The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-14

sAi eieciion! II she WA not led by him on
these two great occ&sions, when his power was
highest, and her sense Of his great services and
patriotism was the most sffectionate and pro-
found, how absurd is the imagination that now,
when he is no longer living, personal resent
ment on his account should govern her policy
That his death has had an influence on the poll
tics Of this State, we do not doubt; but it is
the influence Of despair. When, after thirty
years Of laborious effort, he was unable TO ar
rest this Government in it, downward course Of
rapacity and consolidation, who can stop its ia
tai destiny!
We will notice but one other cause produce
tive Of discomfort to the Union, which the In
lslligencer does not directly charge, but indi-
rectly introduces by quotations---she aris,ocracy
Of South Caroline. The writer whose words
he quotes, af6rms that the people Of South
Carolina have less to do with elections than in
any other State. They do not vote for their
Governor. They do not vote for electors for
President and Vice President 1.-THE people ex-
ercise bat tsD political rights. Hence, they are
less enlightened on the history of the country
and know less OF the measures Of the Govern
ment than the people Of other States" Here
aristocracy and ignorance 10 the people Of South
Carolina, are brought forward rs causes Of their
not loving the Union. s,ss
Universal suffrage has existed in South Caro-
lima, we think, over since l802--long before it
was ordained in nine.tenths of the old States,
or the birth Of nine-tenths Of the new Ones
Every white man in the State votes for their
members of Congress-, their State Legislators,
their Sheriffs, Taxcollectors, Prothonotaries and
Commissioners, and Registers in Equity. The
Governor, it is true, is still elected by the Le-
gislature, and so are the electors for President
and Vice President of the United States. But
do not the people make these officers Their
State Legislators are the electors and in their
State elections for their Legislators, they make
their choice, and give forth their will They
just rs effectually make their Governor, and
choose the President and Vice President of the
United States, ms any other people in the Union.
In still adhering to this form of election, they
carry out the universal practice of all the States
under the first organization of the Government.
Were the men who established all our free in
situations, aristocrats Were all the old States
ignorant of liberty, and hostile to the rights of
the people If they were not, then let this
accusation be taken from their fair fame, and
be placed on the brow Of him who utters it.
But the people Of South Carolina are ofignorant.
They do not know the blessings of this Union,
as the InteAigencer and his co-laborators have
made it; and therefore they are disunionists.
We doubt if there is any people in the world,
who are SO enlightened on the history Of the
country" and know 80 much of the measures OF
the Government aas the people of South Caro-
Ina From 1928 to 1888, the discussion of their
rights, and the theory of our Government,
was carried on, not only in the Press, but by the
ablest men, in public debates before the people.
The talent Of the State was nearly equally di.
vded between the two parties, then contending
for mastery; and since this period, more dill
gent attention to public affairs has been given by
the people of this State, than probably by any
other people in the Union. There members of
Congress have, at the close of every session of
Congress to give an account to the people
They know the opinions Of their public men d
and their confidence is never withdrawn from
them, unless they 60 contrary to these opin-
ions. So far from its being true, that there is
less intimate intercourse between the masses of
her people and those who represent Them than
in other States-it is because this intimacy ex-
istsin the greatest degree, that there is so much
unanimityi in South Carolina. The people know
their representatives, and their representatives
know them. They confde in each other They
love each other; and will stand together against
all external foes. The people know their rights,
and understand the Constitution under which
they live. They know that the former has been
violated by the practical enforcement Of the Viii
mot Proviso by Congress over all Of our terrific
res-and that the latter is mutilated by the
consolidationists and Abolitionists of the Union,
into whose hands the Government has rrevocably
passed.
1t is because they know too mnch--it is be-
cause they are a free people, and will maintain
their berties-it is because they are brave
people, and will not submit to be degraded from
their equality with the other States of the Con-
fcderacy, and will redress the foul wrong which
looks to the overthrow of their Institutions,
that the people of South Carolina are assaulted
and vilified by the InteAigsncer. If they would
only submit to the despotism, in the shape of
congressional majority, which he has aided to
erect here, on the ruins of the Constitution
they would, we doubt not, be very wise-very
democratic--and most intelligent people, in the
opinion of the Int-lligsncer:' They will hardly
care, however, what anybody thinks of them 10
Washington-much less one of the chief organs
of their oppressors. is ~, ~
An Unsest,led Settlement H
The following is copied into the hieHgencer
of yesterday:
Georgia has settled the Compromise question
for the South. Her position will be occupied