The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-08-18

I do not so regard it; and in expressing
my preference for Gen. Pierce, the Demo-
cratic nominee, shall give you very briefly
my reasons why would support him in
preference to Gen. Scott, the nominee of
the Wing party. 1 regret extremely that
the country could not have been presented
with man in whom the South could
have reposed greater confidence, reasona-
bly, and consistently with Southern prin-
ciples, than she possibly can in Gen. Pierce.
Avowlng the principles which we do in
this State; md knowing that both Wings
and Democrats at the North are opposed,
bitterly opposed to our institutions, can
we reasonably look with that hope, which
inspires confenced to any Northern man
[ think not. Nay, more, so far from be-
ing caught by Northern chicane, regard
with suspicion any Northern man who
comes recommended to us by the North,
and receives the support of Northern
men.
So far as the question of slavery is con-
cerncd, and this consider the great ques-
ton for the consideration of the Southern
States-so far as this question is concern
ed, L have as little confidence in the sound
ness of the Northern Democrats as | lave
in the Northern Wings. Upon this vital
Iy important question to us, fully believe
all parties at the North are unsound.-
Only let Southern man pursue his fugi
tive slave beyond Mason and Dixon's line.
and he Immediately enters Denmark,
where all is rottenness. And in this belief
am neither alone nor unsupported by
reason. The very measures themselves.
which constitute the platform of both the
Wing and Democratic parties are clearly
without the warm support of Southern
men. Imean the Compromise measures.
These measures am sure never met with
the warm approval of this State; so far
| from it, South Carolina ever condemned
them as being exacting and ruinous to the
South, because they wrestcd from her
much, without offering her in exchange
any thing more than she rightfully claimed
under the Constitution. For nv own
part, never had the least confidence in
the Compromise; and plainly foresee,
that the measures which it contains c IN
never bring to the South peace that is
honorable, nor results to the country last
ing and benificial. Can any Southern
man believe for moment, that the coun-
try will continue quiet because ofthe Com
promise' To hope even, for such result,
would be to hope against fact. What
means the opposition to the enforcement
of the Fugitive Slave law, the only thing in
that series of measures which the North |
conceded Gf it may be called concession)
to the South worth havingl That this
opposition to the execution of the Fugitive
Slave law will not cease, but be continued,
we have every reason to believe, from the
fact that the North has already gained
all that she possibly can by the Comprom-
ise. All those features of the so-called
Compromise, to which we objected, and
for which the North insisted, have already |
been carried into effect Has not Cali
fornia been admitted into the Union as a
State Has not the boundary of Texas
been settled? Have not territorial gov
ernments been established for Utah and |
New Mexico I? Has not the slave trade
in the District of Columbia been abolished!
Have not these several measures been
acquesced in and carried into effect9
The North has, therefore, gained al
ready all that she can by the Compromise;
and her policy in future, will be, to repeal,
modify, or render imperative the Fugitive
Slave law, the only feature in it, which
the Southern friends of the Compromise
constantly refer to as the equivalent given
by the North, in exchange for the mons
trous concessions made by the South. The
Fugitive Slave law is the only feature in
this series of measures that remains exc
cutory, from its very nature-all the rest
which were intended to enrich and benefit
the North, have been executed and placed
forever beyond the power of repeal. And
| firmly believe the Fugitive Slave law,
so far from affording us peace, will only
continue to be the bone of contention be-
tween the two sections Of the Union. In
confirmation of this opinion, will insert
a portion Of Mr.. Clinglnan's remarks on
this subject, in the late Whig Congress
sional Caucus at Washington.
With a view to strengthen the platform