Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-09-22
COMM UNICATI0MS
For the Advertiser.

" la III u lY J. ~ n ! i " NJ
For the Advertiser.
Mr.. EDIroR,-Dear Sir: In your comments on
Gov. ADAMS letter to the BoyHAn Dinner" in my
opinion, you have certainly put an unwarranted
construction. I cannot see that he places negro
traders upon footing with the negro stealcrs who
visit the African coast on missions Of plumber and
robbing" His whole argument is levellcd, if un-
dcrstand him rightly, against the law which suppress
,es that trade, and taxes the South to support Navy
for search and, if that law did not exist it would
be as just and right to purchase slaves in Africa as
Virginia or Maryland If sluvcry be right his argu-
ments ars-und the only thing for US 10 consider is,
whether it is the interest and policy of the South to
bring slaves from Africa, Gf the law Of Congress
dcbarred it was repeatedly
If that law should ever be repealed, rest assured
we Of the South would consider our interests enough
to decide whether to engage in that trade or not
would like to know how the Afrcan.trader could iorco
his slaves upon soil, unless We, who are interested
in its culture, purchased them? And before we be-
calac purchasers would we'll weigh our interests,
and make calculations of the probable results arising
thcrefrom. Wo must certainly give up tho right Of
holding property in mun, md weaken our argument
for its support when say it is pracy to purchase
them in Africa, or elsewhere only the law makes
it 80.
We Of the South are too prone to become Nation7
allied, and all things through party, for sake Of
party, and change State Rights into Purity Rights.
1t is true, State Secession has bcsome obsolete ex-
ccpt with few, and Cooperation has succeeded in
its place. am willing to be termed Co-operationst
for resistance, but not according to tho order OF the
day, Cooperation for Compromise and Submission.
The doctrine of Stato Secession is now changed to
whole South Co.operaton-but another name for
Submission. Mr.. BoYcE is reported to have said that
"ths election Of Black Republican President in 1867
will be sufficient for Secession" viii tho whole
South Cooperate and say So? Oh, no. That would
endangcr the Democratic Party-thc party that must
check the encrouchments of the Federal Government
and hold FRED DOUGLAS, or whoever tho Black Re-
publicans elect, at bay, and gave the Union.
Sir, the South, as body, will never secclc. If
Secession takes pnce, it will be by ono State
stepping boldly forward, in defaRce Of the General
Government, drawing the sword throwing away the
scabburd fully determined for liberty death to bc
the consequence.
Article Sec. 10, Constitution Of tho United States,
"No State shall Snter into any treaty, alliance or
Confederation" How wond the South cooperate
unless in Plain violation of the above clause? Think
you that there will ever be general outburst of in
dgnaton ut time, against nny Act Of the Federal
Government, sufficient for the whole Soath to see,
eye to eyo and rise simultaneously to shake off their
shackles, without previous treaty Of alliance or
Confederation?
believe, MS Col. PIcKESS once expressed himself,
what the South wanted was IN "issue," and that
issue must 10 made by some State independently,
upon her own reserved (Snte) Rights. Col. PIckESs
made the remark in consequence of the Act Of Con-
gress dismembering Texas and his hope was that one
would reject the Act and not accept tho brbe, and
thus make an issue upon which the whole South
could unite and contend for her rights. This was
the fighting point, ind the issue which COL PIcEESs
so gloricd n if rlade, because be believed the time
had come, which in making that issue, the South
would unite ndhnye her rights in the Union, or her
liberty out of it.
Look back upon the past, and by it judge the fu-
ture. After our great men (mostly members Of Con-
gress had by speech after speech, alarmed the State
telling the people how their Ri its were usurped, how
degraded it could be for them tamcly to submit, and
quietly wear the chains Of Slavery; cnlling upon
them to arouse, assert their rights and feurlessly
maintain them even unto death. After they had
made the people believe they were in earnest, and
had actually put them in motion to perform or die,
see with what precpitaney the greater number cooled
down. and began to tell the dear people, that really
there was not so much to submit after all and that
perhaps there might be dangcr-yea, great danger
most bloody issues, savery,-ycs dcath-if We assert
our rights ana move another step. Stop! Please wait
for Cooperation.
heard one Of our greatest men, in his public
speech, sny (upon the Texas question: that it was
merely difference Of opnion-thc same us two law
ycrs would differ about some point of law. That up
on this question, the South aud the North differed in
orinion,-it was only difference Of opinion. You
see how our grcnt men can bring down one Of the
most important issues to mere difference Of opinion.
The more VIC become Nationalized, or affiliate with
National Democracy the worse will be for the South
am no prophet, neither lay claim to the power Of
Spirit Rupping, but if ever this Union is dissolved it
will be by one State stepping boldly forward and
making an issue upon which the rights of the South is
involved. And my lile upon it, the South will make
her cause their cause, as certain wntcr, by the laws
Of gravlaton, will run dcwnhll. But if wc wait for
cooperation it will always end in ccmpromise and
suJmission. Yours Respectfully, L.