The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-10-07
THE ANTLSUFFkAGE PARTY IN SOUTH
CAROLINA.

The contest now going in South Carolina
between the Wing Democracy and Locof'co
Arisoracy eXemplifes to The life the radical prn-
cpes of The two parties. The Wings, in the
spirit of genuine repubcanism, are anxious to
extend the right of suffrage to all the people,
while the high-toned Locofoco arstocracy cling
to their exclusive privileges with the tenacity of
drowning man to a plank.
The constitution ard laws OF South Carolina
confer the important privileges of electing their
Governor and Presidential electors upon the Lee
gisature. The effect of this regulation is to
throw all power into the hands of the Locofoco
Aristocracy, who, from The property qualification
| which is necessary to hold a seat in The Legisla
| ture monopulize nearly the whole representation.
The Wings are generally poor farmers. mechan-
les, or shopkeepers, and have consequently but
little chance of having their interests and feel
ngs represented. They are not only excluded
from the honors and emoluments of office by the
operation of these arsiocratic laws, but have no
a'renton paid 10 their peculiar rights and feelings
To remedy this grievance, they propose an al
leraton Of the law go to place the election
Of Governor Presidential electors, and other Off
GERS in the hands of the people. In this most
just and reasonable demand they are met by the
most strenuous opposition from the Locofoco
ari-tocracy. The idea of taking away the ex-
elusive privileges of the arIstocracy, and giving
the people voice in the State. is hooted at as
preposterous by the Charleston Mercury the or
gan of the Locofoco aristocracy. That paper Of
recent date denounces the proposition in the
roundest style, and declares that it will render
the lower country Ohe region of the aristocracy)
"dsfenceiess against aocked majority legisla.
non!" Here is he quntessence of modern De-
nocracy! They are afraid of The majority
afraid Of the hard-isted yeomanry and mechan-
les Reader, will you ever again be the dupe
Of the hypocritcal cant of the Locofocos in their
atlcctatlon OF regard for the people They dread
nothing 50 much as the majority. In the Balti-
| more Convention, as all remember, small mi
nori'y controlled and dictated to a large majority
and boasted Of it, And now the Wings of South
| Carolina are held up to public odium for attempt
ing to place the honest mechanic and honest
farmer who follows the plough upon footing of
political equality with the lordy Locofocos who
have hitherto enjoyed the exclusive control Of
public affairs.
Is it right, equal, and republican to exclude
men from the right of voting because they hap
pen 10 be poor and dependent on their day labor
for their bread! VIII not the honest yeomanry
Of South Carolina awake to this generous effort
Of the Wings in their behalf! We trust that the
Wings of that State will not be brow beaten and
driven from their purpose by The menaces or CEN
surcs Of the Locoioco aristocracy. We trust that
the day is not distant when every citizen, rich or
poor, will have an equal voice at the polls with
the most wealthy; aDd we shall rejoice at such
a result, even il the low country should be-
come, ~ the language of the Mercury, "as de-
lenceIess against majority legislation as our un-
happy State IS against the wicked majority legis-
a'on Of Congress-
Nothing Is 50 dreaded by Locofocos as the
voice OF the people. Mr., Van Buren, declared
that the people were all drunk because they pre-
sumed TO turn him out Of Office The South
Carolina Locofocos are afraid TO extend TO the
poor people the right Of voting, for fear the arts
iocracy will be subjected to the rule of .wicked
majority legislation"