Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-08-01

many good men who yet retain the i'm
pressicns they received during period OF
excitement, and which they gained from
the press, too often pursuing its object
without regard to the higher considera>
lions Of justice. Let him who doubls what
say on the subject Of these letters, turn
10 them and read for himself. To The law
and to the testimony.
! will now ask Mr.. Grecly-for | res
pee, his candor-what has my letter 10 n
gentleman who invited me TO attend the
Chicago Convention TO do with my opin.
ions upon .shc subject of internal improve
men;s was asked TO attend that con
ventiou; and that was all | was asked. |
answered thai should not attend; and
that was all answered. And yet this
answer, as have stated, was circulated
from one end Of the Union to the other du-
ring The late presidential contest, as conclu.
sive evidence OF my hostility 10 any i'm
provemenl by the general government. be
the character OF The object what it might.
| had supposed the device had served. its
purpose, and was among The things that
have been. Little did anticipate that
;man of Mr.. Grcely's intelligence and
reputation for integrity would revive this
exploded charge, and would refer 10 that
letter as furnishing any index to my senti.
meMs on This subject, or any other ground
to convict me Of inconsistency in my acts
or opinions. did not go 10 The Chicago
Convention, because did no, think any
good would result from iIs fabors. | did
rot believe, nor do now believe that such
bodies, in periods Of political excitement
perhaps, Indeed, at any period-either
by the concentration Of public opinion or
by the diffusion Of information. can lead
10 any useful plan Of action. Invited, as
The members Of ,ha, convention were,
from every portion Of the Union, the
sphere Of operation was far too extensive
for wise and cautious dciberation and de.
cision. There were too many interests
involved. general propositions only are
10 be laid down in such convention, the
Object is not worth the effort; fer. in the
divided state of public mind upon the
question, whatever platform mi ght be
adopted, the opinion OF parties, and genes
rally OF individuals, would remain the
same.
II a general plan OF operations is 10 be
8
members are under litle responsibility;
aud as each section Of the country will
have its own objects 10 attain, these must
be attained by concessions to The objects
Of others, and the result will furnish evil
dence of mutual spirit of accommoGa-
lion, rather than cautious regard for the
general Interest. Such an asscmblage is
a very different thing from the alemp, 10
concentrate opinion aud action in favor Of
any improvement affecting a particular
portion OF The Union, where there is a com
mnni.y of Information aud interest, and
where there is no weighing Of one project
against ano her, nor any sacrilces TO ln'
sure the desired result.
And l am fully confirmed in my presi-
Gus anticipalions concerning The Chicago
Convention. imagine the first man is
vet to be loupd who will venture 10 say
that any advantage has resulted from its
labors.
But had yet another reason for decl
ming 10 attend that contention. 1 did moi
like lis origin. Tie earliest notice Of il
which | saw was connected with the
names of some well-knnwn wings, promi-
men, politicians Of the city Of New York;
and believed, and have yet no reason
10 doubt, that one great object was to
injure the democratic purity by taking ad.
vantage Of the excitement which prevailed
in certain portions of the country in con.
sequence of the failure Of TWO successive
internal Improvement bills; And | have
since understood, though l cannot vouch
for the fact, that such was The aclual in.
ienlion, and that the proceedings Of the
convention would have assumed party
character, and been directed to this object,
had not not the design been frustrated by
the frmness of The democratic members.
Now Mr.. Greeley will understand why
did no, attend this convention. But |
cannot understand why he seeks my opin-
ions on this question in my letter, which
is wholly silent on the subject, and not in
nv speeches and votes in The Senate oil
The Unilcd States.
Eminen, whie politicians whom I could
name, but that it would he iuvidious 10 do
so, were invited to attend. the Chicago
Convention, but neither answered nor al
tended. thought ii due 10 the gentleman
who invited Inc 10 acknowledge his atten-
ton, and did so. And this act OF courtesy,
which constitutes the only difference be.
tween myself and others, has been made
The lex, book whence my opinions are to
be deduced, aud by which my iuconsis.
ency is TO be proved. On the question Of
The power of The United States over The
subject of internal Improvements, my
sentiments are in accordance with those ol
the great democratic party, aud are fully
expressed in The resolutions of the BaiIi-
more Convention. In the words Of one OF
these resolutions, believe "that The con.
sliluliun does not confer on the general
government the power 10 commeuce and
curry on a general system Of inlelnal i'm.
prove" and no man living has The right 10
eainsay this assertion. Bul at the same
time l have never disputed The right Of
Congress 10 improve some of The great
harbors aud rivers and lakes of the Union,
national in their character, and important
lolhe commerce. and some Of them to the
defence Of our country. While tho demo-