The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-06-21
For the Banner.
no tho Citizens of Clarendon
County.

~ communication under the sigma
tnre Of Wesley " appeared in the
Banner Of the 18th May, proposing !.
series Of questions to the candidates Tor
the next Legislature and as |, among
others occupy the position "ot Il can,
didalc ior your suiliagcs and conf.
dencc," and recognize your right to
know my opinions upon all matters of
political or district interest, shall pro.
coed to reply to the questions propos
ed and III way as brief and culnpre.
hcnsivo rs my ability will allow me
considering their very wide range, and
the great intrcacics and difficulties
which surround them. AS a citizen
myself Of the county have long felt
the necessity Of having one or more
favorable aud eligible places Of transit
TO our markets across the Santcr
Swamp and river, am aware that
there is no section Of the State SO Ut
terly deficient IN this great convenience
and necessity as oar own. Except by
ltailroad there is no safe and convent
ent crossing to cur markets ut all sea
sons OF the year. from the town of
Camden to the mouth of the Sanlcc
river 4 distance believe OF not less
than one hundred and thirty miles; SO
that a large p"r,ion OF The State, as
fertile and thriving, as any part Of it
Gf not more so) is altogether depend
cnt upon the Railroad for all conlnu-
nicatiom direct or Indirect with the seat
OF government and the metropolis.
The Railroad owing to its rcunteness
from many Of the localities, remedies
only to partial extent this great in
conveniehce-an inconvcnicn,c SO
great indeed as to amount to Il positive
evil to say nothing the illpoSsiJili-
~ Of the planters availng themselves
Oi high prices in the markets owing to
the uncertainty and tardincss Vi the
transmission OF their produce to mar
ket under circumstances 81 generally
and briefly stated, slaI! feel m. sell
under the strongest obligations sl!r,.d
be honored BY your confidence to use
all Of the cxcrtions in my power, to
remedy this oppression aud burthen-
some condition Of things, by cndcavor-
ing to procure from the State assistance
to construct, or if practicable re con-
struct, highway which will at all
times allow of travel across it; and by
having renewed those charters for fer
ries which have expired; and if the
convenience of our people requires it
to obtain charters for others.
TO the first distinct question, as to
whether or not am in favor of giving
the election of electors for President
and Vicc-President to the people, and
in what mode, | beg leave to answer
that having the highest respect and
vcncration for the present political or.
Sanization OF The State, am unwilling
hastily to advocate any measure, which
would tend to disturb the balances of
government under which We are now
SO happily ruled, | am therefore op.
posed to giving The election of electors
by general ticket to the people be-
cause regard it as the first step to
wards radical change in the whole
system. The question of representa-.
ton by population and saxation, is the
chief ground upon which the people Of
the Southern States are com PEELED to
contend for their equality by reprcsen-
taton in the Federal council; and to
abandon that principle ourselves is to
abandon one of our chief safeguards
il the great questions now pending be.
tween the North and South, contend
therefore that to give this election to
the people by general ticket will be
virtually to destroy the political innu.
ehcc of a large portion of the State, and
place the power altogether in the hands
Of the upper districts. At the same
time feel the expense and inconvcni-
ence resulting to the State from hold
ing an extra session OF the Legislature
once ir four years for the purpose of
casting the vote OF the State. 10 Oh
viate this objection the constitution
might be changed so as to convene the
y Legislature earlier in tho fall and thus
Embrace the period appointed by law
tor casting the voto ofsthe State; nor
Iwauid tllA bo Objectionable in other
p5ll,ts Of view. g'Ikefe now exists