The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-10-31
From the Washinotou Sentinel.
Elections North and south--south Carolina.

The most dlStrusttul will no doubt believe
US when we declare that we have derived no
pleasure from contemplating the results of the
recent elections in the Free States. Theyare
results that no man, with strong convictions
and fixed principles, can consider with any
thing like satisfaction. They present no dis
tinct indications of any specific policy. They
foreshadow nothing. Were Congress com.
posed of the elements uppermost in those elec.
tions, to assemble to-day, no mortal man could
predicate with any degree Of confidence, any
thing of its action. Such Congress would
be as likely to do one thing as another 1t
might pass or reject, United States Bank bill;
it might be in favor of, or against big ia.
riff; it might do any thing without surprising
y body. No patty could claim the control
and the supremacy in such tumultuous and
heterogeneous assemblage.
But we turn with pleasure from the results
Of the elections in Pennsy lvania, Ohio, and In
diana, to the elections in South Carolina In
the former, faction or fusion prevailed. There
were combinations and conspiracies of the most
corrupt character to put down the Democratic
party. Elements that never before coalesced,
united in those elections; but in the results it.
would puzzle a Philadelphia lawyer to distin.
guish any specific indications. 1t is different
with the South Carolina elections. They show
no change. They indicate no factions, and no
corrupt conspiracies or combinations, The
same true men tHat represent South Carolina
in the present Congress, have been chosen to
represent her in the next Congress. No changes
have been made. In but two of the Congress
ional districts was there any opposition and in
neither of those two did opposition avail
Messrs. Mcqueen, Aiken, Kett, Brooks, Orr,
and Boyce, have all been reelected. 1t is cred
liable in the highest degree to South Carolina
that she has thus returned all of her represent.
atives, and it is perhaps the first time in the
history of Congress that the same set of repre-.
sentatives has been elected from any State to
two successive Congresses.
This is setting a good example to other
States. When the people choose representa-
tves, who through trying session prove them.
selves honest, capable, and faithful, is but just
and proper that they should re.elect them.
1t is gratifying to discover, in the results of
these elections, that no isms have obtained
foothold in South Carolina. She is the same
that she was two years ago, despite the boasted
victories of new organizations in other States.
The same may be said of Florida, in which
elections lately took place. These are happy
auguries for the South. As it has been in
South Carolina and in Florida, so we hope, it
will be in the other Southern States. Slavery
is safety valve. 1t is a strong element Of
conservatism. Where it exists, no corruptiac.
ton and ridiculous isms prevail.
We are aware that the. new party boasts Of
its rapid progress in Virginia, and threatens to
make many changes in the representation Of
the State in Congress; but we do not doubt
that, true to her ancient principles, and true to
the instincts of Democracy, she will do as South
Carolina has done, and as Florida has done, and
send back to Congress the tried, trusty, and
capable men who represent her in the present
Congress.
Nothing has more tended to establish the in.
huence Of the South in Congress. than the habit
that prevails throughout the Southern States,
of returning the same members to Congress-
She thus gets the advantage of their ability,
service and experience. Therein, the South
has the advantage Of the North. The North.
ern States too often change their representa-
tives. They elect too many new, raw, and in
experienced members. The reason no doubt
is, that factions and isms of all sorts gets the
ascendancy there. In the South, where slavery
exists, and slavery is fatal to isms, the people
have gotten into the habit of re.electing their
representatives 80 long as those representatives
are true to them. This is no doubt the great
source Of Southern strength and Southern int1u-
ence in the federal councils.
We believe, that, tail as the free States may,
finch as they will, the Southern States are
true to the Democratic party. Faction can get
no foothold there. The South feels correctly
and thinks correctly. The main elements Of
Democratic strength are in the South.
AN EDIroR's RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PUB.
L1c-There are few things more prated about
in this country, than the independence of the
press" Yet We are constrained to say, there
are few things which meet with less tolerance
ia our country than an independent press
Suits against editors for ibels it is true, are not
very frequent; tbut attempts to Lrowbeat and
intimdate are quite. common; and catechising,
complaining, intimations of obligation for ad-
vertising patronage being old subscribers, &c.
&C., are even more common, nearly as much
so as any displays of real independence in our
newspapers.
In political canvasses almost any thing may
be said with impun1ty. But let an editor say
on any topic of general interest to the commu-
nifty what is unpalatable to individuals, and his
sanctum will be Immediately entered by offend.
ed patrons" and his time consumed with com.
plaints-it may be with abusive charges and
even threats