Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1855-11-29
Qo(ltltal.
"WHAT ARE WE TO DO ?"
From the Elgriicid Advertiser.

w
Our friends Of the "Err"ry' take us to
task. in most lugubrious strains, for suggesting
the feasibility of some agreement by which
South Carolinians may escape split among
themselves and at ,hc same time prevent the
possibility Of their State being alienated from
her Southern contcdcratcS. Now, nasmuch
rs We have never had the slightest affinity for
National Convention nor the most remote
tendency to mingc in the Presidential canvass
except as they might prove valuable incidents
in uniting some at least of the Southern States,
we know no reason why We should be called to
an account in 50 high-handed way Who
does the .hJrWV represent, or our humble
self either? Are we the State Are we
the opponents even of Il majority of the State!
The last iour years ought to have satisfied us
that we are far from it. We both belong to 4
defeated party in South Carolina and in still
,loin@ our best, as independent journalists, Tor
the common good of our section, we should
rndcayor at least to heed each others suggcs-
tions in kindly mood, remembering that we
have had Ghc misfortune of falling together III
some of our CHEST aims.
The question, about which We happen to diff
fer with the "NTH,y' at present, would seem
toresovc itself into this phase among others,
viz whether we shall at once put good and
true men in such position as will enable them
best to mature, on the part of our State, a full
! communion with those of her sister States
which are identified with her in destiny-or
! whether we shall stand still and risk 4 partial
representation of South Carolina in the Ma
tional Convention, the effect of which may be
to place the political power of the State in the
hands of one or two skilful politicians The
views we have expressed in the matter have
nothing to do with the idea of affiliating with
the general Democratic party of the North,
but spring solely and purely from an increasing
conviction that our best hope lies i'll concert Of
action with our Southern neighbors. If oul
Governor, for instance, were to open CORES
pondence with Gov. johnson, of Georgia
Gov. Winston If Alabama, and Gov. Wise o.
Virginia, there is very little doubt but thai
much good might be done towards producing
an understanding with the States they repre-
sent, previous to the election of delegates tt
the Cincinnati convention And if we coulc
get those delegates to act in good faith togeth
er, this would of itself be the basis of future
organization and power. Indeed any two South
ern delegations might either control the prin
cipes of the Convention, or, if that were i'm
possible, overthrow its moral power.
Lord Mansfield once observed that Gas cir
cumstances alter things themselves mus
change" and there is wisdom in the remark
Apply the truth to our own case. Heretofore
it was we of the South who complained of tn
enactments of the Federal Government, o
the United States Bank, the Tariff, Interna
improvements, &C. But now it is the peopl
of the North who are clamorous. They ar
calling for repeal of the Nebraska bill ant
the fugitive slave law, and for restoration o
the Missouri Compromise. They are cryiD
out for the abolition of slavery in the Distric
of Columbia and the regulation of the slav
trade between the States. The admission q
another slave State into the Union they declar
thew will not endure patiently. The grievanc
would appear to be now all on their side.-
Lately it was on ours. When we, or any POI
tion Of us, acted or proposed anything by wa
of redress, it produced division amongst ou1
selves and our weakness was by-word wit
our opponents. But now they are compelle
to act and We can take advantage Of their d
visions. They are on the offensive-we
the defensive There is now no cause for d
vision in the South, and there is really no d
vision to speak of. In South Carolina at leas
we are all, Democrats and Know Nothing
ready to stand or fall by the Georgia platforr
The whole South, it is to be expected, will tai
no lower ground. At the North, the Dem
Gratis have gone down before the fusion Of the
g, varied political antagonists. The Democrat
party being to great extent without power