Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-09-29
ours, &C.,
To Messrs. S. S. Tompkins, E. Seibels, J. B.
Griffin, L. Butler, and j. W. Hill, Committee.
CuER1w, s. c.. August 3lst. 1858

,CIIERAM.S. ", August 3lst, 1898.
GtssaltsmcT Phase accept my acknowledge:
ments Tor the gratifying compliment of your
invitation to Inc to be present on the occasion
Of the Dinner proposed to be given by the cti-
zcns Of Edgeticld District to their immediate
Representative, the Hon. M. L.. BoNHAM. /
regret that existing engagements will not allow
Inc the pleasure of enjoying your generous hos
pitality, and of tettifying my hearty concur
renee in the commendation so we'll earned by
your Representative. All who have dity pcrso-
nal acquaintance with Gen. BuSHAM must bc
pleased to see him honored. The separation,
which the most momentous issue of the late
Session Of Congress, occasioncd between HIM
SELF and all his colleagues, gives peculiar value
and signiticancy to the proposed expression OF
your appreciation. 1t is fitting lie should
know that such isolation has, at least not i'm
paired the confidence Of his constituents and Of
the State in llm. If it were admitted that lie
erred in judgment, the moral heroism of his
position, in daring to be singular, and therefore,
to incur the risk Of .heing misunderstood on a
point, about which his section is so sensitive,
would win for him admiration. But it must be
confessed, that, although the contrary action of
our other able. watchful and patriotic repreSen-
tativcs in both branches Of Congress may well
make one doubt his own Judgment, while the
proposed mode Of adjusting the Kansas Difficult
ty was pending, it seemed to some of us, that
an acquieScence in it On the part Of the South,
would look very much like an eagcrness to es-
cape from, rather than directly maintain an is
sue which We ourselves had made. Kansas, it
is true, scarcely afforded fair occasion for such
an issue. Whenever territory left to the ope-
ration Of the ordinary causes that control i'm
migration and settlement, withoutebeing SUBJ
jected to any forcing process, upon application
for admission, Is finally rejected with the con-
currencc Of all branches of the Government
that can have voice, merely and distinctly be-
cause of the existence therein Of negro slavery,
it is difficult to see how the Southern States
can any longer continue in the Confederation
without dishonor. For then it will be mani
fest that hostility to an institution, the contn-
ued existence of which is essential to the pros
perty of the South, and indeed constituent
element in the highest type of civilization that
has yet appeared, has gained the control in the
administration of the General Government.
Doubtless this issue will not he met directly,
so long as the same object can be accomplished
indirectly; and, therefore, it must be expected
arises, to contriye some bye-path whereby to
reach the desired point of excluding the apply
ing territory. 1t is difficult to see how any
one, at all informed, can doubt that bitter
hostility to negro slavery and consequent de-
terrnined opposition to its extension beyond its
present territorial limits is almost universal in
what are called the Free States. The progress
that this sentiment has made in extension and
in intensity and effectiveness within ten years
is wonderful. That it will be satisfied with
nothing short of the entire abolition of slavery
and that it is moving steadily toward that result
there seems abundant occasion to fear. No
Southern man would consent to such consum-
nation. 1t may be regretted that, in case ol
such doubtful propriety as that Of Kansas, an
effort was made to force the issue upon the
country, Yet when the issue was, in fact, pre-.
seuted, we may not wonder at, nor condemn
Gen. RoNHAm, because he refused to seem tc
evade it, by consenting to be diverted to col.
lateral issue, under cover of which escape from
apparently impending defeat might be effected
Such could not have been the true attitude o.
affairs, as the course Of our other representa-.
tives in the Senate and House assures us, but il
might we'll have been mistaken for it.
Permit me, in concluding, to offer the follow
ing sentiment
AFRICAN SLarery-as it exists in the Southern
States--an important constituent in the bes
form Of social organization yet known to tht
world The highest interest of civilization ant
humanity plead for its perpetuation.
1 am, with great respect,
Yours, &C.,
JOHN A. INGLIs.
To Messrs. S. S. Tompkins, E. Seibels, j.
Griffin, L. Butler, and J. W. Hill, Committee