Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-07-20
From, the South Caroliaian.
Soush Carolina and the Presidency.

the political storm RACES and howls for the space
of three or four months.
The first aud grand cause is that the citizens
of this State are a unit with regard to national
party poEtics-thay are Democrats. Scarcely
ripple of Whiggery or Federalism dlsturbs the
placid surface Of her political system; 1t IS only
periodically or at irregular intervals any motion
is visible on the waters, and then they soon re-
turn to their accustomed caImness. The next
causeis thather electoralvote is not given by the
people, at least not directly. They choose the
men who cast the vote ofthe State, but they are
rarely or never chosen with reference to this ques-
ton. There is no political necessity that it
should be otherwise, although the change IN our
system is one which the people may claim at some
future day. Another cause, not less influential
than the two already mentioned, in keeping down
national politics and its strife among us, is that
South Carolina and her people are more welded
to the doctrine of entire State Sovereignty, and
more opposed to that of Federalism and consoli
dation, than perhaps any other State in the I'm
ion. Her people decline having hand in for
ging any chain, even golden one, that would
bind them to the chariot of federal politics, or
that would fetter them in their earnest and de
voted defence of that palladium of American re-
publicanism Rights.
But although her people thus voluntarily and
patriotically abstain from joining the hurrahs OF
the party contests which take place every four
years, they canuot-so long as they form por-
ton of the people, so long as South Carolina Is
aState of the confederacy-they cannot, we say,
remain disnterested, much less Indifferent, to
these quadrennial struggles for political ascend
ancy. The Government has to be administered,
and its administration must be marked by
policy either favorable or detrimental to the
well-established and cardinal doctrines of repub-
hcan liberty. A government welding the pow
er and influence of this, and dispensing a patron
age of over fifty millions of dollars has within i
the elements of a despotism, and its tendencies
will all be directed towards the Capitalization of
power in the hands ofits executive minister's
To keep these elements from combining, and to
check and repress these tendencies, experience has
taught the American people that the pure and
unaduterated principles of Democracy, engratted
on American politics by the master spirits OF IT.
90, must control the reius Of government, and
that the best safeguard of the rights OF the
States and the liberties of the people, is
an adherence to the Constitution under its strict
est construction. The statesmen and people of
South Carolina have long manifested their devo-
ton to these principles, and to day she presents
the spectacle of people more united on the prin-
ciples and policy of government than the citizens
of any State in the Union, or the people Of any
country in the world. He will not be her friend
who shall attempt to SOW the seeds of political
distraction among them. On questions Of State
policy her citizens may nigh fully differ, and with
wholesome results; but any step towards causing
them to become active paItizans in the field Of
federal politics, will be fatal to ber own peace,
and weld her forever in Union for which, as
now governed, she has little affection or rever-
ence.
Another contest is now being vigorously car
ried on all around her. Herpeople have become
sickened of federal politics, aud their disgust has
not been lessened by the recent campaign through
which they have passed; and when the cause and
result Of that controversy are considered, 1t Is
not surprising that an Indifference, greater than
usual, in relation to the Presidential struggle,
seems to have settled on the public mind here
But this indifesence is doubtless increased by the
fact, conceded by all parties, that the State will
give her electoral vote for the Democratic NOM
inees. Nor does this indifference reach point
that would cause her to hesitate in making
choice between the two individuals named by
their respective parties for the Presidency. Be
sides the principles of government involved in
the contest which, so long as no other issue more
vital to her is mixed up with it, must ever keep
South Carolina Democratic State, the individ-
nals themselves would leave her small opportu-
nifty to hesitate in her choice
The Wings have presented to the country, as
a candidate for its highest civil Office, military
chieftain of we-earned fame, but a man whose
life has been spent in position, the duties and
associations Of which have naturally impressed
him with the idea that all around him must obey
his viii man jealous of his rank and station,
and exacting in his requirements from those as
sociated with him man whose qualifications
as statesman, legislator or for any civil Office
have yet to be developed and above all, SO far
as the South is concerned, a man who's believed
to be, on pretty good evidence too, inimical to
her interests and institutions Besides this, it is
morally certain that his administration would be
characterized by ultra Whiggery, and that every
article of that creed which had not become ob.
solete would be sought to be impressed up
on the policy Of the country. South Caroli-
ma has no liking for the man, and she loathes
the doctrines of bis party.
Not so the Democratic candidate. Mr.. Pierce
is a man who has been in public life, and has
DISCHARGED its duties creditably: he is q man