Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-06-06
LETTER No. I.
THE POLITICAL ISSUE.

tracted SO much notlce, lS now peioTe tue coun
try for its judgments do not intend to charg
against it, any thing which may increase tn
acrimonious spirit, now so much excited. de
sire only to examine the principles and rules o
conduct, which it is asserted belong to the Or
der IF l. mistake either or both, it will b
done. unwillingly, and innocently. have wait
ed fof the authorized exposition of both in vair
sand am now forced to assume these to lie it
principles, and this, its rule of conduct, whicl
haye been charged as such, without denial Of
the part of any ono, protesting to speak in it
behalf. shall endeavor to separate from th'
distinctive and peculiar features of this Order
such opinions or principles rs are also enter
country The new Order has right to asl
support for such political measures as it appro
yes: but if these measures are of doubtful poll
eY, it has no right to enlist for their support
good and honest men, because it chooses alst
TO profess as articles of its creed, other measures
which are of very general approval. All mel
believe, to use one of the cant phrases, tina
foreigners should not govern the country per
haps none desire this less, than foreigners them
selves: but it is false logic, for this Order, tt
base its argument for the total exclusion of the
foreigner, on its desire that foreigners shoule
mot hold exclusive sway. The concurrence ir
=the wise principle that the foreigners should moi
govern, does not justify the proposition, that the
foreigner should be excluded, unless the fact is
that the foreigner does govern, and that to e:r.
ci,de him altogether, is the only mode to deprirt
hirn of such power. But if he, agreeing with US
all, that it is not right that he should govern
Ind In fact does not govern, shall be neverthe
less excluded altogether, the logic of the concu
sion would be excessively ridiculous, we pass
hy its Injustice, when it DEGREES an ordinance
because Of something, which does not, in fact
exist.
' The same view is applicable to the religious
question which is made by this Order. The re-
,lieious tenets of the Roman Catholic Church
may not command the appreciation of all: the
: temporal power of that Church, may appear 10
ms, wanting much or all, that conduces to good
government: but is it because, we do not ad-
Inire the spiritual Church, or disapprove its ex-
efcise of temporal authority, that we should
fostracise those who do? Or if We all agree in
declaring that the possession and profession OF
a,certain faith, with such consequences incident
Ito it, as have been charged, are, if true grounds
for exclusion are we justified in declaring that
exclusion against those, who, admitting the :os-
session and profession Of the faith, deny the
consequences as incident to it, aud are the best
witnesses of the truth or falsehood of the mat
tiers so charged? And so in further justification
of this desired exclusion, reference IS made to
the influences, which, operating on the poor
foreigner, make him, rs is alleged, pervert the
privilege of the ballot, become the tool OF tho
demagogue, and often, rs is said, for gold, be-
tray the trust he has in the vote he Is allowed to
east. Without questioning in the slightest de-
gree the justness of the indignation which is ex-
cited by the abuse of the privilege of voting, we
may we'll pause and enquire, before we record a
sentence of universal exclusion, what Is the
true offence, which results from this abuse, and
next, whether the remedy proposed will relieve
it? We distinguish between remedy TOR the
eril, and the punishment Of the offender. Exciu-
sion may be The latter, but it cannot be the
former.
: The vote is the medium through which tn
country ascertains the honest opinions of those,
who are interested in its welfare. The brbe, IS
the means by which this end is defeated in sub
stituting the opinions of him who bribes, for his
who is bribed. And thereby, the theory OF our
Government, as one resting on public opinion,
lis. defeated. -.-..----.--.-,...-.--.-
This. consequence is better known, or should
be. by him who bribes, than by him, who Is
bribed The brbe proceeds from him who
aiyes: unless it is given, he who takes, would
not be bribed. The acceptance OF the brloe Is
we NAV suppose the consequence OF need: It's
offer proceeds from the desire to accomplish IN
end, which, for some reason. is sought by him,
who rves il. The end that moves him who
Gives it. is always desire for power. 1t may
6e fur the power necessary for some one object,
or that wider power, which, for years, Will d.
rect the machinery Of government 1t may vary
in decree: in effect it is the same. 1t begets
Tint evil spirit, which, in seeking means Tor lis
qrat;6cation. seizes the weakness, the nccessI-
lies of our nature, and adapts them TO lts use.
Exclude every foreigner, you still VIII leave
sufficient number, subject to the brloe, 70 ac-
compIish all the ills that excite these expressions
of adherence from the Order. 10 dlmlnlsh
the number of those who are hribed, Is not to
do away with bribery: it only tends by reduc-
ton of The number, to increase the price OF the
bribed. or change the form in which the bribe is
offered. Money buys one, office buys another !:
and he who is bought with an office, becomes
enrolled among the great men Of his day but
h. who is bribed with money, becomes thereby
s,beet to that reproach which justiies his ex-
.TulSion. and is considered sufficient to justify
also the expulsion, of thousands, who were
horn in the same cline with him. VINO are
thew who bribe! Is it not the foreigner, who
brb.s the foreigner, to supplant, that which We
nav call the native power! If the foreigner is
.hr;bed Il il not for or by the foreigner but for
ond bv he natire. Then it is the native, he,
who is devoted in higher degree, than any
other citizen. to the welfare of the country, who
does an act which he is enabled to do success
fulIv. because of his wealth: and the necessities
of ihe one upon whom he operates and this
net be knows, lead, to the perversion of his
Government. Who, then, is the proper object
tor punishment? According to The understood
rue of this Order, the native il preserved from
temptation, by removing from hls reac"' tne
moor. whom he has made instruments with
which he could work out his designs "A uen'
eneral charged with the defence OF his country
uses his influence with his army TO attempt lhe
oyerthrow of his Government. The new reme-
DIV for the evil, is to exterminate the army, so
that The General may not have again the same
means with which to accomplish his treasonaole
practices.
Will il be said that because one is foreigner,
bo ia therefore Liable to be brbed? This is not
aU. and he ia but shallow observer Of men,
who would affirm it. One who does not want
il beyond temptation. All who want are within
reach of temptation. The nature and extent o'
their wants, determine the amount and character
of the influence that may control them. a lot
cipner having no want, is according TO all eXpe'
rience, less subject to temptation, than ano'her
whether foreigner or native, who has wants, thai
.reonire to be gra,i6ed. TO fall beneath the in
auence of temptation is the law OF no particular
cline. In all ages, among all people, from tne
lowest depths Of savage life, to the oft!est sum
q: a