Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-04-23

is treated as grave innovation and an attempt to
bind South Carolina. If assemblies Unauthorized by
law do or recommend anything wrong, let ihoe who
stay out of them show the and reverse the re-
commendation; and the reaction uponthose who have
made the false move will be sufficiently crushing.
But if thosswho pull the secret wires by which pup.
pets have been made to fret their honr upon the sage
see that the time has when their sgerdeman is
no longer needed let them not complain and Thy way
of drawing off public indignation) pour out empty
abuse upon others. Remember there may be two
sides to this question. Those who are for holding
back South Carolina to the last, may do so by way
of keeping her in the market to be bid for and the
auctioneer who cries her off may claim the highest
rewards in the shape of offices, because orsooth she
was the last of good bargain.
But we have said enough heretofore in defence Of
the policy of being fairly represented in the Gen.
eral Convention The political issues Of to-day are
not what they have been. Our opponents in the Fed
eral Government set forth that they have been wrong
ed by a repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and the
passage of the Fugitive Slave Law. They demand
the repeal of the latter and the restoration Of the for
msr They likewise demand the Abolition of Slave
ry in the District Of Columbia, and are looking 10
the regulation of the Slave Trade between the States
These are all measures against which we assume The
attitude Of defence. We demand nothing but
that things shall remain as they are. There can there
fore be no movement in the Cincinnati Convention
but defensive one. The attack must come from ouI
enemies, and, if made, may result in breaking down
the power Of the Constitution. In that event.
shall South Carolina not be there to stand by the
South!
With the present political indications before US, the
meeting at Cincinnati cannot rightly be regarded sc
much as promotve of afiation with what has been
called the Northern Democratic party, as it is OF con
cered action to sustain what has been done by the
Government and the President, and to bring about
more eectual organization of the power Of the South
ern States. As long as we in the Federal Union
and are interested in upholding what has actually
been done, it is not only best policy, but our high
duty TO act cordially with those who show themselves
to be our allies, and, most especially with our sister
States who are one with in principle and interest
In former Conventions our position was en-
tirely different from what it now is We ther
complained of wrongs and demanded Cand
date for the Presidency who willing to do justice
apprehended from the putting forward OF compro
missing man upon platform we could not recognise
We now place ourselves upon what the Government
has done and assume the defensive. We know wha
we are about When the Government is right, we
will use the Presidential Election as all incident tt
sustain and this is the interest South Carolina no"
has in the Presidential Canvass. She will use 1t as
means in keeping the Government wnere it is anc
in promoting concert with others forhat purpose. Sht
will show that she has the intelligence to understand
the political changes of the day, the bodness to &C
into the contest when she has stake at hazard and
the independence TO keep out Of it when there is
prospect Of her principles being thereby compromised
We tell those who have raised c!amor against tht
movement to be represented at Cincinnati, that There
are men in favor of the measure who understand the
real value of the occasion and are at least a.
independent Of Federal Offices as any OF those whit
are 30 ready to mpue the desire OF them to Others
No Wanting assumption Of superior or exclusive
pariosm can render that virtue brighter than it is
and the day is past when vaPid aspersons, made hl
the supple tools Of ciques upon those sought 10 b'
yictmized, will be taken proof conclusive agans
sterling worth.
live are not incorrectly advised, the Cine nnati
Convention will be composed Of Delegates in the pro
portion of twice as many representatives as the State
is entitled to in the Electoral Colleges that IS, fur 10
the Senators and two for each of the Congressional
Representatives. This waS done, we conceive tt
make it. a more popular body. The meeting at Colum
bia in May will then select four delegates for TIT
State at large, and two for each Congressional Dis
trct We presume the Delegates from the severa
Districts composing Congressional District will
after deliberation, recommend suitable gentlemen tt
represent the Congressional District and propose then
for the Conventions approval 1t may be too, tha
the meeting will pass some resolution approving th'
course of President Pierce, who has acted with such
noble fidelity 10 the Constitution and the country
But we take it for granted that delegates to Clncin
nati will be left free to support whatever nominee
may be thought best suited to the exgencies Of th'
times, Although preferring Pierce and processing
him to be their. first choice, they will surely g
untramelled by a foregone decision. They ought a
least. to be left free to act harmoniousy and etec
lively with Georgia. our sister State nearest TO Us lr
interest and principle.