Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-05-22
The True Basis ofsAction.s

/ The following remarks are. from the Rich
mord Whig, and are as applicable in this
State asin Virginia: 81. ! ~,
Our newspapers and our people should all
be united, and should advocate the redemp-
ton of Virginiayby I'LL Virginiaus, ofwhateyer
color, or party antecedents and political craeds.
Our interests, are the same-our obligations
and duties identical. When VIC see our CONF
mon country imperilled by dissensions among,
ourselves, we show more selfiskness than pa
triotism by continuing thein-a blind selfish
ness, too, that promises nolgood to o,anybody
"a perverse wilfulness for which no jnstifca;
ton can be offered. We are all under the
military law, aid by uniting and cooperating,
as sensible people should, We ean'get frofdf
under that law escapcdisfrapchisement anas
confscation; get sclfgovernment, and be-
placed in practical relations vita the General
Government Every rejecting man mpsl,:
know that, if the white people keep to them
selves, vote againsta convention, and defea;
it, when Congress again assemblies, it will
pass another bill more stringent than the
present, under which the handful Of "loyar'
whites and blacks'wll be authorized TO hold
convention and frame a-Oohssitntiol whose
acceptance BIZ Congress will be certain: Not
only this, but that all Of us who shall have
voted against convention, will be marked
for perpetual disfranchisement and for confs
cation. -
But suppose the whites keep together, vote
Cor convention, and, maintaining separate
organization, nominate their own peculiar
candidates, elect them, excluding all other
representatives, frame Constitution, anGg
then still maintaining their separate organiza:I
ton, elect Governor, Jul lges, 3 Legislature,
and altState officers. suppose all this is done,
will Congress ratifY this work when it learns
that the original Union men and the negroes
have, by our refusal to act with them, and By
means Of our majority, been studious.y and
entirely excluded from participation and rep
rescntation? We shall not further elaborate
tn .se points, but laaye them for the reflection
OF our readers, with the single remark that
Congress will not, in our judgment, accept
any such work if'opposed by the so-callci
"ioyal'' whites and the blacks, rs opposed it
most certainly would be. If we selfshly ex.
clude those clements Congress VIII exclude
us.
Our duty is plain. It's 10 unite with all
men who can be prevailed upon to unite With
us, vote for the convention, elect 10 it men
who will follow the provisions Of the militarT
bill, frame Constitution that will command
the support of the several classes referred to,
and that will be-acGeptable TO Congress, and
elect Senators and Congressmel who cantake
the ircn.clad oath. 1t is not worth while ic,
do anything unless we do all these things. II
we think to hoodwink and deceive Cougresy
by any dcTice, We deceive ourselves. TIE
eyes of that body are steadily liked upon us,
and its great business is'to see that recon
struction shall not be effected in the intefes!
alone Of the Confederate whites, and to the
exclusion and injuryof the Union whites AMI
the blacks. = If we would get back into the
Union; we must get back on The basis of u
Union among ourselves. Let US all bear this
in mind. 9g 'es ~ ,'ejy4