Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-09-10
For the Camden Journal.


in the name of MANY Voters" to the candidates
for the Legislature from our District. +
The other candidates have replied and has,
ten to do likewise. a
In offering to serve my fellow citizens as their
Representative it is on as one of the plainest
and most unpretending among them, that Iwishs
to be considered have no aspirations to lead
or to dictate-the height of my ambition is to
be useful in any and every way can, to act well
my part, in my day and generation.
I should look upon myself as unworthy of !
public confidence, if entertained any political
sentiment Or opinion, popular or unpopular, that
| was afraid or ashamed to declare without hesI-
tation.
Truth, honesty, and candor, are great virtues,
and sincerely desire to cherish and practice
them, as duties Of man to his fellow man, and
believe they should influence every man, public
and private, in all the walks of life. Therefore
cheerfully answer these questions, and am equal
ly willing to answer any Others whenever called
upon.
To the first, Are you in favor of the Bank of !
the State ?'
answer, yes,-and always have been since Z
the question of its re-charter has been agitated.
This Bank is common property, it belongs to-
we, the people," it is the only Bank in the State
in which we are all stockholders. Its interests
are our interests If it is well managed and
profitable, we receive the benefit If the reverse,
of course, like stockholders in any other concern,
we are the losers. 1t has done we'll, has made
money, is doing well, as far as we know, and
can continue to make money, and thereby keep
down annual taxation, which is already heavy
enough. -
From a connexion as Director in the Branch.
of this Bank at Camden for more than nine years,
it may be supposed that l have an intimate
knowledge of the manner in which it is con-
Quoted, and can safely say, that if the constant
observance Of that important principle among
men, {" the greatest good to the greatest NUM-
Der and justice to all" is such merit as esteem
it, then this institution is entitled to the good
will of every good citizen.
1t was then, as l believe it is still, the resort
for help to the needy of all classes. The rich
and the poor man, the farmer, the merchant,
and the mechanic, all came there with their ca
ses, almost without hope of relief, and whenever
the applicant was found worthy, and the final
payment as was always required, made sure, they
seldom failed OF accommodation.
| remember many instances of small farmers,
but good citizens, who were kept on their farms
where they still are, who, but for the benevo-
lcnce of this Branch Bank would have been sold !,
out, broken up, and forced, with their wives and
little ones, to leave the State in search OF shelter
and homes in the far west or wherever else they
could find them. And | cannot call to my mind
single debt that was lost, nor do remember to
have ever heard an individual say the Bank had
been unkind or injurious, or even ungenerous to.
him. And here | venture the assertion, that
there are more names of men in moderate circum-
stances on its note list, l mean the Bank and
two Branches, than on any other, if not all the
other Banks in the State of South Carolina.
Lest it might be suspected that motives Of
interest as one of its debtos prompted me now.
to declare myself in its favor, l am proud and
happy to say that have not owed it dollar
for the last several years.
Though should not be willing to relax any
guard on its safety and faithfulness, more than
on any other public trust, but would throw more
guards around it, if more were necessary |
feel every disposition in favor Of its present and
long continued future existence.
To the second Are you in favor of giving
the vote for Presidential Electors directly to the
people"
] answer yes,- and for various reasons; one or
two only of which will give. Thirty States Of 4
the thirty-one now in the American Union, pur-
sue that plan 1t is more in the spirit Of repub'
licanism to give each voter an equal weight in
the election. And what can be done as we'll di-
rectly is better than if done indirectly. That
the principal is above the agent, and that there
is 10 use for an agent to perform an act that it
is rs easy as not for the principal to perform.
More than either of these as a reason for us how
ever is, that since the election for electors must
be held throughout the Union on the same day,
and that day when for our State to vote at all,
an extra session ofthe Legislature must convene,
at much inconvenience to the members and ex-
pcnSe to the taxpayers; the change should be
made We should assume it as our rightful
privilege, and vote as the people of the other
States vote free of expense and with knowledge
of who we were voting for, and what principles
we were sustaining
To the third question: care you in favor of
improving the system Of free schools"
have the same answer to make,-yes, most
assuredly. In my opinion too much money, if
iudcior,sl ly applied, cannot be spent in the edu-
cation of the rising generation. 1t strikes me
to be as much the duty of the State etosee that the
young are educated, as it is to pass laws for pre-
serving the peace, for keeping good order, for