The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-08-03
For The Camden Journal.
TO THE VOTERS OF KERSIIAW, SUM
TER AND LANCASTER.

TER AND LANCASTER.
Fello,c Citizens: Candidates for the Legisla-
ture are now in the field, canvassing for your
suffrages; and seventy days hence, it will be-
come your duty, in the exercise of one of the
most important and sacred rights of freemen, to
Judge between them upon your responsibility to
your country and your own consciences.
In order that you may bring to the exercise Of
this great fundamental right, an intelligent and
wise discrimination the sentiments of all the cam
didates, touching the importantquestionst that are
likely to be discussed and decided by the Legis-
lature, should be distinctly and fully brought out,
"without equivocation, evasion, or mental reser-
vatinn''-their abihtyto understand, and willing-
ness 10 vndcate your rights and interests asccr-
tanned; and especially their freedom from sinister
influences, put beyond doubt Take care that
they are mans men-no mere party--no bank
tools. Beware, fellow citizens, how you place
your power in the hands of men, so bound down
by personal ties and obligations fcttered by
bark debts, that they cannot consult your inter-
ests, or the free dictates of their own judgments
and their consciences The times are evil be-
yond all example, moral sirocco is sweeping
through the length and breadth of the land
lIammon is in the ascendant, and his vota-
ries, and his victims have filled the moral and
political atmosphere with desolatng pestilence
remember, men are, at best, but "unca weak"
and that these are emphatically, "he times that
try mems souls"
Among the questions that cannot be blink
ed by the Legisature-that must be decided,
for veal or for woe-thare are none of deep
er, or more vital Importance 10 the people, than
those touching the financial policy of the State,
The State debt, and the administration Of the BANK
OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. This insti-
tuition has silently, but rapidly grown in power
and influence, till it has already become the first
estate in the Empire. Beginning with fund of
one or two hundred thousand, it has advanced by
rapid and scalthy strides to the enormous sum
of FIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS! A sum more
potential and more dangerous in the party pollti-
cal contests in South Carolina, than National
DQHf, Ol one HulluTcu IllllIOIS Noulu NC III llc
government and politics of the Union
And yet-mark The fact, fellow citzens-the
very party and Identical men, in part, who depre-
late the establishment of a great National Bank,
as subversve of the spirit, and ultimately the
firm, of the Federal government-who denounce
the "union of Bank and Slate" as adultcrous and
corrupting-mark, say, the fact that this par
tv-these men, with shameful Inconsistency,
proclaim from the high seats Of power, to which
the people (confding in their fidelity to their
professions) have elevated them, that the union Of
Bank and State in South Carolina, is "no longer
an open question:" and boldly advocate an in
crease of the already bloated resources of the
Bank of the State Of South Carolina, $50 as to
give it controlling influence" over the private
banks; converting the whole, State and private,
into one great consolidated, secret, irresistible,
corrupt and nexorable monied oligarchy, over
awing the timid, subsidisng the mercenary, and
tramplng down the bold and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ing designs not less audacious and sta. Ting than
those indicated by the measures of the midnight
caucusses at the great Federal Babylon. To The
People, say emphaticaly, apake! "The Philis-
tines be upon thee, Sampson" awake, before the
locks of your strength are shorn, and your eyes
put out-that is, your enlighted, influential men