Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-06-06

whether money, political power, or any thing
else, to secure the accomplishment Of its ends:
and that to buy with money, is measure ap.
plicable to all classes who are in want; and is
only one of the modes in which the same perni-
cious result is achieved. To sell a vote Is q
crime because the vote is part of the public
treasure, for the timo entrusted to the indiYidu-
al. However, or by whomsoevcr sold, the crime
is the same.
But to come to our point, somewhat nearer.
If exclusion, is the penalty to be visited on for
eigners for the system of bribery alleged to ex-
list, let US enquire into the truth Of the fact, be-
fore we proceed to the sentence. And if the
sentence is just, let it be pronounced on all
who are bribed, supposing as is before stated,
that the sin is in being bribed, and that there is
no ~ reproach m to him who furnish, the bribe. If
foreigners are bribed, are they alone bribed
We have no statistics in this matter. Such re-
cords are not often published. But we see
enough to enable US to approximate towards
the truth. Where is he, enlisted in party strife,
who will say, that the foreigner is the only one
bribed at elections? Who will say that they
furnish the most deplorable instances. OF the
corrupting influences Of money? II rumor
speaks. truly, the most gigantic evidences of
the influences Of money, even in our State,
are to be found in Districts, where the foreign
population bear an exceedingly small propor-
| ton, TO the residents "of the manor born"
1t is equally needless and unpleasant to refer to
other cases. It is sufficient, when seen in the
place referred to, to satisfy all, that the rich,
powerful, and ambitious will ever bribe, where
the population, is needy, and therefore subject
to temptation. And this holds in every COM
munity, whether its members are native or for
eigners We seem to think that this practice of
bribery is with US, n special evil; nor does it
seem, to have occurred to those who become
thus Mortified at its appearance, that it may be
an incurable part of every political system, in
which the popular will, is the controlling power
If despotism prevails, you must buy or cajole,
which is itself q mode Of buying, the Despot
And the same rule will be followed in limited
monarches, and in popular governments. In
England as early as l7l4, we hear of the prac-
tice and at a late period, learn, " that great
number of persons, have no other livelihood
than being employed in bribing corporations"
True, all men who think at all, must regret 1t.
And doubtless while there are many, who under
great excitement, have themselves contributed
to this practice, yet in the suggestion of any
practicable plan for its suppression or mitigation,
they would become earnest co-laborers. But
the alteration of principle of government be-
cause a portion Of the foreign population is
bribed, is perhaps one Of the widest experiments
ever attempted.
When this Order, proposes, as it does, the
establishment Of new political basis; and in
doing that, proposes modification of the sys-
tenn of government, it addresses itself to one of
the most important aud dangerous offices, which
can be undertaken, even by the most expcrien-
ced. A system however Objectionable, often
has some relieving quality, which, if duly con-
sidered, should induce those who attempt its
extirpation, to be we'll assured that the meas.
ures they propose, are better than those they
seek to uproot The rotten borough system Of
England, against which Parliamentary orators
ipveighed with US much severity MS they did
against the slave trade, was 4 system, bad as it
undoubtedly was, that first brought into politi-
cal notice, Lord Chancellor Cowper, Harley,
Walpole, Steele, Addison, Prior, Chesterfield,
Pulteney, Bolingbroke and others. And to the
influence of money in the hands of the CONNER
cial class of Great Britain, has been ascribed,
the infusion of that liberal and popular element
10 the British Constitution, which has mainly
contributed to the celebrity it has acquired, rs
affording the people who live under it, political
benefits, only inferior to those enjoyed under
our own Constitution But this, and any other
consequence, could never make bribery proper
yet they may vel. justify US, in asking that in
the reformation Of this abuse, we sh19ld remsm:
Der, that remedy may oc "o'se ''i''' Wv u''-
ease.
Another matter, which is often seriously
dwet upon, is that it requires long probation
to enable foreigner to understand our system
of government: and that in Ignorance OF this,
the exercise by him of the privilege Of voting,
is an injury to the country, or may o. so. What
is meant by this understanding OF our system
of government? Do we shut our eyes to the
fact, that we are not among ourselves agreed as
to the true nature Of our government That
me maintain for it, Il construction, involving
theory, that elsewhere, than among ourselves, Is
considered revolutionary! And thLt in other
portions of our country, another theory is main
tanned, that ace reject and denounce, as leading
TO consolidation or despotisn? And If this Is
rot sufficient to show how wild is this objection,
let those who make it, 60 into the streets, or
without taking that trouble, ask themselves
what is the nature of the Government under
which they live? Is it certain that the answer
would be such, as is ineligible either to them
selves or others! Come into the busy thorough
fares of this crowded city, and satisfy yourselves
how many men of keen intellect are Informed
as 20 the principle Of our State Government.
Ask upon what principle representation rests IN
the Legislative Department of our State, and
then YOU will become convinced, that Tree
people are more concerned about the ends OF
Government, than its details.-
The best evidence that citizen gives of his
attachment to the laws is when he supports
them, and is willing to risk his life in their de-
fence. The highest proof of that understand
ing, which properly appreciates our institutions,
is when one is willing to die, rather than sur
yire their loss. Has the foreigner been want
ino in this evidence of understanding! lie
knows but little of the history of his country
from the time she raised her arm to assert her
independence, to the present moment, who will
withhold this credit 10 them, SO eminently de-
served.
It is with no chilled and foreign feeling, that
We recall the names of Sleuben, Montgomery,
Pulaski, Kosciusko, Lafayette, Gallatin, and
others, of former days; that since then,
Shields, and host of others, have proved them.
selves inheritors of the same devotedness; and
twice when the flag of South Carolina was
struck down by it's enemy, it was the privilege
of a foreigner to lift it again to triumph in the
breeze. Jasper, foreigner, amid the thick balls
of Engand's cannon, re-planted 1t on l'ie oattle'
ments of Fort Moultrie; and Leonard, iotelsn'
er, bore it across the bloody field Of fChapultePec'
They only sneer at such instances OF deVotlon'
who never have been where these men were.
But it is said the foreigner never becomes
identified with this country. Strange assertion,
when considered in connection with the repeat
ed instances of desperate valor, in support OF
its rights and fame, to which we have just allud-
ed. But the charge is not true. Point out the
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