Eastern times., 1855-05-10


ed 10 publish the above notice.
Augusta, May l, 1855.
The c ommittee take occasion TO remark
1t cannot be disguised that the Convention
will assemble under circumstances less auspi-
cious TO the democracy of the State than those
which have hitherto attended most of its simi-
lar convocations.
Now, for the first time in period of many
years, do we witness the ascendancy, in poit-
ical affairs, of dynasty, hostile alike TO tho
principles and policy heretofore avowed or act
, ed upon by the two great political parties of
the country, and hostile also in many respects
TO the system of polty under which the COM
monweaith has attained to its present state of
prosperity and grsatness-a dynasty SO hetero-
geneous in its parts and vague in its purpos-
es, that it alarms us not so much by its abso-
lutte abnegation of all that hitherto in the his
tory of politics in this country has been taught
or learned, practiced or professeds by states
men, politicians, or parties, or which has been
ratified by the people as sound in theory or
practice, as by its arrogant assumption of the
functions of government without any well-de-
fined policy of its own to take the place of
that repudiated.
-riIal Iuc oIare Is prosIrare. to-day, before
the power of such dynasty, does not, it will
be conceded, lessen the Importance of the OBJ
vention, nor render less imperative the duties
of freemen, who have hitherto concurred in
political sentiment, who now propose TO CO.
operate in political action, to promote the per-
manent interests of the State and to assert
and maintain its true position and dignity as
q constituent portion of the great confederacy
OF States.
The most untoward events have befallen the
democratic party in the North within the past
few months, weakening its organization. par
alyzing its energies and circumscribing its use
fulness. The like and more fatal still have
been the fortunes of the whig party. The for
mcr has indeed been most insloriously beaten
back from the high vantage ground of its re-
cent position, and for the time obliged to
treat from the conflict alike to recruit its droop-
ing spirits and numbers, with the purpose of a
charge upon its motley foe whenever and wher-
ever it shall offer the opportunity TO try the
strength of its columns or the spirit of its lead
ers. The latter seems not so well to have sus-
tanned the shock, and was not only routed on
the frs; assault. but portion of its leaders and
whole battalions of its rank and file, at once
fell in with and Joined the victorious forces
with a seeming aacrity which indicated
friendship for the new allies, somewhat incon
sistent with fidelity to their old friends, and
suggesting the conclusion that if they had not
themselves proposed the fusion, they at least
were possessedo of that easy virtue which yield
ed to wanton allurement most willing assent.
1t would be useless to recount the causes
which, near or remote, have led to results so
disastrous. SO far as those results may be traced
to specific influences. Nor shall we attempt it.
All might not concur therein should we do
go. Needing the practical lesson taught by
the general condition of political affairs. the
Obvious duty, on all hands, is, to deal toith the
present as zoe fnd ii.
This present, with which the people of this
State now have to do politically. is more deep
ly marked with sentiments and passions pecu-
hsriy its own than any former period in our
political annals. Extreme uie,cs, whether OF
morals or of politics, of legislation or of inter-
probation and enforcement of law, seem to have
taken possession of society.
Whatever in the history of our national poll
tics has hitherto been considered narrow and
sectional, and however heretofore ostracised
and oanlshed the realm of political society, as
posltiVeiy disioyal 20 the Constitution and the
Union, seems now not only to have returned
TO the theatre OF Its former discontinue, but
orinSs along with II It's ancient proclivitics i'm
mensely strengthened and intensified
At real or fancied grievances, a political 6..
rore has taken possession of the public mind in
the North, and in its mad phren=y. it proposes,
not restoration merely Of the right lost or i'm
Yai1ed, but in tile bitterness of the btteres,
spirit of retaliation. it repudiates the soundes
and most uncontroverted principles Of political
aetion--prineiples which have long since passed
into familiar axioms, and to which the public
mind had yielded assent,-and in lieu thereo
It endeavors to inculeate in the free States O
this Union. sentiment Of vengednce toward,
the slave States, which. shall exhibit itself in
political action, in invidious determinations to
wards that portion Of our common country.
In the domain ofmorals, it pushes the poin