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

strated, by fifteen yeafs experience, that we cam
not induce single ona0f our confederatesto TO
think with us--the number against us being
4 thirty to one May wesnot hesitate long before
we shall, with self-cdnplacency, say they are
all wrong and we ars right? AS it is mot 4
matter of conscience-abut one simply Of ex-
pediency-in what mafasr the voice of the party
can be best ascertainedm selecting candidates.
is it not time that we tshould adopt their policy
and renounce ours? How mach longer must
we deny ourselves thee9nal privileges with. our
co-Slates in trying to Fave to them We are right
and they are wrong a.9af the past is to furnish
the data of Judging, itapay be safely postponed
until doomsday Wefhpve converted no single
State-nay more, in the} broad expanse of this
great Republic, know;6f only single promin-
ent man who has renol6ccd his parlalities for
conventions, and whonG opposes them, and that
man is Thomas II. Benthn.
The long and well-dfkned usage Of the Dem
ocratic party gives US the privilege Of voice in
nominating candidates. bot We have heretofore
refused it. Idesire to.sas South Carolina now
exercise il. i, desire toiSee our delegates there,
controlling, to the extentbf their votes and intel
ligence, The nominasieHs and platform. ! nm
tired, heartily tired, of SEEING the delegates of
the other States determining whom We shalt
vote for unless we harsf an equal voice in the
selection If We wcredenied the right Of uni
ting with them, VIC would complain Of it aaan
unbearable grievance and yet our voluntary re-
fusal works just as greatPractical injury. Since
1870, we have invariahyfo for their nominee,
and yet, during all that lime, have had no agency
in determining who. ;hs should be, or what
should be the platform. ;jEIn the future, we will
most likely vote for hesnominee; even an OBJ
jectionable Democrat will be taken as 4 choice
of evils, before Wing, Know Nothing, or Black
Republican, because evil more nearly repre-
sent your political opinions than either of them.
Our delegation might. dsfeat an objectionable
man and secure good one; in such 4 coniin-
gency, would we have acled justly to the Demo.
cratic party of the Union, who have engratted
on the statute-book every law to be found there,
wherin your rights are protected aud your inter.
ests advanced? The eight votes which ~c aro
entitled to cast, might prove of vast Importance
to our southern sisters, in adopting reliable
platform. Are we to continue our Difference 10
their nominations when we take no part in their
convemionss True dignity requires us to re-
ject The nominee, If we scorn and repudlatc inc
nominating power. 1t istiime that we should
change this usage, which seems to be based
more upon caprice tban,upon practical wisdom.
If it has heretofore been wise, it is no longer So
| The congressional caucus stem was tried and
exploded; conventions 5hqe been substituted
We may not have approved Of. the substitute,
but we find that it is fastened upon the country
by universal acquiescense Shall we persist in
u fruitless opposition to it, at the sacrifice of our
privileges in the national convention II Is
mistake to suppose that we arc the party con-
ferring q favor in going into the convention;
the reverse is true. 1t is a joint meeting for
our common good. So long as We remain
in the Union, let US cooperate with oar
political allies 10 elect good men and Sc
cure wholesome measures. Why this volrn:
tary isolation, in refusing to act with equals
Are we their superiors in wisdom and patriot
ism; or has the degeneracy OF the times left TO
South Caroline no citizen who can be trusted
with. her rights or honor rs a delegate! Are
the people apprehensye that their delegates will
prove faithless aud treachcrous? If that be true,
then her members in. Congress should be recall
led, for they too have delicate and important
trusts committed to their custody.
Unsatisfactory as 4 convention is to many, the
selection of 4 candidate by it, who must be ae-
cepted or rejected by the votes of the people, is
far scfer for the republic than any election BY
any Congress. 1t is far easier 10 corrupt small
body, such rs 4 majority of tho House of Repre-
sentatiyes, than to corrupt the people. Money,
office, position, succession, all. may be held out
"a inducements 10 the former body: they would
be unavaiiing 10 the latter. 1t will be great
national calamity as often as the people fail to
elect, and doyolye the election on the House OF
Representatives and such q calamity will
arise at every election, unless by concert, through
conventions or otherwise, the votes OF the people
can be concentrated on some one candidate, re-
presenting their opinions.
The people have failed in two cases TO make
an election, both of which have become impor-
tant in history. The first w;s when Jefferson and
Burr received an equal number Of votes. The
contest convulsed tho whole Union, and produc-
ed the most painful apprehensions in the bo-
SONS Of all patriots; and we'll it might, when
we review its history, and learn that Jefferson
finally triumphed over Burr oy single vote.
The excitement was so great, that it caused the
Suites the next year to assent to the only amend
mcnt of the Constitution adopted since the
Government went fully into operation.
The other was between Jackson and Adams,
J in 1924. There had been no concentration of
public opinion, by caucus or otherwise, because
it was said to be the "sra of good feeling" and
In the electoral college, Jackson received SO
votes Adams "a, Crawford al, and Clay 81:
neither candidate having received majority of
all the votes cast, there was no election by tho
people. and it went TO the House of Ropresen-
tatiyes On the. first ballot Mr. Adams was
elected. This resul. produced public indigna-
ton; which has had no parallel, because of the
outrage on the popular will, in supplanting
General ia. son by John Quincy Adams.
After that, prudent and sagacious men saw
the Importance of making an election by the
people, To accomplish it,party organization on
defined principles has been perfected, and con.
ventions are, in the judgment of the people of
all the other States, the safest and fairest means
of ascertaining and concentrating the popular
will. have shown the Importance OF perfect
union and concert in the Democracy it they en-
pect to triumph in the next:eection. Will we
hazard defeat by churlishly Withholding orr
counsels from our political associates at the
Cincinnati Convention? Will we hazard another
outrage on the popular Will by carrying The
next election into the House! BE not deceived by
the opponents of representation, when they Tell
you that our vote is small and cal be Of no ser
vice in nominating or voting platform. Jcifer-
son was elected by o. single vote many of the
most important laws have been passed by one
vote; the casting vote of the Vice President re-
duced the tariff in 1886. Your votes will count !;
your delegates will be kindly received, and their
wishes and preferences treated with the most
respectful consideration. Instruct thom, if you
choose, to retire from the convention, if the
princip pies adopted by it are unsound, OF if the
.nomineeis unreliable. IF you do not choose TO
| instruct them, send prudent, wise, sagacious
delegates, and say to them that the Democratic