Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-10-08
G.rrivlL.E. Sept. 21sl, 1910.

ticptt2iac2 II hl\e rtcelVCu your lo'le i"'
vi;a:io:: to dinner which The citizens OF AbDe-
vi!ir propose To I'VE 10 their representative IN
Com ess on tue 23d inst. ut Greehwoou. a'n
grateful 10 you .or this mark OF respect alnf
cannot but b. sra,iiicd at the terms III winch
you have been pleased TO convey H. more es-
peciav, nave reason I" he grat!ii u 10 kho"
that am indebted part Tor tins cNlIity 10
my dcvrton to the principles oil the COhSlitu-
,Iou. and to the cause of the South" | regret
thai nv engagements are such rs will deprive
me ofihe pleasure ot Joining you in the propo-
sed festival. NV personal regard Tor the dis
tinauished gentleman, whom it is Intended TO
honor would aiune be sufficient To induce my
acceptance of your invitation ifit wele possl-
BILE. n,uc., mare should lie urged to unlc with
Won and his fellow citizens in this maili'est.-
lion of their respect, when il ls co'isldercd us
formal confirmation of the great pfnclpes OF
nublic policy, in the establishment oi winch we
are 50 deeply Interested, aud which has fallen
20 the lot ofv0ur representative so amy 10 sup
mort. Holding Judicial station, nave care
fully avoided taking any active part IN me pom,
Tics of the day. BY accepting snc:' an ONCE l
do not however consider myself dlsirancGi:eo,
as n citizen Of the country, cannot be hdisrer-
,ut to the issue of the struggle which now am,
mates. the exertions Of parties. Having formed
with much dcliberation, opinions Oh the q'lcs-
lions which are involved. have not only the
right TO express them in becoming manner
oo sn;t,bIc occasions, but consider that am
hardly A, liberty 10 withhold them from thos"
WIN NAV deem them of any value, wlihn'lt en-.
terinp as u parliSan in the active warfare OF
politics. or descending into the arena rs Il coni'
batant. | assert and shall maInialn tiie right
no, only of private opinion. but oi unI'iiis WIN
INV tcllow citizens, on all proper OCCASIONS, IN
bouor to public men, and in giving expression
,n nublc opinion The present political e'ner-
pcncy is one of great and critical moment; ana
nrescn,s an appropriate OCCASION i0r c"n'lnu-
ming together OH public affairs. IL there be
trutb in history the contest of lsO0, Is revived
and all the principles are at stake when were
then deemed of such value by the republican
narty. and which shed such luSire on tleir tri-
1,mnh. Huving some acquaintance with the
,oj;,;c,I course of the President helore he came
into mower, and having observed the course OF
tho administration since, it is my sincere ana
JeI;bernte conviction. that no public man has
wore uniformly Y avowed, or more steadily pur
,ued in practice, those sound constitutional
nrincirles which formed the creed OF the repnD-
t;can narly, and which have been peculiarly
cherished in South Carolina, as the basis oi
nubc liberty 1t is upon those principles a.
lone that the Sollhcrn Safes can rcpose As n
guaranty for the Integrity Of their institutions
sJw nreE.reuce of Mr.. Van Buren, is not found
ed soleIr on the fact that ne stau''s al the i'ead
sc ,,,, ;,,rtv. in whose doctrines | have been
brought up whist his adversary is presented
MS the head Of the opposing party although
that might be sufficient lie has higher merit
and stronger claims. If
do not choose TO enter into minute speciii-
.,,;on nf the uointS oil comparison between
them. 1t is enough Tor the present TO say tha'
;rthere have been oh ec,ons to the former course
&C Ar Van Buren,, on sdlne questions of sec
,;,n,l poIicy and interest. the same exist in all
equal or as great degree against Gen. Har-
rison.
On all ieoding points Of constitutional doc
triue, and of National policy, the views express
sed by MIR. Van Buren, and adopted,n practice
are such as I cordially approve The manage.
ION, of onr foreign affairs has been eminently
snccessful. and has heel marked by sagacity,
,,rudence and forbearance: whilst his domestic
policv has equally exhibited sound judgement,
dec;sion and 'firmness. which have been dis
,Joved in n remarkable degree during the late
sov.re test, to which that policy has been sub
;ec,ed in consequence of the pressure OF the
;,in,oo The success which has attended the eli
fny,s Of the opposition to ascrlbe the CONNER
.;,i and finaucial embarrassmeits Of the coun
w try 10 the measures of the administration ex
hints melancholy instance of popular lniatI
ntion. The first conclusive evidence of the ex
toni of those embarrasslnents was the general
susnension of The Banks in May 1887, this occur
ed in less than 3 months after ilr. V. B. came
into office, g. was the result of those extrayasan
sueculations during proceeding years. In the
absence of National bank, and the deposit
bunks having failed 10 answer the end OF safely
keeping the public money, be recommended a
tetai separation of the government from all
Banks, so that The peoples money should not be
used for the purpose Of private speculation
But should be kept aud dsbursed by public a.
gents, appointed in the usual mode and respon.
sible TO their employers, the people, This was
pot intended 70 be q substitute tor National