The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-01-04

whenever they can exercise it, It would
be ali act of usurpation on the part of the
Government TO- withhold it," These are
truths which no Senator on this floor will
have the rasbness to question. If this right
is not denied, then I ask. why withhold the
privilege from thezpcopea Why seek to
interPose yourselves between the people unde
the electors9 BY wi1hh lding il, you in 80
many words say to the people, We cauuot
trust such q great; privilege to you. You
are not sufficiently Informed upon the p,-
liticafs questions Of The day, or, tie working
Of tho machinery Of our Government, 10
cast vote for. electors. The duties and.
functions Of President and Vice: President
are beyond your conceptions; none but qpe,
the representatives; can understand these
things You had better ATTEND to Syoursdo-
mes!ic affairs, and leave tile tlliinkjpg aud
voting to us. These are the ;ineyitable con-
clpsions you nres obliged TO come ID, ,sor y youn s
are obliged 10 give the election #to the peoss Z
pie. Tie time may haze been, when saehs
reasoning would have been tolerated; but it
is now: aS libelt upon. tho people Of this
Stat The school fnaster bass been5f f,hroad
in this State since the .laW Of; q 7s2 WAS
passed giving yol Tile. ngl,tkto vote fofsielec-
tors iastead ofsthes people. Isnfaintain that
the light and knowledge which have. bie.eIn,:
diffnsed thfoughout tlies s]cngtlH and Bfeal,li
OF this State, proyes conelnsiyelye my
mind that the people sares as capabie Of
casting the vote, MS the LegisiaJnre Look
back on some Of tile elections that have
enlnade hythis :Legislature, and ;fpu viii;
Mr., President, almost agree g%it me that
we had better giye all .these elections 10
1.-The people, e. Q s:s So = ~
/ There is another reason Why we should,
give electionto tue people. Tho greater
the number of5yetes, scattsred over a large
extent of country, tie less chance there is
for cliques, capcuses and corruption, tlian
in n small BODY as. is the case with ON.
present, Legislature, al, as.ms friend M.
Cbesnuts proposes IN bis bill, 81 only. one
iundrcd and twenty -fonSs,,nen to cast the
vote In these small bodies there is every
change for corruption and Of peryerting the
wal of tho peoples : - y. y = ~
:. Again, BY Withholding this election from
tho. peoplc, we say they aresnot fcn,able
OF judging for themselves, and it will tend
TO demoraize them. answer, that by Civ
ing this election to them YOU create q. new
spirit OF inquiry, and cultivate new zeal
and thirst for knowledge on their part. 1t
Is said by some persons that not half the
people of this State know what the oues-
tions are in til. Presidential elections. The
fact is, large portion of the people of the
State bavc been accustomed, for long Sc
! ries of years, TO look up to certain men in
their respective districts for their political
knowledge and instruction. I want this
| old system broken down, want the masses
educated, and then they will become in
structed in the political issues of the day,
and be able to reason and reflect for them
selves. Thus they will he aLle to take an
active interest mall the various questions,
not only ofpolitics, but Of the arts and sci.
ences. Bit some Of my friends say that
this politicalsseducation of the masses will
lead to the formatin of poli.iraI parties,
and hence the, demoralizing influence l
believe, Mr.. President, in political parties,
believe they are the only safeguard of
the liberties Of the people. In whatever
State you find national parties, there Won
find people intelligent, and capable of
thinking and acting for themselves. Tam
one of those who are willing to vote any
reasonable amount Of money for the edu-
cation OF the poor people ;~eyen to taxing
myself by an assessment, ms my, friend
from Chester proposes in his Bill, in order
that they may all become politicians.
But my friend from ST. James saatee
hfr. Masyck) says We sholId; ad here to
the old line Of policy-t the old mod &; ,aadiopt.
ed by our forefatbcrs, it is better IL: let, well
alone, would say, if we are .to4follow;i in
tire old beaten track Of our forcfathers;
why do-we meet hore, year after year, to
legisfate for the progressive and incrcas-
ing wants of our pcople9 Why have we
not been contepted with; the laws passed
by. our fathers previous to l8o0a If1bere
lis no necessity TO depart from tho old Gus
toms. and habits ofiour fathers, WHY do: not
Our people cart aud wagon their parodnae
from; the mountains to the seasbuard as in
thefold times &, Why these innovations By
steamboats, and raiIroadsf WbE not bur
sue the old. .one- horse irnail bag system,
1 instead. Of: the. Electric Telegraph. i Why
| the Innovation fof ;gunpo osder upon the cid
mode of warfare Of the aueieut Brito,.
,.tGrsek and fRon,snls Why tlebresent i'm.
prcremsnt in agrictlt1te the ar,s and st,i.
tenoes : The sfeWers is, that: the fwas,ts1t 81
EopJ- people demsnd these improvements,
4 Itessag is progressive one ,SA us,s era era
;EIs opsping pp0n Us aud ne mnst keep spaipe,
vii be lsft in the ke 5of. our ssistar
4 ID @as pifEaFds 1nareli Gf education