Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1848-06-14

years ago, the intervening period Of my
, life has been almost wholly passed in
f The service of my country, and has been
marked by many vicisstudes, and at
/ tended with many tying circumstances
both in peace and war. If my conduc,
in these situations. and the opinions
have beeh called upon TO form and ex-
press, from time to time, in relation to
all the great party topics of the day, dc
not furnish clear exposition Of my
views respecting them, and at the same
time sufficient pledge of my faithful
adherence to their practical application,
whenever and wherever | may be re-
quired to act, any thing further | might
now say, would be mere dclusion, un-
worthy OF myself, and justly offensive TO
the great party in whose name you are
now acting.
My immediate predecessor in the no.
mina'ion by The Democratic party, who
has since established so many claims to
the regard and confidence Of his coun-
try when announcing, four year ago, his
acceptance Of a similar honor, announced
also his determination not to be candi-
dale for re- e-eleclion. Coinciding with
him in his views, SO we'll expressed, and
so faithfully carried out, ] beg leave to
say, that no circumstances can possibly
arise which would induce me again to
permit my name to be brought forward
in connection with the chief magislracy
of our country: My inclination and my
sense Of duty equally dictate this course.
No party, gentlemen, had ever higher
motives for exertion, than has the great
Democratic party Of the United States.
With an abiding confidence in the recli-
tude Of our principles, with an unshaken
reliance upon the energy and wisdom Of
public sppinion, and with the success
which has crowned the administration Of
the government, when committed to its
keeping, (and it has been so committed
during more than hree-louItll Of its ey-
istence, } what has been done; is at once
The reward Of past exertlon and the mo-
tive for future, and. at the same time, a
guarantee for the. accomplishment Of
whar we have 10 do: We cannot con-
ceal from ourselves that there is a pow
is ate
us in regard 10 nruny of the fundamental
principles of our government, and op-
posed TO US in their practical application,
which will strive as zealously as we
shall, to secure the ascendancy of their
principles, by securing the election of
their candidate in the coming contest.
That party is composed of our fellow
citizens as deeply interested in tile pros.
periiy OF our common country as we can
be, and seeking as earnestly as VIC are
to promote and perpetuate it. We shall
soon present TO the word the sublime
spectacle Of the election Of a Chief Ma,
gistrate by twenty millions of people,
without single serious resistance to the
laws, or the sacrifice of the life of one
human being-and this, too, in the alb,
ssnce OF oil force but the moral force OF
our institutions; and if we should add to
all this, an example Of mutual respec;
for the motives Of the contending par>
ties, so that the confess might be carried
on with that ftmness and energy which
ACCOMPANY deep conviction, and with
as little personal asperily as political
divisions permit, we should do NOR for
the great cause Of human freedom thro'-
out the world, than by any other tribute
wescuuld render TO its value.
We have government founded by the
will of all, responsible TO the power Of
all, and administered for the good Of all.
The very first article in the Democratic
creed teaches that the people are COM
petent to govern themselves; ii is, in
deed, rather an axiom than an article of
political faith. From the days Of Gen.
Hamilton to our days, the party opposed
to us-of whose principles he was the
great exponent, if not the founder--w:Iile
il has changed its name, has preserved
essentially lis identity Of character; and
the doubt he entertained and taught Of
the capacity Of man for self-government,
has exerted marked influence upon lis
action and opinions. Here is the very
starting point Of the difference between
the two great parties which divide our
country. All other differences are bnl
subordinate and auxiliary to this, and
may, in fact, be resolved into it. Look,
ing with doubt upon the issue OF SELL
government, one party is prone 10 think
tho public authority should be strength
ened, and 10 fear any change, lest that
change might weaken the necessary
force of the government +; while the
other, strong in its convictions of the in
telligence and virtue Of the people, be-
leves that original power is safer than
delegated, and that The solution of the
great problem of good government con.
sis's in governing with the least force,
and leaving individual action as free from
- II.