The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-09-17
From the Y Yorkvillc Enquirer.
The Discussion.

IN accordance with the appointment
made on Saics.day in August, a large
number of citizens from iown and country
assembled in the Court House, Monday
last, and gave an attentive hearing to a
discussion between the Candidates for the
State Senate, Mcssrs. Wlthcrspoon and
McCaw. rs the topics introduced were
derived solely from past and settled issues,
and OF u character designed to bear spc-
ciaiIy upon the pending contest, it would
mantestIy be out Of place as we'll as
unprotitah!e for us to attempt to sketch
an outline Of the argument. From the
uneQmrocal manifestations apparent on
every side, we take it that all present
were we'll pleased with the performances
of their respective favorites, and thus went
away satisfied. So did we.
We might here very properly bring our
comment TO close. But we have n
mind TO add Il word or two in view Of tie
opinion which we have Of late heard ex
pressed, deprecating these public discus
sions as productive of unmyad evil TO the
community. Such, we think, is not the
effect, when they are properly conducted.
In country like ours, to the epd that the
masses Of the people may exercise the
elective fra.chiSe intclligentlv and for the
general good it is Important that they be
weh and thoroughly informed upon polit-
ical questions OF the day d; and to the end
that they may rightly value and employ
the inestimabIe privileges peculiar to a
representative government it is necessary
that the opinions and the mental calibre
of those who seek position be known and
appreciated. In what manner, better
than 10y public discussions tefore the peo
lie, can these paramount ends he accom-
piised F! The people need and require to
be taught, and it is impossible TO afford
better incentive than that arising from the
excitement OF our election canvass, TO in
duce them to learn. Their will, too, is
and should he the law but how can this
be, when they are utterly ignorant Of the
opinions, the designs and the merit of
those who seek to make the law? Talk
of a representative whose political creed
Is unknown to the people, and who, in his
term, is as ignorant as n child unborn of
the opinions and the will Of the people |
Such an one may represent his own, and
because their interests are common, may
happen to carry out the views Of his con
sutuents but in no sense is he the truth
fuI representative.
1t has been TOO long the case, that aspi-
rants to political distinction amongst us
have achieved success solely hy reason of
personal considerations. Too long have
PERSONAL popularity, tho Establishments of
manner, family influences, and the arcu-
ment OF the purse, ruled the day. And
much too long have our people, in South
Carolina especially, neglected to consider
those higher and better influences, which
result from an appreciation ofthe political
professions of their candidates, and the
talent with which they are able TO man
tain them. Let us have frequent public
discussions, conducted fairly, candidly and
with view to the public good. Let men
who aspire to be the eyponents of the pop.
ular will, prove their right to the position.
Thus alone will public men find their
proper place; thus only can small men be
made to descerd to their level, and men
ofmerii to receive their reward and by
this process solely can the political arena
be cleared Of those wishy- washy. milk and
water characters who far too often STUN.
bic their way headlong into the council.
balls of the State.
1t is scarcely necessary for us TO add
that we mean no illusions TO any OF the
gentlemen who are now before the peo
pie Of our District. Our remarks are in
tended TO apply entirely to the systcn of
electioneering which, from time immemo-
rial, has characterized our political can
vases and would suit other latludes and
other times as well as our own.