The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-17

TOT banner.
T'o the Candidates i'm Cl;lrcm :
don for the ensuing I.cgIsIa-
tlrc.
GESTLEMEN.-You have assumed
the position soliciting, the confidence
and sullrages Of your fellow citizens.
The prestige Of q good name and a
reputable character, have already be-
spoken for your claims, favorable
consideration.
But in rcposing a trust, or the i'm
portancc of that which you ask them to
confer, hope you will not take it
amiss, if they exercise the undoubtcd
right Of Enquiry" as to the manner
in which you propose TO discharge it.
10 remove at once all suspicion as to
the source or the motiue of this appeal
to you, let me premise, that (for my
OF" pa:0 have neithe. preferences,
atlnitics, nor predictions that would
not be amply gratified, by casting my
vote for either or any of you.
But as citizen, and a suaii'ragan
must seek for other and higher consi-
derations, than those Of kind ana
personal character, in selecting those
who aspire to represent the interest Of
clarendon, in the urgent necessity TO
which am about to call your atten-
ton. To the State, The deliberations of
the ensuing Session, arc not without
that interest, which questions affecting
her currency-hcr organic laws-and
her constitutional compromises s-n,ust
necessarily awaken. l'ut to the Pco.
pie Of Clarendon they have additional
perhaps even higher Importance
in the local and peculiar requirements,
which her case presents for Legislation.
You are not unappriscd that since
the adjournment of the Legislature,
the charter Of Nelson's Ferry has
been abandoned,-you must also be
aware, that the inpracticablc and ir-
reparable condition of Vances Swamp
has long since abatcd the use of
both Road and Ferry. The former is
no longer available as transit to our
markets, Sand the latter tho most El-
vored and eligible we ercr possessed,
the State very much against our wish
cs, protestations, and rcmonstranccs,
expended hundred thousand dollars,
to render an impracticable guIph;
which neither Lazarus nor Dives in
their mortal shapes could now pass
a charter for a Ferry at Wright's
Bluff, has it is true, (as very great
boon) been granted. And were it cs-
tablished, a subscription of more than
forty thousand dollars, is already
pledged to construct Plank Road
from there to the Manchester Depot,
or to Sumterville. But low is this
charter to be carried into effect !! The
Swamp unfortunately is mostly, ifnot
exclusively on the opposite shore Of
the River. 1t is doubtless one of the
most eligible as well as convenient
locations for Road that the topocra-
ply Of any alIuvial territory could pre-
sent. BUTT must have Bridges and
causcways, at cost Of some Two thou.
sand dollars. And how is the expense
Of these TO be met? Surely not by
our own commissioners Of Public
Roads, s,-wliosc powers-as iaHtudina.
ry as ar6itrdTy-anl rs much abused
and meglected as they arc, nevertheless
do not extend TO the imposition of tax
es, to improvc-construct or detuce
roads--out Of their District and uris.
dictons.
But along with these considerations,
carry with you that also Of Wrieht's
Bluff being the Depot of more than
ten thousand bales of cotton annually,
with its accompanying up.freights, and
hundreds OF Tons Of Guano, and that
transportation in this form either OF
produce Or returns, must soon altocctll-
or cease, with the construction of the
North Eastern Railroad. For who
can doubt, that the special franchise
which it has obtained, of omitting
"draws" for Steamboat navigation
with an insufficient elevation Of Bridn
es, Gin any oMcr than that Of an uunavi
gable state of the Rivcr,) wili not prac
GcabIy and cilectuaIIy operate to the
exclusion, Of. Steamers.
Nov gentlemen you have a clear
and full perception ola part Of the
grievances nnd disabilities ut,lcr which
our country laLors, and after present,
ih5 as ! shnU do a has.y consideration