The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-06-21
For the Banner.
To the Citizens of Clarendon
County.

A communication under the sigma
ture Of Wesley y appeared in the
Banner Of the l7,h May, proposing a
series of4ucstions to the candidates ior
the next Legislature and as |, among
others occupy the position "oi n can.
didate for your suiiiaycs aud conf,
dcncc, and recognize your right to
know my opinions upon ali matters of
political or district interest, shall pro.
coed to reply to the questions propos
cd; and in Way as brief and cuilipre.
hcnsive rs my ability will allow me
considering their very wide range, and
the great intricacics and difficulties
which surround them. AS citizen
myself Of the county have long felt
the necessity Of having orc or more
favorable and eligible places Of transit
to our markets across the Santcc
Swamp and river, am aware tlla,
there Is no section Of liz. State so ut.
terly deficient in this great convenience
and necessity as oar own. e >crpt by
liallrond there is no safe ami convent
cnt crossing TO cur markets ut all sea
SONS of the year, from the town of
Camden to the mouth of the Sanlcc
river = distance believe OF not less
than one hundred and thirty miles; SO
that large portion OF the State, as
fertile and thriving, as any part Of it
Ut not more so) is altogether depend
cnt upon the Railroad for all coinnu-
nicatiol direct or Indirect with the seat
OF Sovernmrnt and the metropolis.
The ltailroad owing to its rclnoteness
from many OF the localities, remedies
only to partial extent this great in
convcnlcncc-an incunvenien, So
great indeed as to amount to Il positive
evil TO say nothing oi',lc illlossiJii-
~ the planters availing themselves
oi high prices in the markets owing to
the uncertainty and ,ardincss uf the
transmission Of their produce 10 mar
ket under circumstances 50 generally
and briefly stated, shall feel m, self
under the strongest Obligations shrn.d
be honored by your confidence to use
AIi ot the cXcrtions in my power, to
remedy this oppression and burthen-
some condition OF things, by cndcavor-
ing to procure from the State assistance
to construct, or if practicable re con
struct, a highway which will at all
times allow Of travel across it; and by
having renewed those charters for fer
rles which have expired; and if the
convenience of our people requires it
to obtain charters for others.
rrn tho fret J;ct;,,,+ <,,,.,;,,, 49,
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
ganzaton OF the State. ! am unwilling
hastily 10 advocate any measure, which
would tend to disturb the balances of
government under which we are now
SO happily ruled, am therefore OPP
posed to giving The election of electors
by general ticket to tho 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 Axaton, is the
chief ground upon which the people Of
the Southern States are com PEELED to
contend for their equality by rcpresen-
tation in tbs Federal council; and to
abandon that principle ourselves is to
abandon one Of our chief safeguards
in 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.
ehce 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-
elce resulting to the State from hold
ing an extra session OF the Legislature
once !" four years for the purpose of
casting the vote of the State. 10 Oh
riate this objection the constitution
might be changed SO as to convene the
Legislature earlier in tho fall and thus
embrace the period appointed by law
tor casting the vote OF the State; nor
,wdllld this bc Objectionable in other
points o! view. There now exists