Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-09-15
CHARLESTON, August &c, 1858.


Gentlemen: I have received the invitation
with which you have honored me, to the din
ner to be given to the Hon. NJ. L. BoNHAM, by
the citizens of Edgefeld, on the I'd of Septem-
ber next.
It would be very agreeable to me to attend.
Edgefeld is associated with very pleasant
memories. Some Of the happiest of my youth
full days were spent as q school-boy in your
beautiful town. There I first knew your dis.
tinguished Representative and the foundation
of friendship was laid, which has experienced
no other change than that of the enthusiasm of
youth to the more chastened sentiment of ma
turer wears The District is cherished too in
my best affections, Us tue birth place and home
of my family, many Of whom are beneath the
soil they laid down their lives to defend. |
need not 60 beyond your Committee, Gentle
men, for the names of those whose ancestors
with mine, experienced the sharp struggles Of
the Wings and Tories of the Revolution. Many
green mound marks their resting place, though
their names fill no page of history.
regret however that will not be able to
he with you. In every position in which
have known Gen. BoNHAM, in peace and in war,
in the council and the field, he has been fully
up to the strictestrequrementSo OF duty. In his
Congressional career he has exhibited the same
high qualities, which in the responsible, civil
and military positions he has filled, have COM
manded respect and confidence Of all. Nothing
therefore would he more agreeable to me than
to unite with you in this demonstration of re-
gard and esteem.
AS fill no public station, attribute your re-
membrance Of me to my friendship for your Rep
reseptatiYe. value it the more for that reason:
This fact however would exempt me from the
obligation which custom imposes, of expressing
an opinion upon public affairs. But although
o private citizen, am not without deep inter
est in the welfare of the State and the South.
1t belongs to those of greater ability and moro
familiar with politics to advise with you upcn
the events now agitating the country Cpon
your public men, whose course necessarily i'll
fluences the issues before us, devolves the re-
sponsblity of telling you how to meet them.
You have committed your interests to their
keeping, and theirs is the duty of preparing you
for the conflict 1t would be very gratifying if
l could share the hopeful feeling lately cxhibi-
ted by many public men and presses of the
South. AS an observer, removed from active
participation in current events, | am unable to
perceive that improvement in public affairs by
which others are inspired. If the fanatics are
less aggrcssive-with energies less stimulated
by the public sentiment around them than for
merly-if there are any stronger grounds for
expecting Constitutional guarantees to be re-
stricted hereafter, than they have heretofore
been, I can not perceive them. On the contra
ry, think this aggressive spirit will be more
fully put forth in the Presidential struggle Of
1860 than it was IN 1856, and with greater pro-
liability of success. We are in the middle Of
tte Presidential term. The compaI Iatiye calm,
denoting preparation, may lul US into sense
of sccurity-but it will deceive Us. Not an
element of strife heretofore present, Will be
wanting Many not before known, or else i'm
perfectly organized and little felt will be added.
In the accumulatinS tide Of public sentiment at
the North, tide which has had no ebb we
will encounter perils which no party can resist
Such at least are my opinions. l acted upon
them in 1851, and many acted with me who
seem hopeful now-but were hopeless then.
have ceased to hope for redress in the Union
and those who are of my opinion and arc un-
willing 10 be recognized as uncQual-mua look
for redress out of il. can then but dcplore the
policy which counsels So much patient plioso-
ply in our difficulties. 1t is calculated to lower
the tone of our people. To convince man
that his position is inevitable is at once to set
him about making it as endurable as possible.
10 persuade cur people that the Union must
Arst-nay, that their wrongs may be redressed in
it. is to familiarize them to its continuance tile
next and easy Step is to be reconciled to it.
I wish no SUCH truce: I prefer cordial response
to the Macedonian cry !" come over and help u" !"
of our young Sister Alabama. Delenda as Car
thago. know no other motto for the South.
have the honor to be gentlemen, with the
highest respect, your obe't serv't.
WM. E. MARTIN.