The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-03-19
Cincinnati Convention,
CoNMIrrEE RooM, Feb. 8.

III Souts VI tuc ftti, a!ln
which have Just received by the mail,
yon requested me to give you my opin-
ION "as to the propriety of South Carroll
ma sending delegates to the Cincinnati
Convention"
In this request you ask my opinion on
matter that is now under the decision
of "a ioregone conclusion in South Carroll.
ns. do not say that il is u conclusion
that has been attained tn rough the DELHI.
crate and responsible judgment of the poo
pie Of South Carolina. But enough has
been don. 10 commit the State TO some
representation in the new Convention at
Cincinnati - a Convention that shows
where the STIR OF Empire is going. Such
representation cannot be prevented,-
and being fixed fact, we must deal with
1t as such, anl rs well as we can.
My Judgment is, that South Carolina is
giving up her strongest posi,ion-that of
doing rs she p!ea>es in reference to the
nominee for the Presidency. In keeping
aloot as sue has heretofore done, from
joining IN Conventions, in voluntary and
irresponsible Conventions, she has occu
pied her true Ropubic.n posiiion-her
Constitutional positon-that of Sover.
eign State, in IL Republican Confedcracy.
This, originally, was intended to Dc con.
tedcracy Of Republican States--the States
being the parties to speak, through their
responsible organs s--"roidi 'g the am Il "a
nation OF m,ss meetings, in which Demo
cratic numbers must move stronger than
constitutional weight. wish South Car
DINA could huve retained her constitutions
al identity-maintainipg doctrines that
could survive Constitution that SHOULD
give security and equality. 1t was the
position OF a Pronontory in the deep
standing firm amidst the waves of acita.
ton that were leating at its base, and re-
slsting the storms that have assailel
its bosom. The tide of events and the
current of popular opinion, cmana,ing in
lhe North agd rupning to the South, have
brought to bear upon ns fcycs which
our people csnnot, l suppose, resist.
a partial representation at Cincinnati
would be mischlevous. II might control
the State without representing it. /,
might hitch us to Il CIR that might pass
over and crush condLing worsl,ippers.-
The principles of common law, when full
ly examined, are wide and even honora.
ble, and those of one which maintains an
honorable relation between landlord and
tenant; and that is, a tenant cnterlny un-
der an acknowledged title Of his landlord,
shall not be allowed to dispute it. Whe.h,
er the title be good or not, it is treason in
tue sentinel, As. tenant, to betray it.
80 OF these great nominating Gonyen.
tons, that have become, not the third,
but the second estate in the Government.
Their platforms and resolutions commit
all who join them to act under them, and
never allowing them to dispute their au-
thority.
| woull much have preferred that
presidential elections should have gone
through the process prescribed by the
Constitution. As to nominations in some
form, they could not have been avoided.
and the old Congressional cauct,sscs were
Wuch better and more responsible sources
OF nomination than voluntary meetings of
representative delegates such rs frequent.
sy have scarcely any constituents, and such
As cannot represent the opinions Of the
people. have no objection TO see our
State take he. Responsible Office as unit
IN the llouse OF Represent atives,-she
you'd count then as one in tI,irty.one in
the Democratie Conventior,-she may
yet have the MORAL influence which intel.
ligance and resolution may exert through
her delegation. But in mere numerical
power she will he absorbed.
Now, after what have sai,i, I will give
you my conclusion. As the State will be
lepresenIed-pu,ting the question aside
whether she should he or uat-let the
State send hs. re:y FIRST mcn-sug j as
Gov. Richardson, Col. Eickcns, Coy.
Hammond, Mr.. Barnwell, Mr.. Ehe,t,
Gov. Means, Gen. Wallace, Mr.. Wood.
ward, Gen. Thompson, Richard Simpson,
Gen. Rogers. These gentlemen have ~.
putations Q something k. Currule dipni.
ty. But there are many others that
might name, and there is one gentleman
whose name. on this occasion, ought not
to omit; for while lie has some notions in
which | cannot agree, yet hs is n gentle,
man for whom ! have always enteytained
an unfeigned respect,-t allsde to Col.
Perry, who has Le,n prominent in the
Convention movement. l would 10 per-
fectiy willing to trust the honor of the
State in his keeping. But in any thin
that is to be done, do not let us de- Caro-.
lnaize ourselves.
Above all, would say, let our dele.
gates go untrammeIied, and uncommi;,ed,
!tss to the nominee for the Presidency.
! have said more Than intended.
Yours,
A. 7. BUTLER.