Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-01-09

4 From the Charleston Mercury.
The Commissioner from South Carolina
to Washington.
We publish this morning Ill our columns,
an article taken from the Charleston Courier,
entitled 1.-THE Reported Commissioner from
South Carolina to Washington" to whsch we
beg leare to call the attention of our readers.
Il seems, from the statements of tho Cou-
1ier, that large majority of the Senate OF
South Carolina sent one of their members,
Mr.. T. G. Weatherly, to Washington, to as
certain whether, if South Carolina adopted
the constitutional amendments proposed by
the Radicals, the. Representatives from South
Carolina would be admitted into Congress.
The Courier says that he was sent to confer
acith the President. But it is perfectly plain,
that practically the mission was to the Radi-
Gals; for every one knows that from the hos
tile relations existing between the President
and the Radicals, he could commit them in
no way, when the power was exclusively in
their hands, to 90 anything. Mr.. Weather
ly seems so to have understood his mission.
He accordingly held two interviews with the
leading Radicals, Of both branches of Con-
greas, upon this subject, and obtained strong
and satisfactory assurances from them. he,
after these meetings, saw the President, who
informed him that his views were unchanged
in reference to the unconstitutioualitJ of the
proposed amendments to the Constitution
and expressed the hope that the Southern
States would remain firm, and steadfastly re.
jcct them, " "believing it to be an advance
step to the inauguration of despotism."
Ire question may we'll be asked, what are
we coming to,-when large majority of the
Senate of South Carolina, seek intercourse,
and propose terms of mutual agreement to
the Radicals in Cnosress,-the avowed enc
mics to the South, and enemies to the Con-
stitution?
What are we coming to-whenthis majority
propose to adopt, and make valid, fragrant
outrage on the Constitution, vetoed as such
by the President of the United States? Is
he who accepts and ratifes an unconstitutional
measure, one whit better than he who pro;
poses it? Is he not worse, if the measure
proposed, is distinctly designed to deoase and
ruin him?
What are we coming to-when high Off
c;al Representatives OF South Carolina, pro-
pose to separate her from her sister Southern
States, in the mighty struggle in which they
are engaged. and virtually to betray them, by
aiding the Radicals, in forcing upon them,
schemes Of degradation and despotism?
We believe that it is not unkr wn. that for
moro than thirty years before the war, South
Carolina was the most prominent State in the
Southern States, il opposition to the aggres.
sive measures Of the North on the South;
and that she was the first State in the South
10 secede from the Union ofthe United States.
When the war closed disastcrously for the
Southern States-what was the course it be-
came South Carolina to pursue? Was it to
hasten to propitate our conquerors, By acts
OF su5serviency? Was it to run ahead ofour
sister Southern States, in submitting to and
accepting, the terms exacted by the Govern
ment or people Of the United States An
impartial Judge, might deem such course,
uot to be dictated by the highest sense of duty
or Of honor. 1t would look zoo much as if
the State, acting under the influence of ignc-
bic interest or more ignoble fear, would be
aiding in heaping upon our sister Southern
States, The ruin, which the failure of their
.cause, e,undscs. .ourlea'l, .brought. ur.on them.
Was it-not our policy, rather tofollow tRan
to lead, and toaccept of submission to terms,
only as with them, and Of them ; and to aid
and support; with all our power, all our sister
Southern States, in their efforts to obtain he
terms most consistent with their interest and
honor. Good faith, delicacy, dignity, it ap-
bears to us, required this course of South Ca
ro!na. But directly the contrary course was
pursued. Onc of our highest officials, has
boas;cd Of it, as 4 great mcrit-that South
Carolina was the first State, to repeal her
Ordinance of Secession-thc first TO abolish
the institution Of s!avery-the first to carry
out the Civil Rights Bill, passed b. Congress
over the Presidents veto, because unconsti-
tutora. All these eXpedients Of haste, how
ever, did not bring Us one step nearer theob-
isct we had in view-a restoration to the
'Uuion of the United States. They only
drew upon us the disesteem and contempt of
tie Radicals, and laid the foundation for new
cxao.ions Would not passive course have
been wiser? Why should we rush forward
to assume the responsibility of measures in
tended to destroy our liberties and interests ?
Common sense requires that we should un
dcrstand our position aud should act in good
faith. But there is such thing as policy in
Submission. Why not let politics alone? And
now" faciliS descensus aye,mt"-we havein
the same line Of policy, a large majority OF
the Senator'S Of tie Legislature Of South Ca
rolna,-attcr the proposed constitutional
amendments have been vetoed by the Presi-
dent rs unconstitutional, and the greater part
of the Southern States have rejected them,
sending deputy-one of their members-to
Washington, to ascertain whether, ii South
Carolina adopted these amendments, her
Representatives would be admitted, by the
Radicals, to Congress. The inquiry seems
to have no meaning, unless it was the inten-
ton to adopt the constitutional amendments,
if satisfactory pledges for the admission OF
our Representatives to Congress were given.
1t appears that satisfactory pledges were CIV
en- and, that we have been saved from con-
summating our desertion and betrayal of the
South, only by the wise and firmer counsels
of the President of the United States.
DEGRADATION OF AN ITALIAN OFF1cER.-A
painful ceremony took place on the Sd instant
in the court of the Casuo at Milan. Sub