Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-06-06
wanted..A Few Decisions.
"And the logic of the bayonet,

And the logic OF the Dayonet,
The world can understand.
Brother Greely says, in late nuInber oi
his paper, that he wants solemn .adludlca-
ton By the Supreme Court of the right OF
secession. We want it TOD, for every sensl-
BILE NAH can see-just as Our Brother Greeley
does-that the triumph or defeat of men who
advocate principle makes no earthly differ
ence as to the abstract right or wrong oi the
principlc itself Of course IT, all practical
purposes the matter is settled-the bayonet'
has done taat-but its legality is still an open
ou.sticu and one we hope that learned aiit:
honorable Court may speedily have before IL,
in form that will admit OF full argument
and Gral decision. Miserable, saysthe maxim,
is that State where.the lazy is uncertain, ,Aand
now that We of the South have been SO sound
ly beaten, it might salve Our wounds TO know
that tue castigation was inflicted on tunda-
mortal legal principles. We are not treat
ing this matter lightly. God forbid: lie
who would do so, would def!e the grave.
But there are many in he'South Iho still be-
lieve in this right Of the States, and-tospeak
plainly-as long as that belief is er:rerlained,
Tie Moth and the South will quarral to ali
eternity We d. not mean they will get to
lighting agaiD, though, North or South, the
American will die sfor opinion sake, but they
will qui1ble, and quarrel, and argue, till the
whole country will be one chronic ierInent OF
discord and hate. /: is not to the nteres. OF
the Republic that this state of things shonld
exisr, and yet force will be futile to prevent
it. There is no bayonet that can reach the
soul, and difference. Of opinion is at the
root of the whole matter. live of the South
are wrong in our opiuion,.let the Supreme
Court show us our error, and We will submit
our Judgment to its own maturer reason,
and Hereafter utterly renounce, "abhor, and
abiure, as impious and heretical, that damna-
BIZ doctrine and position" we have hitherto
held. We will do more, for weawill put that
renunciation in our State Constitution and
laws, and declare to the world that the place
secession once knew in our hearts shall know
it no more.
We are but men even as other men are,
lust as liable to err, and just as emenable TO
reason. live have erred, we are open to
conviction, and all we require to convince US
is that the Supreme Court of the Uoited
Statcs-that venerable and illustrious tribu-
nal-sball' solemnly adjudge the Right of Sc
cession to be indeed ne right, but mere idle
and unfounded claim. Give US such deci.
son and we can feel that calm and passionless
Justice has pronounced its condemnation.
But there is another reason, or rather sew
eral of them, why Supreme Court. decision
on this point is desirable. Intimately con-
uected with the question of secession are the
subjects of treason, allegiance, citizenship,
the equities of sequestratcd payments and
others OF lesser Importance. Thus we need
some light on the subject Of paramount ale
| glance, or what a man is to DO when his
State orders him to do one thing, and the
United States commands the opposite. II |
stick to the State some Federal officer will
shoot me if | stand by the Upion some pep
perry Governor will hang me to swinging
limb. I am between two fires, and nothing
but o decision can get me- out. Then, teo,
treason is the offence Of not obeying one
master but how is n man to serve two? And
here we want another decision.
What is to constitute citizenshipis is another
nodus yindice dignus We want to know if
freedman is to become citizen OF Georgia,
acd'i; 80, il what way? And. if he is to be
o::,zen, whether he is TO have all tie rights
| OF fiji ere and all the privileges Of minority !?
An,: wa want to form or opinions on theee
points by study OF decisions Instead OF a
perussl Of general orders. What equities
are to rule the case Of ore who has
psid Northern debts to de facto govern
rent, under duress, is another point OF inter
est wo would like to see judicially consider
ed. But give us something first about this
same doctrine of secession.-+.ugusta Cohsti-
tutionalist. -