Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-08-03
A Suggestion or Two.

slavery clause to the platform of principles laid
down by the Democratic Convention ut Cincin-
natti7 In that platform tho plcdge is fully given
to sustain Southern rights in the Territories against
all unconstitutional interference; and by the terms
of that platform the Democratic Party stands
bound to exert its united influence in behalf OF
those rights when infringed. Is not this security
enough for the present? Some say, no,-and urge
that an actual ammo ounccment of future save-code
for the Territories be insisted upon as IN indls-
ponsible requisite to the souhs further co-opera-
ton with the Democratic Party. AS ut present
advised we cannot see the wisdom of this position.
1t appears to be liable to several obections some
of which we will merely suggest to tho readers
reelection:
/. 1t would assuredly destroy the Democratic
organization, and loaye it very doubtful whether
any Southern organization would ever arise to
take its place.
2 1t might thus, and by our sections own act
sreesily elevate o Black Republican to the Presi-
dency, and could by no possibility result in tho
election of Southern sectional candidate.
8. As the Democratic platform now stands, it ID
strongly States Rights and strongly Southern in
its every feature and if it triunphs, under what
ever standard bearer, it and will ensure to the
South such defense Of all her privileges and
interests under the constitution as she may pru-
IDENTIFY demand. That defense ha, been progress
yvely in our furor (according to Mr.. STEPHENS
and many other sensible stutesmen) for tho last
twenty yoars and We have good reason to believe
that it will continue to grow in this direction,
until every Southern extremist shall be satisfed
of it, ability to shield US from wrong and op-
preston.
I. If the adopl.o: of slave-codc for the Terri
tories shall ever become advisable surely now
is not the time to urge it; when to do so; will
bring division and confusion into the Southern
ranks, and thus throw US further off than ever
from united resistance to future acts OF OPPRESSION
in which kind of resistance arc to look Ut any
where) for the beginning Of better state OF things
than now exists.
S. Why under the present troubled aspect of
affairs risk the destruction of our reasonable hopes
as bound up with the Democratic Party's success
by demand in advance for Congressional iegis-
lation that may mover become necessary! 1t
seems to be generally agreed in the case Of Kan
sas to "let by-gones be by-gones" Now, why
not awai. as to the other Territories, present or
prospective some Territorial action adverse to the
institution of slavery? Why not first gee the point
tested, whether or not any such action will here-
after be tolerated by tho triumphant constitutional
party Of tho country? It is st least matter Of
earnest hope that it will not DO, but on the con-
trary that tho rights of Southern settlers in the
Territories will be go sustained and vindicated
hereafter by all the high powers md tribunals Of
tho country, as entirely to displuce such demands
upon Congress rs the one here sought to be agita-
tod. There is at any rate such ground for this
expectation as would justify us in awaiting fair
trial before naming direct legislation az our s'ne
Qua non to further cooperation with thc Demo-
cracy of the Union, especially when present
lsyinc down of this ultimatum would inevitably
bring the country under Black Republican rule
s.nd thus perhaps crush forever our staunch con-
stitutional friends iu the North.
6. IF we cnn afford to hold this demand in
abeyance so fur US principle is concerned, surely
VIC can better do 80 in view Of any working Of
practical injury that might result thcretrom. 1t
is argued upon good grounds that Kansas was no
practical loss to the South for that slavery would
not 70 there. At all events it did not 90 there,
although the door was spen. Mr.. 1vERsoS asserts
that it was the insecurity Of that species of proper
.y in the Territory which kept it away yet be
does not point out tho nature of that insecurity;
while hr admits that Missouri, immediately upon
tho Kansas border, held large aud rapidly in
creuSing slave population; coupling which fact
with every ones memory of tho Border Rutbans,
the conclusion is palpable, in spite of Nh lvERsoS,
that if Kansas had been considered the place to
make negroes profitable, negroes would have been
carried there by hundreds. But the fact was,
that only few ever found their way to that Ter
ritory. So, it appears to many, will it be IN oil
other cases: Who're whito labor Gun turn the
furroy'. there slave labor need not attempt conf
uetitiun. But where white labor canuot tarn the
furrow, which is exactly where Slarclabor bceouIes
truly valuable there slavelabor will 50 in spite OF
all obstacles If these promises be true, it follows
that our section is in no danger Of practical loss
in the Territories,-at least no such pruxmatc
and threatening danger as requires the amend
u,ent Of the Democratic platform by the unncces-
sury clause to which we have advcrt.d.
I. Itbehovcs the Southern people, in the midst
of their present unexamrled yet still Increasing
prosperity to beware Of all cxtrrinc and rash
measures To unsettle tho elements Of that pros
perty by breaking up the cxistant order of thnss'
continually improving las it is) for her good,
might hr to her the beginning of 'woes unnumber-
ed And if there is any cauSc more certain than
another to produce that dire result, il is the dis
rupli"r ui the Democratic party "f this Union
without having before our eyes The certainly OF
Southern Coltuderacy. 1t is mainly from this
yiow that we respectfully dcuur to tho lrop"si-
ton u amending the Cincinnati platform III the
Charleston Convention.
BIoX'' and the Mercury.
Our fcliritous contemporary explains his own
and BIu1's" connection with our DythIraIbic
T.. tl,.