Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-01-24
THE CINCINNATI CONVENTION.


THE CINCINNATI CONVENTION.
We must not omit to refer our District readers to
the letter of Hon. JAMES L. Orr, in which the poll
cy of the appointment of South Carolina deiega-
ton to the National Democratic Convention is fully
and ably demonstrated The matter is one which
the people in their primary capacity must decide
They have been called upon for this decision, too, at
time when we think, the most important interests
are at issue. We hope, therefore, that the letter
will receive an earnest and candid reading, and that
the men of our District unbiased by any inhuen-
ces resulting from former party associations will IN
sober earnestness make up their verdict.
Every material point bearing upon the question is
discussed in the letter so thoroughly and forciby
that it would be wellnigh gratuitous labor on our
part to attempt to add any suggestion OF our own.
There are one or two considerations, however, to
which recent events have served 10 give additional
force We shallm merely allude to them.
Many reasons have heretofore combined to induce
the people of our State to refrain from particpa-
ton in the Conventions of the National Democracy;
the most powerful of which, with sensible men, has
were of character, compared with that which S.
Carolina has long regarded the great question, tri-
fling and inconsiderable. With prescience which
late years have done greatly to vindcate, our peo-
pie have foreseen the coming of the day when all
other creeds would be mingled in the one doctrine
paramount above all and vital; and consistently re-
fusing to be distracted by minor issues preferrng
rather to trim each soil and noursh every energy at
home we have intently awaited the period of the
conflict The day is now upon -us-the battle wor-
thy of the mettle and let US to it! The issue for
which we have prayed, in which all our interests are
merged, is now to be decided. Why fold our arms,
and at distance coldly look upon the conflict? Is
it the part of magnanmity ?-is it brave? There are
other and even more fearful batte-felds than those
marked by the clangor of arms and the shedding Of
blood! Such will be the campaign of 1856. By it
the perpetuity of the Unon if not of the institution
of slavery, will be determined The other Southern
States are preparing to enter the sts and they de-
mand it of US, earnestly, to so with them. The Dem
ocratic party true to the instincts which have ever
linked it to the Constitution and the rights of the
States has taken the position of South Carolina and
by its destiny South Carolina must abide! After
we have for years demanded this condition. shall We
when it is graned, refuse to act part? Is
sistent? Isit in accordance with our line Of duty
Is it safe?
Another consideration. The reader who has at-
tentively studied the Presidents Message, published
in our paper two weeks ago. could not have failed to
remark the bold, independent and triumphant man.
ner in which the institution Of slavery and its true
relations othe Constitution are vndicated. The ar
gument is straightforward turning neither here nor
there, wavering not jot from the truth and the
right From the days of Washington down to the
present, no President has met the high demands of
his duty more nobly end truthfully-none has taken
q more commanding position, or, as far as we can
discern, has been actuated by more conscientious
and patriotic motives. Under his leadership the
Democratic party pledged to the right-more firm
" and irrevocably than under the leadership of any
other man. Mr. PIERcE's name will come before the
Convention. We owe it to him. to the Party he rep
resents to the country and to ourselves to sustain
him. It will not do for South Carolina merely to
Indicate preference re must 60 into the ConEcn-
tion and by the moral influence Of our presence not
less than by the actual force of our numbers secure
for him tho nomination. 1t may be-indecd, it is.
not unlikely-that the scales will be so nicely poised
as to require lumber of votes to turn it even less
than that assigned to South Carolina. We cannot
safely and consistently vote for Mr. PIERCE unless
he is the nominee of the Convention; and it is our
duty, duty of gratitude as well as dictate Of self
preservation, first to aid in securing his nomination
By way of suggestion we would remark lastly
that in all our deliberations in reference to this mat
ter, we should keep it constantly in mind that South
Carolina in her sovereign capacity has declared and
ordained that she will not secedc from the Union unless
the co-opsrtion Of all or several cfs Southern States
be first secured The fact suggestive and just now
full of meaning We shall enlarge upon it at another
time.