Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-06-12

, ....... ...:-- s!ctict.l. r., Sprti!srs
invasions, as the most furious oil Eng-
lish Assenters would resent the in
terpos ton Of the Roman Catholic
Powers in the question of Church
Establishment in England. When
the seven Southern States had with
drawn, the Border States, which were
most deeply concerned in the North
ern attacks on slavery, still clung to
the Union; Virginia, despite the pi-
ratieal Invasion of her territory and
the midnight robbery and murder
passionatety sanctioned by her New
England sisters, still refused to Sc
cele; and only when the treacherous
attempt of the Federal Government
to reinforce the fort it had promised
to evacuate, aml surprise Charleston
with an armed fleet, precipi5ated the
reluctant sections into war, and when
Mr.. Lincoln forced upon her the
choice between fighting for Southern
freedom aud State rights, or Northern
ascendency and Federal despotism,
did She throw in her lot with the
ConFe!vrates.. Slavery then was not
.ker determining motive: Slavery
| made no appearance in the private
letters Of the men who, one after an
other, went with their States. 1t is
| remarkable fact, that while scores
OF leading Northern men denounced
the war, not q single Southernsr of
high character, education and inau-
ence deserted the cause OF the South.
They universally held that their al
legiance was due to their native States;
and ON that ground alone they threw
up career, fortune. fame, and placed
themselves at the disposal OF those
who claimed their feaIty. It:is alb
surd to call such men rebels; they
were loyalists to all that they had
been taught TO obey, to all the'prin-
cples recognized, up to that moment,
by three Americans in four. 10 Gen
eral Lee the Federal service offered
everything that ambition could de-
size. He was its foremost man; he
! was the favorite Of General Scott he
might have had the chief command
a. the price of treason to Virginia.
His feelings were divided; his inter
ests were on the Federal side; .but as
his letters now published show, he
was convinced tha, his duty was to
Virginia, and he decided accordingly.
With him went 'Stonewall Jackson,
the two Johnstons, and every South
ern soldier in high or low command.
The cause so espoused, and oy such
men, cannot have been what English
'|Ran nters aud Radicals call it. Good
Or bad in essence, it. was 50 strong in
apparent justice that not one man OF
character and weight whose. allegi-
ance it pretended to claim declir ID
to support it.
Its failure had nothing to do with
J its alleged dement's. 'Ihe South was
crushed by weight, not broken by
! weakness. Three things determined
the fate OF. the e wharf.-the .eiDsiag Of
her ports, the superior wealth, and
far. above oil, the overwhelming uuui.
bers of the enemy The North.,was
] corn-gowing and a rnaaufaeterimg
| country, and had open TO- her.,the
! markets OF Europe; she had-uniimit.
ed command. Of all the resources Of
the-Givilized worla. The South:was
: sublectto the disadvantages both o.
an. agrieultural-and of a non-sgricui.
; turd country She had mo manu
faothrss, and yet~she h4sd bytoisnu'
factufes and not by agriculture; BY
producing eloshing, not by preduoins
sf,s 81 VI <'>~ sra $500 ..-,s-s. AZ.