Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-06-21
INTERESTING LETTER

~ SHOWS tne polltlcal chiCa-
merry used to defraud the South out of
her rights in that territory, and the value
OF our species of labor in the MINING
operations:
At the time when the recent elections
took place, the voting population of the
state could not have been less than So
600; whereas only ten or 10000 were
polled. These of course were cast bv
the inhabitants of the villages and cities;
while the miners, who constitute four.
iltths of the inhabitants of California,
were debarred the privilege of voting.
Here arises question in the science of
government. A State is on the eve of
budding into sovereignty. She contains
number of frecmen who were entitled
to an equal privilege in framing the or
game law of their country. A few
demagogues of influence, over anxious
in the matter, and impatient to see thnm-
selves elevated to the high places of hon.
or, press the thing in such manner that
only one-tifth succeed in getting a voice
IN the councils of their country. Is the
constitution thus formed over the heads
OF the majority binding on them? Or,
in other words, is it constitution at alp
In my humble opinion it is not other
wise minorities may rule: and if this doc
trlne is ever acknowledged and permitted
IN our country, pronounce the Republic
at an end. 1t may be said, that in such
cases it is the duty of the majority to
protest against the action of the minori
ty, otherwise by their acquiescence they
ratlfy all that the minority has done. But
in answer to this, it may be objected that
majority of the people of California
have not, nor do they now consider them
selves permanent citizens of California;
consequently are not sufficiently interest
ed to care much what minorites do. or
what kind of government they institute,
so they are permitted to gather their gold
unmolested and retire from the country
Let it be remembered also, that maiori-
ty of the minority who voted not only
for the convention, but afterwards for the
constitution adopted by it, did not at the
time, nor do they now, intend to remain
permanently in the country. What
fraud on the elective franchise /! Nine
tenths of our present population hither
expecting to amass fortune in few
weeks or months at most, and then re-
turn home to enjoy their latter days in
peace and plenty. While but few com.
paratively come 'animo manendi." Thus
things have been done in California;.
you perceive who have given caste to the
political complexion of this country
Thus you perceive how and by whom
has been settled the ominous question of
slavery in the territories-a question with
dark and lowering aspect, threatening al
most dissolution of the Union--and is
it thus to be lightly treated and disposed
OF? Will the South, with folded arms,
stand silent and endure this fraud and
outrage not only upon her and her inter-
ests, but this mockery upon all Republi-
can institutions9 Will Congress, with
full knowledge of tn. facts, las she
ought to have before acting on the prem,
ises) permit their fraud to be carried
out2 Will she permit the present mem.
bers of Congress elect, now knocking at
The door for admission into the Union, to
enter and take their seats as legitimate
representatives of sovereign State? If
SO, fearful calamity is about to dawn
upon us
Nearly all the Southerners in Calfor-
MIA are and have been engaged in mining
numbers of whom have negroes work
ing for them. These (that is the mining
population) were the ones debarred their
voice in the recent elections. From time
to time, business requires their attention
in the cities, who, on their arrival, and
hearing how things have been managed,
expresses their decided dissatisfaction,
and declare in most emphatic languegc,
that things are wrong and ought to be
remedied This sentiment of indignation,
/ am quite sure, pervades at least one
third the bosoms of Californians---fcr
the South is not so much in the minority
as many are lead to believe. To the
South would say, come in hosts! with
all your negroes--'tis not yet too late to
effect a mighty revolution in the present
aspect of affairs.
see that my native State, Mississippi,
has been the first to be aroused to sense
of her duty in the coming political storm.
] have read with great pleasure the pro-
toaodinoe nf tho convention at IooGooy,