Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1862-03-05

| cutI0n oil the existing war. 1ne Oo'IiA"ehN1
of the most hopeful among us must have
been DESTROYED by the disregard they have
recently exhibited for the time.honored
bulwarks Of civil aud religious liberty. Bas-
tiles filled with prisoners, arrested without
civil process, or Indictment duly found; the
writ of huJsas corpus suspended by Execu-
tive mandate; d State Legislature controlled
by the Imprisonment of members whose aroS'
ell principles suggested to the Federal Execu-
tive that there might be another added to the
list Of seeded States; elections held under
threats of military power; civil officers,
peaceful citizens, and gentle women incar-
cerated for opinions sake, proclaimed the Ia
capacity Of our late associates 20 administer
Government as free, liberal and humane as
tina, established for ouv common use.
For proof Of the sincerity of our purpose 10
maintain our ancient institutions, We NAV
point TO the Constitution of tic ComiedcracY
and the laws enacted under it, as well rs to
the fact that through all Tie necessities Of AL
unequal struggle, there has heen no act on
OH; part to impair personal liberty or the
freedom Of speech or of the press The c"arts
have been ops he judicial functions fully
executed, and every right Of the peaceful citi'
zen maintained as securely as i Il war ol in
vasion had not disturbed the land.
The people Of the States now conlederated
became convinced that the United States had
.c::.!!.n into tue hands of y sectional majority
who would pcryert that most sacred of all
trusts to the destruction o! the rights which
it was pledged to protect. They believed
that to remain longer in the Union would
subject them to disparaging discrimination,
submission to which would be inconsistent
with their welfare, and iatolcrable 10 proud
people. They therefore determined to sever
It's bonds and establish new Conlcderacy for
themselves. Cheers
The experiment instituted by orr rcvolu,
,ionary fathers Of voluntary nnion of sover-
eign States for purposes specific! in solemn
compac. had been perverted by those who,
feeling power and forgetli g right. were de-
ternined to respect no law but their own will
The Government L",; Ceased 10 answer ihe
| ends for which it was ordained and establish
ed To save ourselves from 4 revolution.
which in its silent but rapid progress was
about to place us under the drsp0ti>m o.
uum'ers, and to preserve in spirit as well as
in fvrin system Of go"crnine"t wc believed
10 be peculiarly i;t,cl to our coadition ard
iu!l oi promise lur ui;!,:ki;!, We delcral'i:ed
to make a new association, composed OF States
homogeneous in interest, policy and feeling
LChccrs.
True % our traditions Of peace and or
| love of Justice. We scut commissioners TO tic
United States 10 rr"posc fair and a!nlc':b!c
Settlement OF ;,!l questions OF public debt or
propcrtv which might he in DISPUTE. But
the Government at Washington denying our
right Of self-gpyernmcni, refused even 10 lis.
ten to any proposals for 4 peaceful sei'alation.
! Nothing was then left to us Gul TO prepare
for war. Cheers.
The first year in our history has been the
most crentrul in the annals of this continent.
4 new Government has been established. and
its machinery put i'll operation, over an area
exceeding 100; ;00J square miles The great
principles upon which We have been willing
to hazard everything that is dear to man have
made conqucsts for us that could never have
been achieved by TIE s@ord. Our Confcdcra'
cy has grown from six to thirteen states; and
Maryland, already united to US by hallowcd
memories, and material interests, will, he
iiere, when able TO speak with justified voice,
connect her dcstinics with the South. ltireat
applausc.l Our people rallied with mnexam-
/ pied unanimity to the . OF the great
n.inciples of constitu goycrnment, with
firm resolve to perpetuase by arms the rights
which they could not peacefully sccurc. y
million Of men, it is estimated, are now stand,
ing in hostile array, and wagins waF a!ong a
frontier of thousands Of miles; battles have
been fought sicges have been conducted,
and although the contest is not ended, and
the tide for the moment is against us, the
final resul; in our favor is not doubtful.
The period is near At hand when cnr fees
must sink under the immense load Of debt
which they have incurred; debt which, in
heir effort 10 suhjusate us, has already at
tanned such fearful dimensions as will sub
iect them to burthens which must continue
to Cypress ,hcn for generations to come.
We too have had car trials and difficulties.
That we are to escape them in future is not
to be hoped. 1t Was to be expected whcn
VIC entered upon this var that it would cx-
pose our people to sacrifices, and cost them
much, both of money and blood. Ent we
knew the value Of the ohiect for which we
struggled, and understood tie nature of the
war in which we Were engaged. Nothing
could be so had as failure, and any sacrifice
would be cheap as the price OF success in such
contest. (Checrs.)