Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-10-24
WHAT ARE WE TO DOT

THE first great desderatum, in shaping the future
action Of South Carolina with respect to her Federal
Relations, is the preservation Of her unity an inde
pendent commonwealth. All will agree, upon relec-
ion, that this proposition is undenably correct. Our
State is small and numerically weak and if we are
10 exercise AM influence in the affairs Of The nation it
march we may adopt.
But there is cause TO apprshend that in the hands
ofour present political leaders, this unity may be
seriously impaired. The Hon. Mr.. Onn, on one side
the State, is using the power Of Ills position to lead
into the ranks of The National Democracy and to
enlist tho State in the approaching sweepstakes for
the Presidency of the Union; while the Hon. Mr..
KEIrr, from similar pedestal of official elevation,
is decaiming vehemently and eloquently against the
suggested policy Of his elder colleague. The tendency
of this schism between two Of most prominent md
influential men is to distract the people of South Caro-
lima and deprive them of all Of strength before
the country.
May there not be compromise, between these gen.
tlemen and their respective adherents, which shall
set aside this danger! 1t is not all probable that MIR.
ORR will come TO the views of Mr. KErTT; neither is
there any ground for supposing that Mr.. KE1TT will
come to he views of Mr. Orr Between them, the
State will stand hampered and Intellectual for any
good. What are we to do.
Suppose Mr. KEITT; and those who think with him,
agree to 20 into the National Democratic Convention
as an experiment, with the stipulation ION the part Of
Mr. Oar and his fiends) that, if our principles are
compromised in the least for the purpose of securing
the election of any given candidate, our delegation
shall instantly leave the body! Suppose We unitsdly
ohet To- Virginia, Georgia and the other Southern
States, any one Of them, faithful cooperation
in this business upon like stipulation 10 be observed
by them with like prompttude! Could or could not
our State thus guarded and thus fore-armed go into
the Cincinnati meeting without infringing her consis
tency or in reality lowering her tone
The suggestion is respectfully thrown out for the
consideration of our public men. We are far from
being an advocate of National Conventions in the
general nor is it our preference that South Carolina
should even now be carried into one. But 1t may be
that refusal TO do apything in that direction will
at the present juncsre give offence to our southern
confederates; and this should be avoided If possible
Our suggestion, Nnder the circumstances, is whether
not f &ks &tate can act unannously) il would be
advisable to send delegation to the Cincinnati Con-
ven,on under express chscks and with the clsarest
understanding as TO the course they apd other South
.ern delegations are to pursue copiontly.
Kthe idea be worth anything, our action should be
a. prompt and manly the case will admit. We
should elect delegates for the State at large during s
approaching session Of our Legislature; and pcpara.
lions should then be made for having district delegates
elected at an carly day. If the thing worth doing
Q. all, its worth doing thoroughly and handsomely.