Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-03-26
COMM DM 1iC.AT MS.
FOR THE ADVERTISER.
THIN CINCINNATI CONVENTION. {:

| IdN OON 4ASAs
Mn. EplToR: In your last issue you say Inc fea'
cause Of the opposition in our State to sending Ds'e
gates TO the Cincinnati Convention, may not alter
all, have been fairly set forth !" and you nclineo as
crbe this opposition to tile fears entertained by some
! tLnt hereby new course of affairs, and new line
of policy would be instituted among US &c.
Allow me to say, that in charging such motives upon
the opbosers of the Cincinnati movement, you DO IN
Justice 10 many Of your political friends who nave
the misfortune to differ from you on this subject
While concedng to yourself and to those who think
with you, the utmost integrity Of purpose, and iul
share Of patriotism, large and respectable portion OIL
YOUR felow.ci,izens with equal honesty, presume,
oppose this measure upon rincpe-upon high grouncs
of public policy: because, indeed, they believe the
Convention will be gross usurpation upon the rgh's
of the people, and utterly subuersiue OF the principles
of the Federal constitution. Would you not pity 'he
pusillannlly Of them, who, thus believing, sionla
still parcipae in the movement, merely 10 swell the
Numbers of those who ore inclined that way, or from
any bare notions Of temporary eIpediency! Your
generous impulses would, know, prompt you 10 say
III this be your belief, keep pray you, aloof from
the movement.
To Convention properly organized, upon The plan
suggested by our State Convention in 1914 at Columbia
many Of u.s. might under the present peculiar clrcun
stances Of the country nerpuse no objeclion out 10
nv humble conception, it uld be recreancy to our
,,I;,;col hith and 10 what we deem The true inter-
ess of the State were we with present notions,
10 urge or consent to- representation OF the State IN
the Cincinnati Convention as that body is now to be
constituted.
have advanced Sir, bold proposition relative to
this Convention Is it true! Does it usurp the rights
of The peopIe anil subvert the principles OF the cons
tuition! If it exercises power not sanctioned by law,
and dues not fairly and auhorilativey represent the
views and wishes of the people, then even you must
admit its usurpaton.
Now take the Convention in its very ihcpiency-in
the primary assemblies in the Districts and Counties
of the several States, in which it takes its origin
Who bring it into being! Is it the people generally
by expressing their voice at the balot.box, as they
have right to do, or by neighborhood meetings, in
which, the sense Of the meetings is taken by vote! Mo-
bpt two three or four hundred persons, who assemble
under some public call, and constituting themselves
The representatives Of The party or District 10 "hich
thew belong undertake speak and act for The whole
nar,v or District Have they right thus 10 speak
and act! Whence do they derive this right! NO
such mower is conveyed by The Constitution of our
o.. Slas or of the United States, or by any body of
civil or municipal law known in the land. There Is
no natural law that would authorize 1t. lhose ao-
sent from these gatherings, being by far the most nu
merous have the same rights and interests at stake,
and have an equal right to make known their views
relative TO those interests with those who may be pre-
sent. Why should others assume 10 speak for them,
when they can speak for themselves, and vet choose
10 be silent! Will be said, that, remaining silent,
when notified of an unauthorized proceeding, their 81
lsncs is to be construed into assent! As we'll might
you claim general assent, the action Of two, three
or four hundred persons who should rreguiarly as
semble together, and proclaim new law touching Tue
rights, property and welfare OF the community IN
which they live Questions Of property or OF anyprl'
vat, interest involve no than great question oi
nubIic uo!icy like this Yet in that case who would
say, that the many, who remain quietly al home trust
ing TO the safeguards Of law and The constitution 10
proect them, would be precluded from repudians The
acts of the few, aud from refusing to be bonnd by
,hem 1t is an obvious principle Of Free representa-
tive government that no men, SET of men, have
right 10 speak and act for Others unless authorized so
piled assent Of those to be represented
In the very outset, therefore, they Who assemble IN
the Court Houses or elsewhere, protesting to represent
the District or County without being delegated by
The people at the baol.bux, in full neghborhood
gatherings where mere opinion is 10 be ascertaned, OF
under some other direct authority from the people gen.
eray assume to exercise power which does not rights
fully belong 10 hem They, therefore usnrp the right
of their Fellow. Citizens who remain at home quietly
attending to their business.
But follow up The action Of these original Delegates
When assembled, they select. certain delegates Of
their own 10 be sent to mis.cned State Convention
a, Columbia There again these delegates OF dele
gales send their chosen delegates to The great Clncn-
natl Convention; and they seid them uninstEucled,
with full power 10 choose from the whole cApanse ol
The union some man (probaby not even known by
name TO the people of the State) who is to be the
States chosen Candidate for President. Thus eight
men, who are Delegates Of delegates who were them
selves chosen by delegates, not having the authority Of
the pcoplc to speak and ac for them, are Permitted, o
their own ulgmdgmenls and wills, tossect Pfssiden'
,ial Candidate for the people Of Suulh Carolina and
W, are grvely told it is The people who chuose This
be successful and We are told III; State is bound "
vote for him-yet seek persuade US, that The
rcoe are all the while carrying out their own Will
From beginning 10 end, the peoples voice has never
been regarIed-lleir wishes never consulted In
choosing tie greatest Officer of the Republic the peo.
pe do no, ever declare their choice through their au
Mori=cd agents. pi.ce Of political machinery is
nut in motion, which removes those who choose fur
degrees from those who should authorize, and by
which tie whole political power of the State IN the
cbuice Of President, wuut The sanction OF The peo'
ple is placed in the hands Of eight irresponsible men
If this be not usurpaton, tell me what is usurpalion.
But further At Cincinnati host Of motley polIli'
clans assemble from various part Of the Union under
the general term Democrats, but entertaining every
shade Of political opinion from the mpious doctrines
Of the higher aw," and black Republican creed, 10
the purer tenets of tile genuns States Rights School
Th.r. is but one ground Of action in which these men
can cordially unite and that is lhe desire TO seek OF
flee and TO appropriate themselves the spoiis OF party
conquest.
Blu, upon what principles is this convention organ
lied Does it give fair and equal representation to
the party, whose organ it assumes 10 become on
the contrary docs it not violate The painest principles
of correct and equal representation! States IN
which The Democratic party is greatly in the minority
fand hence can give 10 vote for The Democratic noml'
nee in the Elec,ural Cu y are permitted to have
greater representation III The Convention than States,
thoroughly. Democratic. New York, TOR example,
whci is so split up into aiding factions as 10 lose
entirely its democratic vote in The electoral College,
goes into the nominating Convention with 80 Vo1s''