Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-05-10


have misled and dsleceiYed. And in reference |
to this, as remarked. might have adopted
your speech as my own.. rs ,Ty Ahonorab!e
tr!end Knows, long since. took the ground |
thes this government was sent upon great |
mission among the nations of tho esrth--that
it had great work TO- perform, and that in |
starting il, IL was started IN Ferpetuity. Lock
back tr one moment to the articles ''of con.
federation,T and then come down 70 l1s6,,
wlrenthe constitution was formed. What d., !
you Gnd' stIlhst we, the neople Of the United
States, in Order to form almore perfect gay
ernmsar,S&c. Provision is made for the ad-
ms sion ofnem States to he added toold ones
embraced within tha Union. Now turn. to
the Constitution. We find that aliieGdments
may be made 'hfa. recommendation of Two
i!ilds of the members of Congress. if.rnii6ed
,,s three fourths, of the States. Provision II
made for the admission os usw Suites; nopro-
vision is male ter ihe'seecs ion Of old ones.
when We come to understand aur system ef
government, though itbe complex. we ,sI
hoT beautifully one. part. acts in hariioIJ
with another. Then we Sc ,,lr government
is TO be perpetuity, there. Icing 70 pTovi-
sion for pulling it down, tho Union being It's
vit,lizing power, imparting life to the whole
OF the States that move nrouRd it like plaTets
round the sun, receiving thence Iy1:, and heat
aud motion: Upon This idea Of destroyinv
States MY position hos been heretofore well
known, and lace no csus, To- tnchangeit nov;
snd Fam gladto hearts, fe.teratior on the
present occasion. Some are satisfied With the
ideathat States are to. be lost in territorial
and other diYisions-are to lose their charac-
ter esaStates. But theie life breath has been
only suspended anil itis S'hsl constitution
81 obligation VIC have to secure each of theae
States in'thc possession and enjoyment of'a
reyatlicau tormof g'ivernmcnt. A STATE may
bei iii tilesgopcrument witba p.cniiar lnstltu-
m and by the operation Of .e.e'iion lose
aai feature. gu: it Wis. a State when 1t
scs,t i;itu retcEinn, and when it cUu1: out
ieu. IL; III ,;ibIIion trS stii ~ Srate. l
I'd IT as Il splamT,hl; r',ein.: in ,Dy me of
tbesa Stats ere Z, i,,,; sr'uis. lave i!.e':
r. ..,0I:a2tk y, ;4t.h'": IL cars Dat nos
.,.naSi tie ,,:m.ier cfU,nn ma.' ifnnough to
mao the ship OF State. 20 d II, lssy, i high
,,.ry..r ;i-niccts'ni seciir,t Id thep, a.fcpub.
.,n form 'if government.
l.e American people must be Taught, If
eg 10. not already feel, that treason is
.i,ne and must be bu,i he'd; that the Gov
-n.,ent will not always bssr with its enc
airs; that it is strong not only to protect.
but to,Jmnish.- When we return to the crsHii
lal coiaend examine tie catalogue cf lrimes,
| melhsre 1iId arson laid down as 8 crime,
! with its appropriate penalty; We hnd there
ts,a' tleit and robbrry md murderer. itsa as
rimes and there too We find the last Aid
hes: Of crimes, treason
! : With other and Inferior oilehcss onr !nop'e
re familiar, hut in nrT peaceful hiscs:Ty. trea
has been almost p:s"oEn. ii!e pcopie
mu.t understand that y il be blacklist ot
CT mes, and will be surely panished. lmakc
aliusion not 20 excite the already cxas-
t;,erated feelings Of the public, but to poirt
at tho principles of public justice which
! ho1ld guide our action at this particular
iunctura, ,:ul which accord with public NOR
,!s. t4t it be ensFa(iea on every heart that
rtasnn is crime md that traitors slsll
,uier i,s penaltY. While we are appalled, end
overwhelmed 1T the fall OF one man in our
clidst b. the bond ci' 6 traitor. slial! We ALLOW
| N nj care not 6v what vcapqEs---to at.
;empt the lie OF tie State with i!npnnity? :?
While we strain our minds 10 comprehend
/ nc cIlorm!ty VI tElS SS6aSND3L!OE- Suaii we
allow the nation to be as. estimated apaak
! IN nn spirit of gpkinlness. leave the events
OF the future to be fFapqssd of % they arise.
Regarding myself as the humble ius.runent
,f the American people in this as ip all
t.irgs5 ;us:ics-and Judgment shall be deter
minedby them. dc not harbor bitter or
rsyengeful feeling togard. any.
In general terms l would say that pubic
morals and public opinion should be estsb
;ahed upon the sure ang inHaxible principles
of justice. When the question os exercising
mercy comes before rue, it will he considered
cai,nly,J jaa;cicusly, remembering that SIN
! the Executive OF the netion.
know men love, 10 have their names spe-
ken of in connection with acts Of mercy, and
now easy it is to yield to this impulse, but
SC. must not forget that what nisy be mercy,
10 tie individual is cruelty to the State. In
Ae exercise Of mercy ghoro should besno
ioubt left that this high prcrosstire is not
| used to relieve few at the expense Of :.:sn.e.