Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-12-19

HON. T.. w. DUDLEY,
On the propriety Of haring the State Of Soui
Carolina represented in the Democratic Ma
tional Convention, to be held in Cincinnati.
ANDERSON, Nov. %, 1856.
DEAR Sir {: avail myself of this occasion to
respond TO your letter. ioquiring my opinion Of
the propriety Of having South Carolina repre-
scented in the National Convention at Cincinnati
The objects of this convention are two-fold
first, to nominate true and reliable candidates fol
the Presidency and Vice Presidency for the can
vass of 1856; and second, tolay down platform
Of principles for The maintenance of which the
Democratic party are to be pledged. " - -
"A convention is merely a method of finding
out what the popular opinion is, and giving TO- j,
more conspicuous and imposing expression: II
has been. sfeadily- and uniformly 'pnrsned by the
Deuocfacy Of all the States. Except our own)
for fifteen years OF more, and the selection OF
delegates, manner Of voting and nominating, has
been defined by a, usage well understood and ac-
quiesced in, as if regulated by law. Hence, we
know that. such convention will assemble in
Cincinnati in May next, and thatit will nominate
Candidates for the Presidency and Vice Presiden.
cy-adept a platform of prinePles-and it is
nearly certain that the nominees will receive the
votes of the Democratic party of every State in
the Union. Shall the Democracy of this State
send delegates! II is our privilege to be repre-
scented there, and at the present time believe IT
to be high and solemn duty to meet onrpoliti.
cat allies, and to aid, by urpresence, and eoun-
ellis In selecting suitable nominees and construct
ing platform, which will secure our rights and
uphold the Constitution. q 49,, -
There has never been n time since the conven.
tion policy was adopted If, indeed, there has
been such time since the Government was inau-
guratet- the success of the Democratic
party in the electoral college was so vitaly ini-
portant rs now. If that party should be defeated
in the election before the people, every patriots
mind must be filled with gloomy forebodings of
the future. The indications now are, that the
opposition to the Democratic party, made up 'of
Know Nothings, Abo!itionists, and rFusiopists,
will run two or more candidates: if the Demo-
cracy fail to SECURE majority in the electoral COL
lego over all elements of opposition, then the
election must be made, according to The Consti-
tuition; by the House Of Representatives. Can
We safely trust the election of our rights to that
body! The House is now elected, and We know
That decided majority of the House are men,
bers of the Know Nothing, Fusion. and WING
parties; and II the election be dcvolvcd on them,
The Democratic party will be certainly defeated,
and perhaps Fusionist promoted to the Prcsi-
dency. Are the people of South Carolina so
Indifferent 10 their relations 10 the Federal Gov
that they will quietly look on and see
such an administration rs we have had since the
4th of March, '53-an administration that has
faithfully and fearlessly maintained the Const-
.u,ioa in its purity-suppla 10y Know Moth
ingism or Black Repubiicanism That is the
issue TO be decided in the next presidential cleo
ton, and that, too, in The electoral college, for if
we fail there, then we know now with absolute
certainty that we must be defeated before the
House. Was it, then, ever so important before
that the convention should be filled with discreet,
patriotic mel; ; that there should be the fullest
Of every man devoted TO the DEM
ocratic faith, and opposed to Fusion and Know
Nothingi<m; that they should commune freely
together, and nominate candidate who will
command The confidence Of the entire party ;nnd
that such Interchange of opinions may enable
them to adopt sound constitutional platform
Was it ever before so.important that an election
should be made by the people, without going to
the House of Representatives! Can we hesitate
to meet the true men uf the North, and cooperate
with them, when. the dust Of the fray in many
hard-fought battles against Fusionists and Black
is still settled on their garments !
They have for more than twelve months been
fighting for the Constitution and for the mainte-
nance Of your rights. Will you turn from them,
with callous and heartless Indifference, ard twit
them with being Abolitionists themselves? Such
a policy would not only be the blackest ingrati-
tude, but it would drive off all those national,
conservative friends that are now standing by
you.
Will we hesitate TO meet our friends from our
own section there, and aid them in the grave
work before them? Or will we haughtify turn
from them, and BY our conduct, in refusing to
mingle with them, by implication, reproach them
for infidelity to us and themselves?
. ButI may be met here with this inquiry: Why
do you assume that the Democracy, with favor
ite nominee and sound platform, will be more
successful than the party was when the members
Of the House oil. Representatives were elected,
and from whose action you hope for so little ben.
eft TO the Sonth? reply, that nearly all the
non-slayeholding States elected their Congress-
men more than twelve months ago, and immcdi-
ateIy after the passage of the Kansas and Ne.
braska act That act raised storm of fanaticism
which waited Fusion demagogucs into power;
the men who voted for it could not reach home
in time to canvass their districts as thoroughly
rs should have been done they could not dis
euss before the election the principles of the BILL
and show that they were drawn from the Con-
stitution. Fanaticism ragged with wild fury at
the North. But three of our friends were sus-
tanned in ths great State of Pennsylvania, and
two in Indians. The fusion of Know Nothingism
and Abolitionism swept over tho former State
By majority of thirty-iye thousand, and over
the latter by near twenty thousand These dis
asters overtook!us one year ago, whun members
10 Congress were elected. Illinois, Michigan,
Maine and New Jersey were likewise oyerrun by
Fusion.
. But how stands the contest now in those
States Pennsylvania, the gallant Keystone State
and the breakwater against the turbulent waves
of northern fanaticism, has rallied to the Con.
sttution and the old Democratic banner in heT
Jnte election for State officers, and has not only
beaten back Fusion, but has near fifteen thou.
sand of popular majority for the Democratic
faith, including the Nebraska act. Indiana has
redeemed her escutcheon from the stain of BLACK
Republicanism, and has given the Democracy
majority of near fifteen thousand in her recent
State elections. Many other Of tho northern
States have done equally we'll; and yet in the
next Congress, if the presidential election is de-
yolved on the House of Representatives, the
votes Of every northern State (except Iowa, anc
il will be divided) will cast either for Fusion
or Know Nothing candidates. The late elections
show that there has been reaction in the North
almost unparalleled in p6liticsliannals and it !!
nearly certain; If tie Southis true to herself and
sastaihs with unanirnity unconstitutional Demo
crat, that Che aid VIC will receive from some o.
the northern States will enable US to.eleeth him ir
the electoral college; but if lns election wa: