The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-04-03
Cincinnati Convention.

nati Convention, was attended by eleven
persons. This is but another evidence that
the people of South Carolina arc not inter
ested about this SO called great national
move. Notwithstanding there were only
eleven persons present, this insignificant
number assumed the prerogative of speaking
for the people of Greenville, and appointed
delegates to Columbia, who, in fact, arc the
representatives Of the eleven who composed
the meeting; but in the practical working
of the convention system, they represent
the whole population of Grccnville.
Who would have believed that Grcenvile
the home of the prime mover of the
Cincinnati Convention scheme, where no
stone has been left unturncd to bring the
people INTO this mcasure-would thus sig
nally repudiate the proposition by refusing
to participate in the Convention meeting?
Yet, we arc told that the State is bound
to be represented in the Cincinnati Convcn-
ton. Well, we admit that she may be
represented, but it will not he the voice Of
the people that will send delegates there,
hut the mandate Of political dcmagogues,
representing Insignificant minorties of the
people. We are well aware that, accord
ing to the ilimif,ble and underlined laws of
The convention system, a small minority of
the Districts i'll the State may appoint dele
gates representing minoritics in such Dis
tricts, who may assemble in Columbia and
appoint delegates to the Cincinnati Convcn
ton to represent the whole State, lust as
eleven citizens of Grccnvillc have appointed
delegates to Columbia to vote for the whole
population of that District.
We cannot deny but that the State, by IA
few political intrigucrs and their cons,itu-
ency, which may be an infintcs,nal part Of
the people at large, might he dragged into
the Convention and pledged to support the
nominee, without reference to his pualiica-
tons or political views; though we are
thoroughly convinced that if this question
could be submitted to vote of the people,
that not one-fou:lh of the people of this
State would favor the proposition. And,
according to the convention system, this
one-fourth minority may assume the odious
prcrogative of speaking for the whole State,
plc1ging her to any course, however objec-
tionaLle to the South, that the National
Convention might see fit to adopt.
The advocates of the measure do not de.
frnd it because it is right. just or constitu-
tional-they claim nothing of this kind for
it-thcy do not pretend that the caucus or
convention system is the legitimate mode of
clcct'ng President, but advocate it upon
the ground Of expedicncy, and graveIy pro-
nounce it duty that we owe to our sister
Southern Statcs-a sacrifice which must hc
made upon the altar of party success, how
ever huniiating to the right of voting as
we plcasc-lowevcr destructive of State
sovereignty, Or demoralizing to the doe
trines of State Rights. This is their argu-
mcnt: We don't believe that the convcn-
ton system reflects the popular wiIl-that
the delegates are appointed by few, and
not the majority Of the pcoplc-that the
system Of voting is unequal-that conven-
tons are the offspring of party organization
that there is no organic law governing
its action-that it is neither founded in JUS
t'ce or derived from the Constitution. In
short, we believe it is wrong, and regret
that it ever had an existence; but, though
wrong, it has grown to be the manner of
choosing q President. We will therefore
lay aside our objections, and countcnance
the wrong-yea, more, we will preach it rs
the salvation of the South"
Strange logic! If it has not the sanction
Of justice and right, why should we stoop
20 tolerate ita Why should we Lc ,ol-
emnly called on to give countcnancc to an
admitted wrong? Why should the people
of South Carolina be counscIcd to merge
the State into the scramble for national
spoils and Office, to tic herself to the car of
party politics, but to be dragged wherever
the allurements Of party power may direct,
thus surrendering her truly republican po-
sition, that of voting for thu man of her
choice, or approving the measures, which,
in her judgment, she conceives to be right?
When you 60 into the Cincinnati Conven-
ton you give up the right Of acting as
your judgment may dictate, and are bound
down to the action of the Convention,
whether you approve it ornot. Some of the
advocates of the measure do not subscribe
to this and say they could repudiate the ac-
tion Of the Convention. But if this right of
repudiating the action of the Convention is
conceded to the States which participate in
it, then the argument that we should 60 into
the Convention to adopt platform recog-
nizing the rights of the South, falls to the
ground, because if the action of the Con-