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

WE the readers attention 10 letter on our first
page addressed by Col F. W. PIcKENs, Of ElseGc'd,
10 Hon. JAMES L. Orr, the Congressional Rcprcsrn-
,alive OF the old Pnckney District. II is in reply 10
one of enquiry from Mr. ORn, and purpors at the ou-
set to consider the Electoral question mainly But
the writer seem, to have followed up the bent OF his
thoughts, until. in addition to the pnint immediately
before him, he has discussed another naiier ol the
grayest mnnent: We mean, the reason OF The Com
promise made in 1903, between the upper and lower
divisions OF South Carolina, upon the matter OF Rep
resrn.a,ion in our State Legislature. 10 our view,
this portion of his letter is we'll worthy the attentive
consideration Of every South Carolinian; nor is 1t
really so much a departure from the proposition di
recsly involved in Mr ORR's query as at the first
glance it would seem 10 be. In view of The gronnd
(Iaken by good many who oppose giving The election
of Presidential Electors 10 the peope) that 1t Is anti
conservative and therefore dangerous, ii was natural
TO sci forth what the writer believed 10 Dc lre con-
scrya;isrn, as comtra-tis,ngushed from that iim'i
shrinking back from all innovation which passes with
some for the genuine principle
True conservatism, with the citizens oi any free
State, consists much in obecng to all changes
in the established order Of things it does IN grant
ing 10 the people with good grace and trusting
spir, the exercise Of such powers rs they rightuIy
and reasonably clum. 1t is better to "sive an inch
than to be forced by excited majority to yield ian
ell" There Is much force, we readily admit, IN that
old addage which teaches men to let well enough
alone" But it seems equally clear that The mnx'm
loses all its yrtuc when To make II n rule ol action
in any given instance produces unfortunate dlssen'
SONS in The State. Surh We apprehcnd will he Ile
case in South Carolina, If those who control the ac-
lion of our Legislature shall attempt 10 kill, by Their
negatives, the proposition (Which is daily gaining
crnun) 10 throw the election Of Presidential Electors
before the people, II is rational arrangement lmpc-
rou>ly called for by the circumstances Of onr peculiar
situation and one which promises TO act at least as we'll
rs the present sy.em and much less clnmsiiy We
have Yet to see or hear any valid objections to the
change contemplated; and we caution gentlemen To
ask themselves the question tand 10 weigh IL "eh)
whether il will not be the truly conservative course
to recognise at once the justice and propricty OF the
innoy alion Here, it is mere question "i polry'
not of right and he is the wise statesman ard the
true conservative who fashions that policy to produce
The lens: pussible evil though 10 do so may re-
unre that the old established order Of Things be cssen-
lially altered. But there questions OF principle
and of right which will not admit of any such tam
pcrnr. Such is the nnc c!ucidaed by C"! PicKES$
in the latter and larger portion OF his letter And
here il is that the most stubborn, nnfnching nncom,
promising opponents OF any change O. arar'Ion he'
come the very noblest Of conservatives Here IL Is
that TO resist all manner of chmcL even though
revolution and civil war slouId result becomes the
sacred and boundcn duty Of every freeman. That
representation should follow taxation as well as poru'
laon, is just such principle as demands this iron
cast Of conservatism in its defence. Let MS cherish
and preserve it as the great anchor of our safely.
But as for this simple mailer of giving ,le election
Of Electors 10 the good pe"pc. lei Us tot waste "nr
conservatism upon il. il is b;..e question al pole"