The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-03-12
TREATING AT ELECTIONS.

TREATING AT ELECIl)NH.
Tlk citizens cf Richland District are tired OF
Hth* practice, as may be seen by reference to the
procf feelings of meeting he'd in Columbia, on
Monday the 4lh instant, "to devise some plan 10
SUPPRESS tie odous and denoralizing practice OF
trJatine at elections" Well may the people rise
1p en- nnasse to put dowr this abominable CUSTOM
suited better to barbarian age than to that OF SCI
ence and civilization. Apart from our predictions
in the Temperance cause, we are opposed to the
practice on pri..cipl of morality, sound poll y,
and economy; believing tha, treating at elections
tends to cortunl our people, and to destroy the
pur..y and blessings of our g 'rous bal!ot.b Xpr'.
,ileges, more than all other causes combined.-
The very thing itself is opposed to law and "Ede''
ID ought to be stopped by the strong arm OF law
il nothing else can effect the object AT the baI"'
, box all men are equal: the vote. de7osite there
J.. by The rich man will count the same as the ro'T
mans vote. But how many men are led up t"
vote, and cheated out Of that vote. Eestroy a
mans faculties BY drenching him with liquor and
is he fit and proper one to exercise this right
lie has TO capacity to discriminate, and s unit to
decide in the choice Of men for ,ffice. The to!.
lowing preamble and resolution were unanimously
adopted at the meeting in Columbia, having heen
advocated by rol D. J. McTord, in the sr"nges'
terms: also BY other gentlemen Of the bar.
Whereas. The elections in Richand have as
sumed such character that some action is re-
uured on the part of the citizens to preserve the
morals of the District and restore the purity of TIN
elective franchise. Therefore,
ResoLred That committee Of thirty be up
pointed to consider of and recommend s'iItab'
measures to reform the conduct Of our elections
aud promote the peace and character of our Dis
trict, the said committee to report through tn
newspapers of Columbia, within the space OF ont
nunth.
Upon this committee, gentlemen OF the hIshes
character and responsibility were appointed We
hope they NAV "devse some plan by which th'
morals of the District may be preserved and the
purity of the elective franchise restored Wher
will KerShaw do likewise!
THE BURNING OF THE ST. JOHN.
We have received from the hands of a fiien'
n copy of the Alabama Journal, containing Al
account of the burning of the Steamer Oilin'
St. John, about miles above Bridgeport, on
tie Alabama River, having left Mobile on the
evening of the 4th, containing the melancholy
j Intelligence Of the loss Of many of her passen.
gers, and among others, of our fellow.towns
man. James r. McKain and his mother:
'"' TuE Sr. JnHy.-The burning of the st. JOIN
with the accompanying loss Of life, is the mos
disastrous casualty which has occurred on ou
waters since the bursting of the boilers of tic
Zen. FRANKLIN. The scenes, say the passengers.
were terrific The ladies and children, tits also
s,id, might have been saved from the sterl of
tie boat, except from the hasty and insudordI-
nlte conduct of some of the crew, in taking o
tie yawl some distance down the stream, where
t:.ey landed. As in their hast,, they had neg
lccted to take the oars, the Captain when he
found the yawl, had much difficulty in reaching
the boat, and could not do so in time to save the
Indies. He, however, rescued six persons wh'
were clinging to the rutlder. The engineer re-
n,aed mt his post in the midst of the fire, al
though severely burned, until the bout strucl
tie shore he then had the preeaution to rails.
tie safety valve and stop the engine, whicl
saved many whowere floating, from being sweep
into the current and drowned. Mr.. Carson WA
lost in endeavoring to save hisson. Judge Linds,
lev was not seen after the boat landed. Th,
ladies remained at the stern OF the hoat unit
t,eir clothing was nearly consumed, and wen
then forced to spring into the river
A passenger described to us the instantanc-
ors spread of the fame, as rapid as fire i'll i
dy shuck.pcn or dry grass prairie" in three
linutes the cabin had fallen i'll.
The register of passengers was lost. We art
furnished, however, by the Clerk of the boat
with list of the casualties, as far as ascertain.
cd.
LosT.-Mrs. Hall, and daughter, (supposcd
Of Augusta, Ga; Mrs. Vaughan, Miss Vaug han.
Mrs. McKain, Mrs Haley, Mrs. Wright, and
one or two others; Messrs. McKain, of South
Carolina, r.. B. Carson and son, Of Dallas CO.,
Judge Lindsay, of Mobile; Thomas Stephens
(printer,) of Camden Ala, foar others names un-
known; Hugh Hughs, I'd Mate; Peter, (stew.
ard) Easter, (Chambermad; J I'd Cook; and
eight negroes.
SAVED
All the crew with the exception of the I'd
Mate.
Correspondence of the Baltimore Sun.
WAsmIHGroN, March 7, 1850.
The interest felt in Mr.. Webster's course Oh
the great question Of the day drew to the capi.
tol. mt an early hour this morning, vast crowd.