms to rot, and
their spindes to rust to staunch the bleeding.
If we can but to ourselves be true, neither We,
nor the Union are, or will be in any danger.
=" Men at some time, are masters Of their fates !;
The fault, dear Brustus, is not in our stars
But in ourselves, that we arc underlings."
That " time" is now, We are yet masters Of
our fates, and the fault will be ours if we are
longer underlings. Nothing practically was lost
in the last contest. Our honor. it is true, was
slightly damaged. We will look to repairing
that in the next. Kansas is necessary to pre-
serve slavery in Western Missouri missouri is
necessary to protect it in Northern Texas, and
i,,he ,,oJdlo of National Consarvot;,o, :,