Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-01-30


an hundred men, then you may call on me on the
day that you start for as many dullars as you have
men under pledge to 60 and to remain two years in
Kansas.
Yours truly,
P. S. BROOKS.
TO the Editor Of The Advertiser:
,SIR-Being disinclined 10 engage in acribbling
controversy. which generally neither instructs mol
amlses the public, would not again trespass upon
the patience of your readers by replying to JUSEoRs'
second article, if he had not charged me With seeking
to "gratify political aspirations, by catering TO vulgar
preudiccs and endeavuring TO excite the will OF the
honest Farmers Of The country against Lawyers
This is simply gruundess charge. 1t may be
"JUsIoRy" opinion that am seeking political pre-.
ferment by catering to vulgar prejudces," but that
does not make the assertion true. limo evil occurs,
the up.cuun,ry from eleclins too many Lawyers te
the legislature why do any vulgar prejudces exist ir
the minds Of the people, against eecting members
the Bar The station Of Legislators. gave
for my position in this matter, and why conld moi
"JUnIoR" answer my arguments, without attacking
my moliues
Not to assa the motives Of an antagonist is another
precept which "JUNIoR" ought to learn, well as tc
avoid the of harsh epithets. And while counsel
ling him would also suggest the propriety of his re-
framing from the further use Of so many Latin quon
lions. Mos, persons understand no language out thai
of their mother anil it argues writer either pedantlc
or fresh from College, 10 quote Latin in Newspaper
Communication. make no objection 10 JUNIORS
grammar, as perhaps the last person who ought to
crcise STYLE hut matter of,aste, he should pardon
me for intmaling that I" is much better pronoun,
for representing the identity of newspaper writer,
than the high sounding, editorial We" which per-
sonates more properly the Essayist of Review. II
"JuNIoR" will reform his manner in these particulars
and shall continue to apply himself, he may ere long,
be able to make his mark on tile map of time. When
quite youth indulged in sll the faults which am
now pointing TO the ateption Of" JUNIOR, and hence
he will perceive that these suggestions made in no
unkind feeling, for do admire his esprit and cev.
erness," although he seems to think me insincere.
would further admonsh him to study well the
structure and practical operation of our State Govern
men before he shall persist in defending some OF ita
rort provisions The people OF South Carolina are,
at last, beginning to arouse themselves from long
slunber on State politics. and they are fast turning
their eyes from Washington TO Columbia. Al am
aboring under mental hallucinnon," in regard to
many features of our State Government, as JUNIOR
seems TO think there are thousands and tens Of thou.
sandp in the up-country, who are afflicted with the
same disease, and before five years shall have elaE I'd
honestly believe that fourlIhs of the people IN the
Districts will be mad on Parish Representation, the
Electoral Question, The Ballot System Of voting in
the Legislature, and the election of every important
officer in the State by the Legislature. So there may
be more method" in my" madness" than JUNIOR .
appears disposed TO admit, and in passing, hope lie
will excuse me for expressing the fear that he may
lose his reputation as an original wit, il lie should
again aude to "menial hallucination" in political
controversies This beautiful and pointed insnua-
ton Of lunacy has become so stale since the bursting
of the big cannon on buard the Princeton, at Washing
ton. that even the schooboys of this country are per-
fectIy familiar with its history and application in poll
tics.
"JUNToR'' challenges me to produce the proof o
60 sing lie trailorous act, or instance where Lawyers
have sacrificed the interest Or welfare uf The Common'
wealth to personal advancement" lrdoging votes on
exciting topics in the Legislature, or If turning com
pe,r slnmersets on the Electoral Question, OH Fed
eral Politics, any ollcr grave measure o Stale
policy he any evidence Of lrailor"S act, or sac
rifice of The inte rests and welfare OF the Conho
wealth tu personal advancement, such instances are
innumerabc, and ry are constantly occurring among
candidates and aspruns for offices in the gift OF tile
LEGISLATURE, frum The rank Of Governor or United
States Senator down to the suhaerns station lhere
is perhaps no Stale in the Union where more sudden
or surprising changes come over the dreams oil poll
,icans than in South Carolina. The Newspapers and
Legislative Journals of the State furnish record proc
of this, and the observation Of every intelligent and
unprcjnJced CITIZEN substanales the allegation As
n general rule, all such members of our Legislature
as are candidates or aspiranls for Offices i'll the gilt
the Assembly whether Lawyers, Farmers, Physicians
Militia Generals or what else, always dnge vote ui
exciting measures, or, 1t least, until alter they have
assertained which is the strong side. ANY one u
good memory who will scan tho record Of" Ayes and
Nays" taken in Columbia, can be convinced OF the
truth OF what say-and fhe shall still doubt, ate'
having applied that test, let him attend The sIllng
our LEGISLATURE for Two three winters anu ne hoe'
not then concur with me ! will stand convicted o
asserting calurnnious falsehond. have smiled ant
have seen others smile often, a. the ingenious trick
and maneuvers of candidates in the Legislature, Il
avoid the necessity Of recording direct and inde
pendent vote on imporlan, Bills 1t is almost the
Rack Swan TO behold full direct and consistent rot'
in our Legislature on any great question, from its IN
ceplion 10 the fnnl decision.
Again, there exists in South Carolina, Mt thls 'lme
TWO very ridiculous habits engendered by The disgust
ing srrpy of candidates for Offices under tile con
troll of the Legislature. As soon as Represen"i 1--WE
has been elected the Legislature, he IS forthwith
advanced to the dignity uf Colonel" in converse
lion. and is addressed as Honorable" by every can
didare who has occasion 10 write TO him. Many
{" CoIoneIs" in South Carolina, have obtained thei
titles in this way and as all the large Districts OF the
upcoun,ry believe in tile principle Of frequently
changing their Representatives in the Legislature
our Militia officers may look well 10 their alirel' III
more Colonels are now elected 10 the Legislature
every two Years than are chosen in the same timt
to command Regiments. have, time and again
heard members dubbed Colonel who were Physicians
or who had never held, and who could not have beer
induced TO hold any commission Whatever IN lis
Militia. Such is the servile mania Tor conierrlne
titles upon those who have votes in eeclious by the
Legislature that even the very Negroes at the Hotel'
of the Capitol have caught the infection, and nre al
the hlle dnrng the Session of the Legislature Colo
nel;ng Doctors, or high privates at homes And wha
is most absurd OF all, the man who was "Colohei
while he had n vote to give, becomes only Ahr
when he has retired from the Legislature and again
appears in Columbia private citizen. In th's way
titles are becoming common with us as blacKoer'
ries, and buth " IIonorabes and Colonels' are now
IA S,,uth Ir,rnlinn lhnn tHeI