Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-10-19
A Platform! A Platform!

the Erening Ners seem to be agreed upon a sort of
platform or programme of Southern action in our /.
pending political emergoncosi and yet the Eers
rather implies that it may provo impructieable.
It is we'll enough snmc think to pitch high you
fall short of the mark. Generally this is good
rulo. But if DIsuSluS be the mark in this case,
we decidedly agree with tho -Ne~', that the least
said about it prematurely the better
AS to tho South Carolina Legislature, we incline
to believe that no action will be thought advisable
nj the next session of that body, matters Of
Federal politics. Or if any he saken i! will surely
not be such will sever our State from Geurgia, !
Virginia, Alabama and the rest, in the struggle !
Of 1860.
In the multitude Of counsel there is wisdom.
Especially is this true of the Southern States.
which must stand or fall together. Let South
Carolina lead of with resolutions six weeks hence,
as some would advise hor to do. nnd she may find
herself alone in her glory agan. Is 1t not far
better TO await the movements Of other States for
ICE are always ready. And will not the Charleston
Convention itself be the time and tue place and
the occasion for consulting aud determining as to
the Souths best policy in the Presidential contest.
If the results of thut contest be disastrous, then
and not till then will the time have arrived for
tue South to meet in convention and solennly ini-
tiate measures to tukc her own lights and interests
into her own keeping. To agitatc steps towards
this cmd now, is perhaps to defeat the consunlnu-
ton forever. In the Charleston convention tho
whole South will be represented in it, full strength
Let South Carolina be there through her popular
~ constituted delegates. Then let the Southern
delegations unshucklel by Legislative directions,
advise and resolve for tho best. Surely, in their
keeping, the South will he properly cared for,
without high sounding declaratory resolutions in
advance And whatever nomination they may
agree to- we should abide. For what is there bot.
ter that We can do? In what more satisfactory
way can we arrive at the real condition of the
popular mind at the South? This being ascertain
cd, what better can We do than act it out together
! US far us il ia ready!
We give the Mrreury's programme ser;atim ct
rerbatim, not desiring to refuse its suggestions the
advantage of our circulation hut rather the con-
trary.
MERcrRr's PLATFORM.
l. Let the Legislatures of the Southern States
at their next meetings. distinctly declare the rights
! of the South, Us plainly leduciblc from the Dred
| Scott case accompanied witha resolution that they
will vote for one for the Presidency or Vice
! Presidency, Whu does not plainly and distinctly
affirm and support them without tnon-committalisn
! dndging or equiSocation.
. Should tho Charleston Convention declare
and affirm these rights, and nominate candidates
for the Presidency and Eice-Presidency who dis
tinctly support them, then the Southern States
will support such candidates and should they bc
elected, proof will be afforded that the South may
continue with safety in the C0nfedcracy.
g. But should the candidates for the Presidency
and Vice Presidency, thus fairly nominated by
| the Charleston Convention, be defeated IN the
Presidential election, and the republican or abol-
| tiun party succeed i'll electns their candidates,
then the southern legislatures, suon thereafter
Us they shall successfully assemble together should
recall their Senators and Representatives from the
| Congress Of the United States, and invite the CO.
operation Of their sister Southern States to devise
means for their common safety.
f. But should the Charleston Convention refuse
to declare and affirm the rights Of the South, as
| dcducible from the bred Scott case, nominate
candidates who will not affirm and support them,
then let the Southern States nominate and support
candidates Of their OVID. plainly AID faithfully re-
hecting AMI supporting their rights
!. Should tr Southern States succeed i'll elect
ing their sectional candidates. thug nominated, Of
course they will deem it of sufficient proof for the
present OF their safety in the Union.
d. But should tho Southern Suites fail in elect
ing the sectional candidates thus nominated, then
let the same course he pursued has been suggeS-
ted in case the democratic party be defeated with
candidates standing on the rights of the Surth.
and the black republican or abolition candidates
hc elected.
| A word or Two of comment.
Point No |. is little confused TO declare the
deductions Of The Ured Scott case, is plain enough,
/ I-however supererogatory But for the Legisla-
lures to resolve that they will rotc for The prcsi-
denry, &C., souut!s rather odd when only one
Legislature in the Cni,r. has that privilege, md
that one will nLt hc elected until October 1850.
But the allusiun may Le to the St"irs voting. II
so, what good will il do for Legislature to declare
that the State will su VOTE when the peurlc will
have TO decide the matter for themselves in the
election Of electors, aud may be bold enough to
think for themselves aulvotcas thcy please. Even
in South Carolina, the Legislature that is to pass
said resulre will net he the to east the Presi.
dental vu,o.
Point No >. makes il necessary thai the Char
lesion Convention shall declare and afirrn'' cer-
tain rights when nearly the whole South hold
said tights to lie sufficiently recognized already by
the Democratic party, and still perfectly safe under
The brilliant vindirali"n Of the Supreme Court.
Point NU'. would 10 to try, il it had only been
qualified by the simple expression, Should Mach
Rcpuhlirnnirhl trirmj.h in the merit Presidential
rontt-t
| Point M !. involves Il contingency that We can
MT us yet realize, viz: That The nomination at
Charleston will be made without the consent of the
Southern Democracy. Should TINT wing of the
/ party consent tn the nomination, we must take it
for betur or f.r worse. else tear Section into
. the tattcrS nj faction.
( Point No !. is i matter IF course.
| Point No i. arrays section against sert:On,
annuls the Democratic Party, breaks up the Con-
veutipn in n row, ruus u sectional candidate, gets
him badly beaten, and then bursts up the Con-
! federalion,-i regard to all which, we cnn only
say Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof"
--+-><---
Augusta Merchants.
We observe in the Augusta Di,pntrh the fol-
lnwing complimentary notices of few of its ma
ny prominent Mercantile Houses. Read what
tho Dispatch says:
RENSES IIATS-Thrrr is demand Tor hats
about these times and We hear of various new
! styles, not heretofore in our markct--Such NJ the
Cumming Hat" the Miller Hat" the Wright
| Hat" &C. We refer our netting friends. and
| others who want nice hnt to the new down town
| 10 Ill