Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-10-05

|
general scholastic knowledge into the whole up
per country. The academies and other colleges
that have b, en- founded and located in different
parts of the upper districts have been deeply
felt, and in fct have nude education more gen.
eral in the upper country than in the lower coun-
try. They may be more defective in the more
general forms Of conventional society, but in all
the attributes of real information or practical
virtue we are certainly ut present not the lnfc-
rors of the lower country. Besides, the upper
division of South Carolina now actually has
more slaves than the lower division. Wealth III
the last twenty-five years has increased far more
rapidly in the aggregate in tho upper country
than in the lower country-the reason the terri
toria representation which was originally fixed
to guard and protect slaves does not now exist.
A Senator from Edgefield, representing, as he
does, $4,000 slaves in as much guardian OF
that nerrst rs the Senator from Christ Church
parish, who does not represent the onc-third OF
that number |, therefore. do not even consider
territorial representation. as at present h1ed, Il
very vital point While would not disturb it
unless some more pressing necessity than at
present exists should be urged, and unless with
the kindest and most liberal cooperation OF the
parishes themselves, yet when properly ana!yzed'
| do not zee in it anything very ruinous to any
great and real interests In the progress of
events the political power Of the parishes might
be Important to cheek and balance the power of
Charleston. A population is fast flowing into that
city which in the progress Of time may separate
it in interest from the landed interests OF South
Carolina. Every ten years We take State GEN.
sus, and distribute our local representation ac-
cording to the increasing wealth (or rather tax.
atom and white population of the districts and
parishes. Our whole representation in the low.
er House is fixed by the constitution at ia,
believe, and in the Senate at as, and the former
have to be distributed every ten years amongst
the districts and parishes according to their tax
alton and white population. If Charleston goes
on to increase and become the great city many
desire her to be, she WILL under this system, in
the next fifty years, absorb the power and repre-
sentation of the State in the lower House, and
can at present see no check upon this tendency
of things but the parish representation. lfyou
will alter the constitution so rs TO limit the num-
Der of representatives to Charleston, say 10 twen-
ty, then Il different state of thiHgs would take
place believe most of the large cities Of the
Unicn are thus limited, and there is no reason
why they should not be; on the contrary, there
is great reason why it should be. city p"pu-
aton, if very large. soon becomes absorbed in
their mere local interests, and, TO great extent,
have but little interest connected with the gen.
eral taxation of State. They have corporate
existence and are body polite themselves, and
representation of twenty can rs well represent
all their corporate interests rs representation
of twice that number. | never want to see the
day when the population Of Charleston'shall be
100000, and under the present provisions oil our
constitution coming into our State councils With
Il representation of fifty or sixty, fresh from n
stormy and turbulent.Populace, with foreign
feeling infused into them, to dictate law to the
farmers and planters Of our State.
have thus spoken freely and frankly, for tile
present generation may yet see our beloved State
distracted and divided. II is not the part OF
wisdom to agia;e in advance OF events. A
practical man must act according to circumstan-
res rs they arise, and according to the necessl-
ties Of the case All wise political systems are
built up from necessity, and no people can live
together in harmony without kind and liberal
compromises. But there is one principle in our
constitution which consider sacred, and not to
be touched by any considerations of cxpediency
whatever; and that is where it fixes that for
every sixly.second part that the taxation OF a
parish or district bears to the taxation OF the
whole State, it is entitled to one representative,
and for every sxty-second part that the white
population of district or parish bears 10 the
white population Of the whole State, it II enti-
tied 10 another representative. have no con-
stitution before me, and have not reat it for
wears, but believe state it right. This is the
most philosophical and wise principle that exists
in any constitution. TIE other principle OF the
constitution, which makes it necessary for the
State TO take its own census ahd ascertain It's
taxation every ten years, and 10 apportlon over
anew the representation, makes it a perfect sys-
tem 1t is, in fact, carrying out the great prnci.
pic of our revolution, of making representation
follow taxation as well as population. 1t is this
which gives perfect protection TO property in our
State. This in PAR. is the great vital principle
of the compromise of the constitution in 1908.
trust in God it will never be touched, and that
it will stand as firmly imbedded in the hearts OF
our people as the everlasting hills upon our soil.
This, with universal suffrage, gives population
property the conscious power Of sef-protecton
This it is which will make our people ever con.
notwithstanding their public honor and
pigh,ed faith, us they would do the virtue of
their women. Save this principle, and no dema-
gogue with US can ever punder the people to
advance wild schemes of political power.
The first speech that the great William,
Lowndes ever delivered in our Legislature WAS
upon this very principle, embracing the repre-.
sentation of pruporty and population combined.
The whole State had been deeply asitated, and
there was threatened disunion OF the State.
The lower country denied enlarged representa-.
ton to the upper country. Robert GoodIow
Harper had written his powerful pamphlet in IA.
vor of enlarged representation; and it excited
such interest, that believe he was returned at
the same election AS member from Spartan
burg, and also member from parish in George.
town district, ana also 4 member Of Congress
from the Edge6eId district. He accepted the
latter, and WAS afterwards Attorney General OF
the United States and settled in Baltimore.
The Legislature met under the deepest and
most bitter excitement. Govenor Alston from
Georgetown, had taken the popular side, and
carried several Georgetown parishes with hlm.
He lead off in an eloquent speech, and was fol-
lowed by william Lowndes, who in an elaborate
sppech showed those great traits OF purity and
wisdom and intellect which afterwards made
him one ofthe first men ofany age or any coun-
~ trv The speech produced the profoundest i'm.
nrcssion upon all sides, and when no ended
there was a kind and compromising influence
shed throughout the whole house Mr.. Abram
Blanding, very able and ready lawyer, after
wards Of the greatest eminence, drew that pccu-
liar amendment in our constitution, giving rep
resentation to property and population CON-
bned, which was adopted and secured lasting
peace, and which trust will stand forever, and
carry the names of Lowndes and Blanding down
to the remotest poslerty, embamed with the
most consecraled affection from every South
Carolinian.
There is prevalent mistake in our State,