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

HE OilNVIlNiNAdl VSiNsEtNhsOsN'
ANDERSON, November %, 1855.
DEAR SIR: avail myself of this occasio
to respond to your letter, inquiring my opir
ion of the propriety of having South Carolin
represented in the National Convention at Gin
cinnati.
The objects of this convention are two-fol'
first, to nominate true and reliable candid
ates for the Presidency and Vice Presidency
for the canvass of 1856; and second, to la.
down platform of principles for the malnten
ance of which the Democratic party are to b'
pledged.
A convention is merely method Of finding
out what the popular opinion is, and giving tt
it more conspicuous and imposing expression
It has been steadily and uniformly pursued b.
the Democracy of all the States Except oul
OWN for fifteen years or more, and the selec
ton of delegates, manner of voting and nomi
mating, has been defined by usage we'll under
stood and acquiesced in, as ifregulated by law
Hence, we know that such a convention vii
assemble in Cincinnati in May next, and thai
it will nominate candidates for the Presidency
and Vice Presidency -adopta platform ofprin
ciples-and it is nearly certain that the nomi
nees will receive the votes ofthe Democratic
party of every State in the Union. Shall the
Democracy of this State send delegates II
is our privilege to be represented there, and al
the present time, believe it to be high and
solemn duty to meet our political allies, and tc
aid by our presence and councils in selecting
suitable nominees and constructing platform.
which will secure our rights and uphold the
Constitution.
There has never been time since the con.
vention policy was adopted-if, indeed, there
has been such time since the government was
inaugurated- the success of the Demo.
cratic party in the electoral college was so vi.
tally important as now. If that party should
be defeated in the election before the people,
every patriots mind must be filled with gloomy
forebodings of the future. The indications
now are, that the opposition tothe Democratic
party, made up Of Know Nothings, abolitionists
and fusionists, will run two or more candidates
If the Democracy fails to secure a majority
in the Electoral College over all elements Of
opposition, then the election must be made ac-
cording to the Constitution by the House of
Representatives. Can we safely trust the elec-
tion of our rights to that body? The House
is now elected, and we kaoo that decided
majority Of the House are members of the
Know Nothing, Fusion and Wing parties; and
if the election is devolved on them, the Demo-
cratic party will be certainly defeated, and per-
haps fusionist promoted to the Presidency.
Are the people of South Carolina so indiffer-
ent to their relations to the Federal Govern
ment, that they will quietly look on and see
such an administration as we have had since
the 4sh of March, '53-an administration that
has faithfully and fearlessly maintained the
Constitution in itspurity- supported by Know
Nothingism or Black Republicanism? That
is the issue to be decided in the next Presiden-
tial election, and that, too in the Electoral Col
lege; for if we fail there, then, we know now
with absolute certainty, that we must be de-
feated before the House. Was it, then, ever
so important before, that the convention should
be filled with discreet, patriotic men; that
there should be the fullest representation Of
every man devoted to the Democratic faith,
and opposed to Fusion and Know Nothingism;
that they should commune freely together, and
nominate candidate who will command the
confidence of the entire party; and that such
interchange of opinions may enable them to
adopt sound constitutional platform Was
it ever before so important that an election
should be made by the people without going
to the House of Representatives Can we
hesitate to meet the true men of the North,
and co-ops ate with them, when the dust of the
fray in many hard fought battles against Flu
sionists and Black Republicans, is still settled
on their garments ? They have for more than
twelve months been fighting for the Constitu,
tion and for the maintenance of your rights
Will you turn from them, with callous and
heartless Indifference, and twit them with being
abolitionists themselves? Such policy would
not only be the blackest ingratitude, but il
would drive off all natural conservative friends
that are now standing by you.
Will We hesitate to meet our friends from
our own section there, and aid them in the
grave work before them? Or will We haugh
tily turn from them, and by our conduct, in
refusing to mingle with them, by implication
reproach them for infdelity to us and themsel
YES?
But may be met here with this inquiry
Why do you assume that the Democracy, with
a favorite nominee and sound platform, will
be more successful than the party was when
the members of the House of Representative
were elected, and from whose action you hope
for so little benefit to the South reply, thai
nearly all the non-slaveholding States elected
their Congressman more than twelve month!
ago, and Immediately after the passage of the
Kansas and Nebraska act. That act raised ;
storm of fanaticism, which waited fusion dema
gogues into power the men who voted for
could not reach home in time to canvass thel
districts as thoroughly as should have beer
done they could not discuss before the cleo
ton the principles Of the bill, and show tha
they we're drawn from the Constitution. Fa
naticism ragged with the wild fury at the North
But three of our friends were sustained in tn
great State of Pennsylvania, and two in Indi
ana. The fusion Of Know Nothingism ant
Abolitionism swept over the former State b.
q majority of thirty-fve thousand, and owe