Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-02-27

The impartial and enlightened verdict Of
mankind will riidicste the recti.ude of our
conduct, and he who knows the hearts of men
will judge Of the sincerity with which We Ia.
bored to preserve the Government Of our
ia,hers in its spirit.
The right solemny ,rnclsmed at the birth
Of the States, and which hes been affirmed
snl rraiiired in Bills of Rights of the States
,"hs. qurntly admitted into the Union Of 1889,
undeniably recognizes in the people the power
t, RESUME the authority drl.gstcd for the pur.
yoses Of Government. Thus the sovereign
States kcre rrlresente.l sece;:e from THU
Confe,!rracy, and it is by an abuse Of language
that their act las been denoninated "revoli-
lion" They furm 3 rev alliance, but within
.ach State its Government has remsined. The
rights of rer,ors and Of property have not
been disturbed The agent through whom
they communicated Nth foreign nations il
ch.nge,l, hu, lhis does not necessarily inter
rupt their international relations.
Sus,snel by the consciousness thst the
TRANSITION ron the former Union to The pres
ent Conft leracy, does not proceed from any
disregard on our part Of our just obligations
or any failure to perform every constitutional
'!"ty-movrd 10y no interest or passion To in
wade the rights uf otlers-anXous to cultivate
peHce aud cumnlerce with all nations, il We
may not hope to ayoil War, We may at least
expect that ruserity will acquit us Of having
need!cssly engaged in it.
Doubly Justified, as W. are, by the absence
Of wrong Gil our Fart s"d hy the wsuton ag-
gression Oh lh- lsrt Of others, there can be
no CAUSE to doubt that TIE courage and patri.
o.ism of the people Of the Confederate States
will be found cqusl to shy measures Of de.
fcnce which our security may require. An
agricultural people, whose chief interest is
the cspor, rf commodity required in every
manufacturing country, our true policy is
peace and the freest trade which our neccssi.
ties will permit. 1t is alike our interest aud
tha, Of all those to whom We would sell, aud
from whom We would buy, that there should
he as few restrictions rs practicable upon the
interchange Of commodities. There can be
but little rivalry between ours and any msnu.
featuring or navigating community, such as
tie Northern States Of the American Union.
1t must follow, therefore, that mutual interest
would Invite good will and kind Offices.
II, however, passion or lust Of domain
should cloud the judgment or inaueuce the
ambition Of those States, VIC must prepare to
meet the emergency aud maintain, ny Tns
riSAL ARBlrRAXrNr OF THE SWORD, THE POSI-
TloN WHICH WE HAVE ASSUMED AMoSd THE SA.
TIGSs OF THE EAETII.
We have entered upon career Of ipdepen.
dence, and it must be inhexibly pursued.
Through many years Of controversy with our
late associates Of the Northern States, VIC
have vainy endeavorcd to secure tranquility
and obtain respect for the rights 10 which we
were entitled. AS q necessity, and not from
choice, we have resorted to the remedy Of
separation; and henceforth our energies must
be directed to conduct our own affairs and
secure the perpetuity Of the Confederscy which
we have formed.
If just perception Of mutual interests
shall permit US peaceably to pursue our sep.
arate political career, my most earnest desire
will have been fulfilled. But if this be denied
Us, aud tho integrity Of our territory and iu-