Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-03-23


congressional power to protect her against SD
graf an evil. Long er1 this, some of these
arguments ! am making against it would have
been more than speculation and theory. And
the effort (now) would be- jus; the reverse Of
that which the advocates Of this policy are
making; instead Of getting more negroes
plans would be deysing to colouizc them
back in Africa, or in some other way to get
rid vi them as Il nuisance.
The only mode Of making the institution Of
slavery permanent, is 20 keep it valuable AMI
profitable. When, from any cause Or cUmbi
nation oi causes, it is rendered vauless, slaves
will he emancipated. They never were emau
cipatcd in any Of the Northern States while it
was to their interest to keep them cnslaved.
When that guarantee failed, the institution
fell into decay. When negroes were useful, it
was right, frIigiously, morally and politically.
But when negro property became burden
instead OF O benefit, and nuisance instead Of
blessing, the religion, morality and politics
of men changed accordingly. II was not abo.
lition societies, nor abolition speeches, nor
sermons that converted the Northern States
into free States. 1t was the workings Of the
higher law of seli.in;crest. The law of utility
is the supreme law of maadxind-it is above
ali other law in its pratical influence. And |
;lm mach inclined to suspect that the same
principles would work out the same results
everywhere. The minds Of the Southern pco-
pie are now firmly grounded upon the ques.
ton in a moral, religious aad political view;
but it is lact which the history Of the Question
even III the South fully veriiies, that our con-
viclions have kept pace with the advancing
usefulness Of slave labor And il you could
reduce the value Of our negroes to "three hun.
draI dollars, inslpll Of twelve hundred and
by the same process brias about that inevita-
bic accompanying consequence Of reducing
the productive value Of slave labor, you would
strikr low ut the security aud permanency
Of the institution you wolld pave the way for
abulitionism in the Southern mind. It is
we'll known fact, that many years ago, even in
Georgia, when negroes were worth scarcely
one.Iourth what they are now, there was a
louse st,lin OF public upiniJn M this subject
Gunrtia usel t. rseeivr the resolutions nt tho
i"git;a,nrpI uf fra Ss.t,.a, RECOMMENDING
emancipation, with much less inDIigraillu
Ii.a 5na would iuw II SJui.t sltpr!it many
ShJ have not IJ,ksi !ulh I c flJt,,fs 81 ills
,,rtusi,n; ti SIC how lt.,st ind Unstable were
The louud...o.,s a is cherished in,tit,iti1l.
i;l tlnies past In the opinion OF tn. Supreme
CJari of ,ieurgii, pronounced by Judge Lump
i;i,i, in the case ot Clclund vs.. Waters, v"l.
xvi, page 5i4, the following allusi ~ to this
subject was made by that distinguished jurist
while reviewing the history OF our policy and
legislation upyn the subject Of emancipation
and the importation of slaves, &c.:-
"In 1921, resolution from the State Of
Ohio on the subject Of the abolition Of slavery
having been laid by the Governor before the
Legislature, the report which was adopted
thereon, after expressing regret at this un'
necessary interference on the part of q sister
State cpnclades with this sentence: sGcor.
ria claims the right, with her Southern sisters
whost: situation III this regard is similar, OF
moving thi; question when IN enlarged sys.
tenn of benevolent and philanthroric eXertions,
in consistency with her rights anu interest,
shall render 1t practicable Is it not appa-
rent that, up to this period, the true character
of this institution OF slavery had not been fully
understood and appreciated at the South, and
taat she looked to emancipation, in some un-
defined mode, in the uncertain future, rs the
only cure for The supposed evil? Thanks to
The blind Eculots OF the North for Their un.
warrantable interference with this institution.
1t has reused the public miud to thorough
investigation Of the subject. Tho resalt is,
a settled conviction that it was wisely ordain-
ed BY forecast high as heaven above mans,
for the gooI of both races, and q calm and
fixed determination to preserve and defend it,
at any and all hazards"
: 1t is generally supposed that this change Of
opinion on the subject has arisen from the
progress of intellectual enlightenment and