Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-03-20
LETTER FROM JUDGE EVANS.

We find in the Chester Standard of last week,
letter from our venerable Senator, Judge EVANS,
to Dr.. JOHN DOUGLASS, discussing calmly and for
cibly the policy of representation on the part Of
the Democratic party Of our State in the approach
ing National Convention. Although the time
for argument has passed by, and ut least far as
our own District is concerned, the question has
become s'foregone conclusion" it will not be out
of place to make assurance doubly sure by appeal
ing to the snge counsels of wise and venerable
and is far above suspicion. We therefore copy the
letter. The conclusion is somewhat delayed by
what appears to us as not entirely pertinent ar
gument, but it is at last given clearly tiny best
Judgments that we ought to join in the selection"
Read it,
WASHINGTON, Feb. "a, SO.
My Dear Sr:-I have had various applications
from newspaper editors to know my opinions of
the Cincinnati Convention. These have declined
to answer, because I presume the object was to
give publicity through the papers The subject is
a grave one, to be decided by argument and not
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,
as on most other questions, an opinion which hos
never been withheld from my private friends; and
such as it is have no hesitation in giving it to
you There are many objections to such assem-
bles, the greatest of which is the mode of organ
zation. If they could be constituted so as to re.
feet truly pubic opinion, do not see any great
objection But this is not so. In the primary
assemblies the chief actors are intriguing politi-
cians who look to the distribution Of the immense
patronage of the government more than the great
principles Of the party to which we belong, exclu-
ding entirely all selfish considerations. But whilst
mans nature is unchanged we shall never realize
this. The worst symptom of the times is the nu-
merous herd Of office-hunters. The question with
them is not who will carry out the great principles
of the Constitution, but from whom are they most
likely to obtain on office.
There are lin all the North and West, and some
what at the South, the active politicians who
manage to get themselves appointed delegates,
with view to make the best bargain for them
selves. The mania for office seeking has as yet
but little influence 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 are times and occasions which justify
departure from our former usages. Party is in
separable from popular governments. Since the
day of Washington, 10 man has stood out so prom
inently that ali eyes were turned towards him.
Every section has its favorie, and if each section
voted without concert for its first choice, they
would be beaten by unity of action in the opposi-
ton, or every eector would go into the House of
Representatives to select from the three highest.
Some pre-concert seems, therefore, to be necessa-
ry for the success of the party. The first mode
was Congressional caucus, but this was broken
down in 1924. The present mode was substituted
after General Jacksons time, and has been acted