Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-01-23
From the Columbia Examiner.
THE CINCINNATI CONVENTION.

chosen Cincinnati as the place for the meet
ing of the National Convention of that par
ty, which regularly assemblies for the selec,
tion of its nominee for the Presidency. We
are not very much pleased with the city
selected; but we suppose if we were warm
partizan we should have yielded to the rea.
sons assigned for transferring the. locality
from Baltimore to that city.
But the object we have in writing to.day
is not to comment on the place of meeting
that is comparatively unimportaut-but
to examine calmly, and without prejudice,
whether it becomes the people of South
Carolina to seek representation in that body
YhaaibbGGFu s hgaaibbGGu E9YtSd RaYdaEd s haHd
their sister States of the South, and unite
with them in council at time when inter
ests of grave import to all are at stake, and
when the slaveholding States should stand
shoulder to shoulder in all political action
affecting their rights, their honor and their
institutions.
We do not approach this question as par.
tizans; we owe no allegiance to tho Nation
al Democratic party further than that which
the principles of that party, as heretofore
enunciated, demand from US. We disclaim
all political connection with the Northern
factions, under multfarious names, which
assume to be Of the Democratic party; we
belong to no party but that of the South
and 10 no party here whose clearly defined
and a7owed principles are not those. and
those alone, which are based upon State
Rights and perfect equality in the Union, OF
independence out of it. This has long been
our creed, and we are just as strongly wed
ded to it as we ever were, and just as ready
and willing to defend, even to the disruption
of the Confederacy, the rights and institu.
tons of the Southern States. 1t is with
such faith, and with such sentiments, that
we now discuss the policy Of the people oi
South Carolina, meeting in council with the
delegates from her co.States Of the South
In this discussion we waive individual opin'
ion and look only to the circumstances by
which we are surrounded, believing it to be
the part of true patriotism to lay aside mere
personal inclinations, or long entertained
preiudices, when the general good demands
such sacrifice.
THE UNION OF THE SOUTH is, as we be.
lieve all now will admit, the great end to be
accomplished; and whatever political move
ment tends to that accomplishment should
in our humble opinion, be seconded and
endorsed by the people of our own State
They have in their sovereign capacity de-
clared it inexpedent to secede from the
Confederacy; and having thus signifed their
intention to remain therein, we cannot per.
ceive the propriety of maintaining a posi-.
ton which isolates her from those whose
interests, whose institutions, and whose po.
litical rig ghts, are identical with hers, and are
at this iuncture in the same peril and expos.
ed to the same fanatical assaults from those
who seek to overthrow US all.
But, asks the objector, What good can
be accomplished We do not know Of
any particular benefit that will accrue to
South Carolina from her people being rep
resented in tti7 Convention. They are moi
partizans--tleI are not otfice.seekers, nor
are they very greedy for any portion oI
government patronage or spoils. In no
such spirit, nor actuated by such motives
would their delegates take their seats in thai
Convention. They would enter it mol
merely for the purpose of nominating this
or that man for the Presidency; but ir
common with their brethren Of the South
to unite in and set forth declaration o.
principles, or, in political parlance, to adop
ga PLATFORM" upon which the whole people
of the South, and the Conservative men o
the North, if they chose, could firmly stand
and make noble efort-it may be the
last-to save the Constitution.
If the objects here named are not wortl
seeking for; if free and full consultation
with the delegates from euery other Soather'
State be not desirable; if to define clearly
and with unanimity, the rights and Interests
of the South, and to declare the determine
ton of her people to maintain them, be in
expedient or improper; if at this junctur'
it is still the part of wisdom, patriotism o.
policy that South Carolina should withhold
her influence or counsels from her co-State
of the South, then let us abstain from seek