Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-05-01
cans have been landed on the Island di,
rectly from the coast of Africa. - S.
POLITHCAL.
From the Charleston Mercury, april %.
MEETING OF TIE DEMOCRATIC REPUB-
LIcAN ASSOCIATION.

From the Charleston Mercury, april %.
MEETING OF TIE DEMOCRATIC REPUB-
LIcAN ASSOCIATIONS.
Pursuant to public notice, very nu-
merous meeting of the Democratic Asso-
cialion was held a, the New Theatre on
Tuesday evening last. The Theatre was
well filled, both in the upper and lower
portions Of that spacious building. At
the appointed hour, the Association was
organized by the appointment OF the Hon.
II. L. Pinckney as Chairman OF the Meet
lug, who opened the business OF The meet
ing by brief address,in which he ex-
planned the principles and objects of the
! Association. and urged upon the Demo
Gratis oil ST. Phillips and ST. Michaels, the
importance aud necessity of supporting The
Democratic party Of the Union, in the
great contest IN which they are now en-
gagged with the Whig leader aud his party.
Agreeably 10 the order of arrangements,
the meeting was then addressed ably and
eloquenlly by J. D. Richardson, r. w,
Seymour, VIM. D. Porter, and T. 0. FL
lott, Esqr's. The speeches of those Gen
tlemen were all of q highly interesting
character, and were listened 10 by grail.
fled assembly, who frequently interrupted
them with loud and enthusiastic plaudiIs.
Mr.. Richardson said, he regretted that
the Committee of Arrangements had ap-
piled 10 him to address the party-he had
hoped that others, who were more prac-
,ised in the political arena, would have
been called upon TO exert their powers
but he had thanked The Committee for the
opportunity now afforded him, not of ma.
king public speech, but of publicly iden-
tifying himself with the great movement
in which the Democratic party were now
gaecd-for the opportunity, of declaring
himself to be one, tho the least of those,
who were pledged 10 uphold and defend
the Democratic cause. He reviewed the
leading measures of the Whig party, and
pointed out their operation upon the 10.
duslry of all classes of the people. We
were in no better situation now in respect
to The Tariff, than before The passage Of
the Compromise Act. We have The same
cause of Free Trade to defend, the same
unconstitutional aud oppressive Tariff TO
resist. Mr.. r. spoke at length upon all
the measures which characterized the Fed
eral party, and showed. ,hat while they
were ruinous 10 the people, generally, they
were not entitled 10 the merit Of confer.
ring benefit upon their own party. The
advantages, if any would result, would
be confined to very small portion of their
own party. He, next expounded The pfin-
ciples of The Democratic party. They
were the reverse of those proclaimed by
the Wings. The fundamental principle
of the party-one upon which they never
could be divided-was a strict adherence
10 the Constitution. He drew contrast
between the effects which must result from
The different principles of the two parties,
aud called on the people to choose be-
tween them. Mr.. r. adverted to the
common jest which is heard from our op
poneuts that the Democrats of this State,
would prefer Mr.. Clay TO any Democratic
nominee, except MIR. Calhoun. That MIR.
Clay was their next choice-next only to
their own great Statesman. He said il
was true, the Wings were most anxious
to propagate this opinion, and in return for
it, many will be heard 10 say, that next
10 Mr.. Clay, they would prefer Mr.. Cal.
houn. He said, we want no compromise
of opinions or measures with that party.
We had trusted to compromise with
them once. and its faithless violation has
forever destroyed all confidence in hem
Mr.. r. pointed out The absurdity of the
notion that Democrats could be brought to
support, direc ly or indirectly, the eleva-
,on of Mr.. Clay that although they had
preference for Mr.. Calhoun to any other
man il would be insanity itself TO main
Tain their preference even 10 him, al the
expense of the principles of the party. If
we cannot have our best friend, we GER
tainly will not go over to our worst enemy
Though we may not be relieved Of our
burthens by The hand most read y aud
vigorous 10 do us service, we certainly
willnot invite our burdens to be increased,
by the hand most prompt 10 do US injury.
He said, such taunts were produced by
our own inac:ion. We must co operate
with our party, and not stand aloof. a
particular individual, however high our
estimate of him, is not indispensable TO the
establishment of the Democratic princi-
pie. The election Ola President is not
the ultimate aim Of the party-it is only
means of obtaining afurther end-@hich
is the propagation Of our principles. If
the nominee be a Democrat we are bound
10 suppor, him. He enjoined upon The
party a spirit of concession among them
selves, to regard the principles Of The
party, and not individual leaders-and to
act up 10 that motto of the Association.
The meeting was afterwards addressed
by Col. Thos. o. Elliott, who descanted
on the groat principles, professed and sus-
tanned by the Democratic party. The man-
ner in which they were assailed and
threatened to be overthrown by the suc-
cess of the Wing party, and the necessity
OF union and sympathy among its defen
ders and nroceeded TO eXplaiu and illus.