The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-03-21
Senator Evans on the Cincinnati Con-
vention.
WASHINGTON, Feb. "a, $50.

NY DEAR SIR: I have had various ap-
plications from newspaper editors to know
my opinion of the Cincinnati Convention.
These have declined to answer, because
presume the object was to give publicity
through the papers. Thesubject is grave
one, to be decided by argument and no, by
the influence Of names. My position here
does not enable me to form better opinions
than may be formed by others at home; but
have on this, rs on most other questions,
an opinion which has never been withheld
from my private friends; and such .,s it is,
have no hesitation in giving it to you.
There are many objections to such assem-
blies, the greatest of which is the. mode of
organization. If they could be constituted
so as to reflect truly public opinion, do not
See any very great objection. But this is
not So. In the primary assemblies the chief
actors are intriguing politicians, who look
to the distribution of the immense patron
age OF the government more than the great
principles Of the party. The great object
should be to select the man who is the best
exponent Of the principles of the parry to
which we belong, excluding entirely all self
ish considerations. Blu: whilst mans nature
is unchanged we shall never realize this.
lhe worst symptoms Of the times is the
numerous herd of office-bunters. The aues-
ton with them is not who will best carry
out the great principles of the Constitution,
but from whom are they mos, likely to ob-
tain an office.
There are Tin all the North and West,
and somewhat at the South the active poll
tlc!ans who manage to get themselves ap-
| mint fnI dali !,
hest bargain for themselves. The mania of
oilice-scckiug has as vet but little influence
On the people Of our State, and it may be
that this is owing, in some degree to our
avoiding such Conventions. But it seems
to me, there arc times and occasions which
justify departure from former usages.
Party is inscparablc from popular govern
men's. Since the days Of Washington, no
man has stood out So prominently that all
eyes were turned towards him. Every sec
'on has its avoritc, and if each section vo-
ted without concert for its first choice they
would be beaten by unity of action in the
opposition, or every clcctor would 60 into
the House of Representatives to select from
the three highest. Some prc.concert seems,
therefore, to be necessary for the success of
the party: The first mode was Congress
sional caucus, but this was broken down in
1924. The present mode was substituted
after Gen. Jackson's time, and has been
acted on ever since. The greatest objection
TO it is, rs have before stated, that it rep.
resents the intriguing, selfish politicians, and
not the unbiased and Ehopcst views of the
masses. Such an assembly will meet Others,
and will designate who is 10 be The candi.
date of the Democratic party, whether we
are represented or not. 1t is equally Ger
tain that South Carolina will vote for the
nominee. The choice will I've between him
and the nominee. Of the Know Nothings,
and the nominee Of tho Abolitonists. or
Black Republicans, as they are called.
President Pierce is a ,nan after our own
hearts. Both in words. and in deeds, he
comes nearer to our opinions than any man
who has preceded him for the last thirty
years. Our vote may give him the nomina-
ton. and my best Judgment is that we
ought to join in the; selection. Whether
we shall do 30 in future, smay, depend on
would not give Tie delegates positive
instructions to vote for no other, but they
should be distinctly informed that he is not
to be given up. until ale chance 5of SUCCESS
fails. / certainly prefer him stos all other
men,bu there are .otheTss from which we
may expect good, but tlieS have not given,
as yet, the evidence The gteat impedi-
ment in the way 70 Mr.. Pierce arises, I.fear,
from the cause before stated. His re-elec-
ton will disappoint the masses of the as
pirants for office, as it is not t0 be expected
that he will tIirn ont his GUN Sonno;ntaho 81