Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-02-17
THE GREAT. ISSUE.

The great issue, the trial question: of tho present
(perhaps the las Session oEongross is that Of the
admission or rejection of Kansas nuder the LecOmp-
ton Constitution. For the admission the President
of tho Union occupies the van5 supported by almost
all the Southern members, and 20 goOdly number of
sound headed Northorncrs. For the rejection Black
Republicanism unfurls its bspner backed Ito its own
evident amazoment) by Do9oLAss and his dupes.
The struggle will be desperate one. The element
Of Abotionism will be wrought up to its highest
pitch by its frenrOd high-priests; And tho ambition
of power scarcely led theSrebelious arch-angel to
more daring resolves than it will beget in the heart Of
the so-callcd "Giant of theyWest-" To meet these
dangerous influences JAMEs BUCHANAN stands forth
fortified with the triple panoply of Truth Justice and
the Constitution; the good. and sound men of tho
North have solemnly resolved to Susain him in his
noble course of independentduty and, last but not
least the insulted South is now arrayed in solid
column, prepared to meet the issue like patriots with
out excitement, without bitterness, but with the
finching determination tosyield no moro to the ng
gressions Of an avowed eImity. The contest must
then be powerful one anamighty in its results, for
veal or for woe. ~
The adoption of HARRIS Resolutions, of Enquiry
and Investigation, is far from being regarded by
Southern members o rejection. of the Lecompton ap
plicaton. 1t is not even, aswas at FIRST sad consid
cred equivalent to its posponement to another Session.
Mr. Speaker ORR has appointed the Committee under
the Resolutions; and thatgommittce aro already ut
work. There would seomsSto bo no doubt of their
preparing their report in time to act upon it before
tho adjournment next Summer. Such is the calcula-
ton at Washington. We therefore to expoot the
decision of this issue by Congress within few months
at tho farthest. r..
Let then the Representatives. of the South stand
firm upon the high ground they occupy before the
world. Let hcm announce to the country their pat-
form, with dstinctness that will admit of no mis-
construction Let them concert their plans and devise
the line of action they will take, should Kansas be
deliberately rejected on account Of the slavery ques
tion Let them perfect and publish to the American
people this proposed action, and the reasons Of its
adOption-not threateningly but dspassiOnatey, and
with the intent of avoiding f possble) dissolution
Of the Union. Let them call upon the enlightened
world to Witness that they moving upon high
principle and for the rightfu conservation of their
political and social institutions. And, over and above
all, let every of them podse his life, his for
tune and his sacred honor" to the stern and unlter
ing use of oil his pouersi tho attainment of that
great end. Thus will theSsOuth, through her sena-
tors und Representatives. appear in the strength and
majesty of her own good CAUSE. Thus will the pco-
ple Of tho South be brought to rally around their
lenders with ono unitedsshou of approval. Thus
will We triumph, and save the Union md ourselves.
But underlined and doubtful ncasurOs, and ill-coucer
tod councils, will but end in further compromises
md the further degradation of our section. "a long
pull, and strong pull aud pull all together" should
nou ho tho Snntbarn ,uofobuord