Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-05-01
FOR THE ADVERTISER.

To the Editor of the Hamburg journal:
SIR,-In addressing you on the snoJect o'
MIR, Clay's opinions, "we presumed you
would eagerly embrace the opportunity OTTER
ed YOU TO furnish information as to his prlnci
ples and remove the prejudices entertained by
some of our citizens against him." This we
understand you 10 decline doing, unless the IN
dividual who propounded the interrosatorles
will publish his name. That Individual IS
private citizen who does not desire newspaper
notoriety, and therefore declines publishing his
name But why do you desire his name
Would knowledge of ii alter your views as
to MIR. Clay, or Mr.. Clay's views as to the great
questions which are now agitating the coun'rys
Suppose the questions had never been ASK
ed by "Carolina," would you not have been
under the most solemn obligation, to those
who read your paper, and look to it for correct
information, to have explained 10 them whal
are the present opinions ofMr Clay and what
are the principles that will probably govern his
administration From what other source are
thew to derive their information, ifnot from tn
newspapers that they readl Is it not duty
that YOU owe to Mr.. Clay. to explain his prin-
ciples, and put him right before the public 7
We cannot believe that you desire to hood
wink the people, and by appealing to their
preiudices, induce them to forget their primer
piles. Such course would be an insult to the
State of which we ere both citizens, and IT is
with feeling of proud satisfaction that we as
sert that sncb course would prove as inettec-
tual, as il would be insulting. There is no
State in the Union, in which the theory oil tax
aton. The Constitution. the forms and powers
of our government are so thoroughly under
stood as in South Carolina. This state OF
things has arisen, not from any superiority
which our people originally possessed over the
people of other States; but from the very able
discussions which these questions underwent,
Immediately preceding our struggles with the
Federal Government, in 1882, and subsequent
to that time. Rem amber the effect Of the Wing
mummeries of 1910 in our State. We remem-
Der it with pride. When we asked what prln'
ciples were to govern General Harrison's ad-
ministration, in the want of his election, we
were told of his being pool man, and living
in log cabin. We asked MIR. Van Buren's
friends what we had to expect from him. aud
they ut once answered fully, and apparently
with frankness and candor. unsupported HIM
though personally opposed 10 him. His
friends have not redeemed their pledges on the
Tariff question. We, therefore, dstrust him,
and then the question now is, who shall we
support in the ensuing election1
You had declared yourself in favor of Mr..
Clay. We desil ed information as TO Nh. Clay's
opinions before committing ourselfto him, and
therefore applied to yon for it. 1t seems that
you are not disposed to furnish the information.
Why, we cannot imagine. We do not wish to
hear of the "Hil Boy of the slashe:, THE
"Farmer of Ashland" and Harry of the
West" We have only to do with the princi-
Piles which are to govern his administration.
We believe that Mr.. Clay once was d Mill
Boy-the name Of his plantation in Kentucky
is "Asbland, d,"-that he now resides on that
plantation, and some ofthe weal,hiesi planters
in that State. We know that his name is Hen
ry-we think it probable, that when boy he
was called Harry" and as he lives in the
western country, we see no great impropriety
in his being called by those who would he fa.
ninr with him Harry of the West" We
must admit, however, That it smacks somewhat
of demagogueism: aud is, in our view, SO far
Objectionable. We think such things in bad
taste We do not remember. ever to haye seen