Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-09-16

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posed, from various causes, to unite with the
now dominant party and the other element
is our colored population. ] propose to treat
them both with reason, Charity, calldor and
dignity, because know that oil the creatures
of God, who have the power Of reason, exer-
else that power in accordance with the cir
cumstanceslin which they are placed, In
other words, men view things from ditter-
ent stand-p point. One man at the foot of The
mountain sees snaught but that which comes
within the scope of his limited vision an
other still higher up sees more and thinks
differently; and still another, who has sue
cededi scaling the mountains height, and
has view of the whole scenery, entertalns a
different view. of the same subject.
Our mission then is, that while we believe
our position is the right one, as tits based
upon principle and confirmed by all truthful
history, to win over to our cause, BY consid- :,
crate kindness the weakened and waycring
of our own color, and the heignorant, and con
sequeptly easily. deceived, of our colored
population. And in pursuing this course,
we must be firm in the adherence to our own
principles, and, in the language Of the author
Of all true civilization aud enlightenment, be
ss wise as serpen,s and as harmless as doves.
In other words be Just to all, for "Juslice
may be called the miracle wonder among
men, 4r,i ,gi..4..y
To the former class, I would say, if
you are prompted by motives of ambition
let me caution you that however glittering
the bauble may appear TO you now, like the
famed apples of the Dead Sea, which present
such beautiful and attractive appearance to
the'traveler, but when attempted to be eaten
they turn to ashes upon the lips, so will your
ll-sotten honors turn to bitterness aud re-
morse tor no man ever yet forsook his peo-
Ole, under such circumstances, who did not
regret it sooner or later. IF you are induced
to take the step with view Of beMering
your condition, OR as means of obtaining
bread, as you would say, Ianswer that there
are a thousand avenues open to obtain it
without the sacrifice of principle. The mil,
lions Of uncultivated acres within our borders,
and surrounding US every where, ready to
give u bountifal harvest, and waiting only for
mans magicstoueh, ere evidence against you;
for | maintain that no man need starve or
suffer in this superabnndant country, if be
will acorl ard that any man in moderate
health can with his own hands make enough
bread and meat, not only to feed himself, but
an ordinary family besides. There is no
shame in engaging in an honest employment
however humble it may be. But if you have
taken this step for ,punder, ,ou- are beyond
the reach Of mortal means to save You, and
raugbt but q higher power can do it; for
man that will forsake bis old principles and
frieli;e, for such al. Object, is fit for nothing
short of the place prepared for the wicked.
To the second class our colored friends, J..
woad say, you are but children in the
knowledge Of all that is best for your per-
manent good, and like children, on account
Of your inexperiencc and want Of knowledge,
liable 10 Le easily led as;ray BY tie art(ul
aud designing. You have been. set free, sud
dc}ly aud unexpectedly, from bopdaggA,
WHICH was no bondage to you in reality, Dor
to any of Gods creatures situated as you
were; you have been thrown upon field
over which you have never travelled before,
and have expected to find privileges and
honors which do not belong 20 Your state;
and you have assumed that andaciy and
pertinacity in your claims, which belong only
to long pcnt up infer rity broke loose from
its legitimate restraints; and although you
are backed, for the time, and for q sleciaF
purpose, by u superior race in the prcfcrment
of your il!egitimate claims, yet your position
is so unfounded in patnre and its reasonable
dt mands that sooner or later,-nay, very
soon-your pretensions must fall to tue
ground. In the meanwhile, we Of the Cau-
casian or white race, ere disposed for the.
time being, to hnmor yon in your caprices,
knowing our own innate power, and instead of
exercising that power in its full strength, to
use The weapons of reason, charity, kindness
aud justice to lead You in the right path.
You lave been our slaves, and you have
lived with us in amity and good friendship;
you Lave helped to raise our children, and
we in return rave nurturrd, fed, and watched
over you in sickness and in health; We have
educated you with all the knowledge which
was fitted to your conditions; We are grateful
to you for your faithiuness to us, and we
have right to demand from you like feel
ing FOR our care towards yourselves. What
that care has been we challenge an unpr ju-
d cad world 10 judge. II you iurs:.ke us
how, in Oar extremity, Tor newly found friends
Of doubtful reliability, b. the c3nstQuccces
upon your own heads Tor we give you no
tice, that the old tie of friendship, bound by
interest. is broken and if you choose to Sc
lect your friends from other sources, you can
Mi exp ct us to cndur-s that selection. But
If on the other hand you desire 10 cling 10
lis, your natural friends, we extend to you
the hand Of friendship, and pledge ourselves
to do y,'u Justice in Every particular, The in
sinua,ions and positive ASSERTIONS r our ioAs
to the contrary notwithstanding.
Come then, unite with your old and true
friends in the displacement from power of