Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-09-14

Lucy plSICuuy IVA auoI1hSSt shos sAS SS~sse
insist on forcing slavery into all the territories
by the MD of the Federal Government. Moth.
ing can be more false than this allegation,
considered in reference to the South as q
whole, or to the States as political communi.
ties. At the last Presidential election every
Southern State, except Maryland, voted for
Mr.. Buchanan. The platform upon which
Buchanan stood was the delegation by Con-
grcss Of the power it possessed over the SUBJ
ject Of slavery to the territorial legislatures,
subject to the constitution, with the declaration
that the people could decide the question tor
themselves when they formed State constitu:
ton. The effect of this was that slavery could
not be prohibited until State constitution
was formed. By supporting Mr.. Buchanan.
the South must be supposed necessarily to
have approved Of the platform. Until the
people Of the South repudiate this platform,
which l have no idea they will do, no one ia
authorized to say that they demand congress
sional legislation to force slavery into the
territories.
Another pretext upon which this republican
party relies, is that the Southern States are
trying to revive the African slave trade.
There undoubtedly individuals who advo-
cafe this measure, but there is no pretence what
ever for saying that majority of the Southern
people, or majority of the Southern States,
or, indeed, single State, desire the revival OF
the African slave trade. There is not the
slightest probability that the Southern States
will demand the revival of the African slave
trade.
The mere fact of the formation Of purely
sectional party in the Northern States for the
purpose of seiziug upon the Government, ia
cause for the gravest alarm to the South aud
the degree of this danger is increased in pro.
portion as the principles or spirit of that party
is hostile to US. 1t is therefore an interesting
inquiry for US to ascertain what are thr nrin.
ciples and the spirit Of this party. Or u rily
the principles OF party are developed III their
platform, but this was not the case to the full
extent in the platform laid down BY this party
in the last Presidential election. The leaders
of the party readily comprehended that the
extreme abolitionists would follow their lead,
as it was a movement against the South ;
their purpose, therefore, in their platform, was
to carry of as large portion of the northern
people as had not hitherto gone entirely with
them. Accordingly, We find in this platform
that after general declaration that AL men
are endowed with the inalienable right Of
liberty" and further general declaration Of
the power and duty of Congress to prohibit
slavery in the territories, they address them
selves specifically to the case of Kansas, and
insist on her admission as free State.
The true principles of this party are to be
found in the declarations of its leaders, made
when they had no motive to conceal theiI
true purposes.
On one occasion Mr.. Glddings said
'[ would not be understood as desiring
servile iusurrcction, but | say to Southerl
gentlemen that there are hundreds of thou
sands Of honest and patriotic men who Wy
your fear cometli.''
Ii blood aud massacre should mark the
struggle for liberty of those who, for ages, have
been oppressed and degraded, my prayers to
the God of heaven shall be, that Justice
stern, unyielding justice-may be awarded to
uoth master aud slave. If the down-trodden
sons of Africa, in our Southern States, cannot
regain their God.given rights by peaceful
measures, nevertheless hope they will re.
gain them; and it b oud BIZ shed, | should
certainly hope that it might be the blood .!
.huse who stand between them and freedom
and not the blood OF those who have long
ueen robbed of their wives and children, and
all they hold dear in life
Mr.. Wilson, Senator from Massachusetts,
said
"Lct US remember that more than three
millions of bondmeu, groaning Under name
less woes, demand that We shall cease 10 re-
prove each other, and that We labor for theil
deliverance.
tell you here tonight that the agitation
Of this question of haman slavery will continue
while the foot of slave presses the soil OF
the American republic"
Mr.. Seward, the head and 'front.' the very
embodiment of the republican party-a man
of exquisite capacity, cold, calm, passioness
has, in measured terms, defined the objects
aims. hopes and policy Of his party. On one
occasion he said:
"Slavery can aud MUS. be abolished. aud
you and can and must do it. The task is
as simple and easy as its consumination vii
be benefccut and its rewards glorious. re-
quires to follow only this simple rule Of action
tu do every where. and on every OCCASION
what we can, and not to neglect or refuse II
do what we can at any time, because at that
precise, time, and On that particular occasion
we cannot do more. Circumstances deter
mine probabilities"
On another occasion he said "Slarery will
be overthrown either peacefully and lawfully
under this Constitution, or it will work the
subyersion Of the Constitution. The change
can now be made wit out violence, and by
the agency Of the balot.box." | might cite
inuumerable extracts from the speeches o
the leaders Of the Republican party, to show
that their purpose is ultimately to abollst
slavery, but AS there. can be no doubt upon
this point, think it unnecessary. A AsresarJs
the spirit which auima,es this party, their
hatred to the South, no better evidence is
necessary than the tone Of their press
Ridrulc, hatred, contempt for the South, and
every thing Southern, flow in one continued
and enrenomed current through their columns
When We know that tue press is the thernom'
rter Of public opinion: that The mission of the
partisan press is to ignore truth, and pander
TO the worst passions, we can readily compre
hend the hostility Of large portion Of the
northern people to the South: The late wal
between France and Austria did not deyelope
such national aversion as is constantly mani
tested by the Republican press to the people
of the South. The fact Of this manifest. start
ling. undisguised hostility Of the Republican
party to the South, would, if even their prin.
riples were uuobjectionable, constitute Of
itself q good reason why the South SHOULD
refuse to submit to their rule. 1t has been
we'll said by one Of the greatest thinkers OF
the last century, Mr. Burke, that 81 never
knew writer on the theory Of government: SO
partial to authority, as not to allow that the
HUSTLE mind of the rulers to their people did
not justify q change Of government; nor can
any reason whatever be given why one people
should voluntarily yield any degree ol pre-
eminence to another, but on q supposiion o.
4 I,