The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-07-04
From the Charleston Courier.
THE GOVERNORS ELECTION.

on the G0reraor,S election, when seems
to a,lra t very general and just interest
Protesting TO know no more ot the mer''s
uf lha question than these disclose ON
their face, or leave 10 be implied from the
ambiguous terms in which the authors
choose at times 10 insinuate their meaning,
we have found il impossible to escape
certain conclusions that have, doubtless,
forced themselves on uther minds, as little
biasscd by Interest or prejudice, as ours.
Personally we arc Indifferent who is made
.Guvernor, We have no preference al all
between the candidates named, as men;
and believe they have all ample capacity
for the high station they seek, but we are
not equally satisfied with the reasons on
which their respective nominations are
placed. The public aspect ofthe question IS
not alone of any importance 10 the people,
however deeply its private merits may
influence the feelings and conduct OF the
parties themselves or their friends, Inc
office of Governor of this State, lhoug h
not of great executive power, is OF emil
nent dignity and influence, and more
generally taken out Of the State as an in
dex of its politics than any other. Inc
people, therefore, whsare only concerned
for the proper administration of their
oublic affairs, will perplex their minds
with no question of private tavorltism or
personal ambition, but steadily look to the
manner in which the public dignity, peace
and happiness is to be affected by this
election.
We do not mean to institute any COM
parison between the relative claims oil the
candidates at this time, but simply state
for public consideration, few deductions
of fact, developed by the discussion, as lar
il has advanced in the Courier, to which
two Of the parties appear from choice
10 confine their communications. And
though we acknowledge we are OF talllble
minds and as susceptible of prejudice as
others, we feel assured of having set down
nothing here that is not fully sustained by
the letter and spirit Of what has been
written. If our observations appear un-
Just to any, perhaps the parties injured
NAV. on reflection, discover an eSplana-
lion of their offence in the fact, that
while they have been blinded by the heat
and dust Of an exciting canvass, we nave
enjoyed the more advantageous position
of a mere looker.on, concerned only that,
in this strife Of rebellious passions, the
Republic receives no harm.
Several things have struck our obser'
vation in the discussion on the Governors
Election in the Charleston Courier.
III II, hat
without proof indeed, 6at Win Strong sps
parent conviction, that his nomination
originated with clique, they think II un-
nece ssary 10 explain how their favorites
wer,. brought out, whether by clique or
by themselves. We confess that between
the two, we prefer the first as the more
respectable and more fair mode Of nomi-
nation. Both Judge JOHNSON and Col.
HAMMOND were named by anonymous
writers: Col. RICHARDSON by almost every
public journal Of the State, with the con-
currence and by authority Of number of
its mos, Influential men, of all parties and
sections. At least it was so declared at
the time, and we presume no candid per-
son is disposed to doubt The fact.
I'd. We lave observed that Col. Rich.
ARpsoN's nomination is the only one which
professes to be founded on considerations
of public character. All the arguments
presented in support Of the others, really
appear to us summable into this one-that
the election of the candidate would graft
fu, crcedingly, him and his particular
friends. But what benefit is TO rebound
to the people of SomhCarolina, from the
election of either Of them, we do not find
suggested by any Of the correspondents OF
the Courier.
Sd. We have observed that Judge JOHN
SONS claims rest upon hisspersonal amia'
bility and long judicial services-Col.
HAMxoNp's, on his having served in the
militia, and made an anti-abolition speech
Col. RICHARDSON'S, on his alleged wis
dom Of character, his active public SER
vices in the Legislature and Congress,
his inhabiting an important region of the
State. which has been heretofore allowed
"a Give fewer officers 10 its administration
,,,nn any other, and on the reconciliation
Of parties, it is thought, his election will
produce. -,
4,h. We have observed that all, who
are in favor of an United States Bank end