Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-12-21

of the Southern people has been stirred to tn
bottom; they mean hat they have seen I'M
penrling danger and destr clion; they meal
that they have borne itas long ;sS it is rir
tue to bear, and they mean that they will moi
forfeit the character Of freelnen. tell the
honorable Senator that he may mistake thai
feeling. Do you suppose it is possible that
nearly half the States of the Union, your co
States, States associated with you, shall be
compelled to bear all the burdens of foreign
condition; that while We are linked together
as if fraternally we must keep standing ar.
mics on our borders, be continually harassed,
irritated, disturbed, stirred to madness, and
that we shall continue to bear all these bur-
dens OF foreign attitude, and take none OF
the compcnsaling good The thing must
stop. The Constitution was wisely conceived,
skiliully, admirably constructed, adequate to
all the purposes for which it was intended (;
bat our present condition Of affairs throw
wide open all the portals for our invasion and
destruction. 1t is for you 10 shut them, or,
with the help Of heaven, we must shut them
ourselves. Call it treason, gentlemen, and
make the hest of it but tell you that unless
these things cease, much as We have adored
the Union, much as we have sacrificed for its
maintenance much us we are willing yet TO
contribute to uphold il that it may scatter its
blessings to unborn millions, it becomes our
honor aud our existence 10 maintain ourselves.
We cannot permit the Union to be mere
badge of scrviuie. We cannot permit it
eternaly to be- upon us US an incubus, crush.
ing ont our very lif. and breath Regard it,
gen,lrneu, az it is your minds cannot come
to different conclusion. have toe much
respect for the courage of the North TO sup
pose that they would tolerate such condition
OF things if it wele reversed. They would
not; and yet you presume to d.nounce 1t as
treason, because we say that III condition
OF things which NC cannot tolerate, We will
sunder the Union, pull it to pieces, column,
base and tower, before we will submit to be
crushed by government which is our own
as we'll as yours; to which we contribute as
well us you; and which we will defend with
our lies blood as we'll as you, as long as it
shall BIZ government securing to us, as to
you, equality, life, and liberty.
Mr.. President, did not design to go so far;
bu: felt that some of these remarks were
due to the inquiries which were made by the
honorable Senator from Wisconsin. What |
have said, believe. My purpose was to ask
the Senator from Illinois whether his amend.
ment was not mere matter Of party tactics,
AMI whether lie would not withdraw it, so that
we might br permitted 10 come fairly and
suuarely, without embarrassment, without
bunting the edge Of this inquiry, TO Il consid-
Grafton Of tue true question which is before MS.
MIR. Kins.-Mr. President, lrise with some
reluctance; but, in the absence OF my col
league, desire to ask the Senator from South
Carolina if he designs to impute-and will
say frankly that did not understand him to
inpule-any purpose on the part OF my col
league, wliu is absent, to emyluy force Or VIC.
lencc to promote any principles or measures
vi:..h Ln r,,si";ns2