Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-01-09
mr.. TiiImanra Speech Continued.


is as responsible for q good vote in an election
rs he is in legislation. Perhaps more so =; as
bad government administered by good officers is
better than good government administered by
bad ones. If any one stilE doubts my assertion
that an oligarehy rules South Carolina, let me
ask il. the people rule it, and put case to him
rs evidence of the fact Suppose large ma
joritp Of tie people of SoutE. Capoina were to
desre; nnd so express themselves, that my friend
from Abbsville, (AFr. CcGewAN. should be elec.
ted their Governor or United States Senator,
could the will of the people be carried out if
It confiicted with the wishes feelings, or prin-
ciples of a majority of this Legislature? No,
SIR: and this House knows it. Talk of the
people of South Carolina ruling the State! They
have nothing o.do with it, but an odious cum
ning- tyrannical; Intriguing oligarchy rule it.
Yes, sir, an oligarchy, for will not disgrace the
English language by calling it an aristocracy,
which can, at least, respect in proper way
If the will of the people of South Carolina had
been carried out in elections by this assembly,
many reputed great man would have enjoyed
his greatness in the shades of private life, his
merit unknown to any one but himself, while
other men with real genius modesty, purity
and independence of character would have filled
the places, instead of being shelvcd or lhurst
aaide, and at times having their fair fame backen-
ed by calumnies and fasehood, invented and in
dus;riousy circulated to calm the popular mind
And it is thus that our olig.rchy rule or ruin
every man who tries 10 think, speak or act for
himself.
= have said that vs have no newspapers which
discuss State politics, and that it il the business
Of the parishes to gag them; will now add
that it Is the business Of The oligarchy to pre-.
vent discussion on fundamental State measures,
and lll'eonsidcr the two propositions together
l. believe it was Harrison who said that the
people can always feel, though they can but sell
dom see. This is emphaticalIy true of our people
They are in 4 fernent now, and have heen for
some time, but they are welded to their district
idols, who sacrifice them to the gods of Colum-
5Ia- Time and again have grave questions Of
State policy been agitated in one, two, or three
districts in the up-country, and controlled the
local elections, under the lead of good men and
tue. but no Simultaneous movement can ever
be made throughout the up-country, until the
people can see what they must do. While the
hres of agitation are burning in one district, the
cold calnness OF death reigns, perhaps, in 4
neghborlng district because its oligarchists its
plrants tor elhce here, cry conservatism! con-
serratisH" and denounce the real friends of the
people as deuagogues, anarchists, and call them
by other Infamous names, Hence only spasmodic
or di.joined efforts have been made in favor
of any refors. The oligarchy and the papers,
for their own selfish ends, are trying all the time
to divert the minds of the people from their own
business-their own affairs-their own institu-
tons, to those of the federal government Now,
cannot account satisfactorily to myself, upon
any other ground thun the one | have stated,
for the wonderful desire of South Carolins, url-
der the lead Of the oligarchy, who are under the
control Of the parishes, to be eternally picking
quarrel with Uncle Sam. They never let him
rest in peace. When he is right they suspect
him, and when he is wrong they abuse him.
Laughter. They are never contented with
him, and cannot, for my existence, account for
it, az before said, upon any ground than that it
is principle with small human nature to make
fuss. Continued laughter We are all
acquainted with that little animal. to which the
ladies are so partial, and vhich is inclined at
times to make any amount Of fuss. Laughter.
And | am afraid it is characteristic of little men
to do the same thing They are afraid that their
Importance will not be adrnitted-,hat their
nauheod will not be recognised, and arc ever
ready for 4 6ght, or at least for a quarrel to
make good their preteusions. Laughtcr] But
at the same time, you will always find in regard
to them great difference between talking and
doing, for they invariably exhibit their peculiar
characteristics upon every trying occasion.-
These parishes are continually getting up 4
quarrel somewhere, and admit that they car.
ricd mc of in their last one-scccssion But, not
~ihstand;ng their great partiality for quarrel
. sing, when the MEXICAN war came on, out of
eleven companies in the Palmetto Regiment,
only two of the parish districts, Charleston and
Sumpter, sent any soldiers to fight our BATTLES
do not wish to impugn the courage of the
parishes by any means. But do mean to say
that it is the nature Of small communities, as Of
most small men, to be forever quarrcng
do not blame the parishes for holding on to
their conservatism. II is our duty, to make
them yield Power IL sweet. 1t is like re-
gion property, the principle of exchange, or any
other great principle that moves men in masses
We must compel them 10 part with their abso.
lutte power over both the offices and the egisla-
ture of The. State 1t is sheer nonsense then to
oppose giving the election of electors to the
people for fear that it will disturb the sectional
relations of The State, and even if it should, it
ought to be done, because, rs the parishes have
held sway so long, it is but right that our Sec
tion, which is in truth the State, should rule
awhile now. have never heard but four argu-
mehtS advanced I'LL QeIcncc OF the parish system,
and will meet them in detail: lst. 1t is alleged
that the parishes have superior intelligence 10
the districts. I'd. That they have more property.
Sd. That they, own more slaves, and 4,h. That
they have antagonistic interests to the up coun.
try. Although there may have been some force
in the first argument half a century ago, there
is certainly none now. But, on the contrary,
believe the reverse il true. The single district
of Abbcville has more colleges and hi gh schools
than all the parishes put together, to say nothing
of Wofinrd College, of Furman University,
Johnson University, &c.
The same may be said of the property of
the two sections. The parishes once had
more undoubtedly, but have shown from
the best data to be obtained, that now the
districts have above S53,0OO,O0O more of
property than the parishes. And so also as
to slaves. The districts now pay taxes for
6l,062 slaves more than the parishes. |
concede that the low country did once own
twice as many slaves as the up country,
chiefly on account Of being an older com.
munity and nearer the sea board, while the
slave trade was re opened between 1904
and 1908. But things have now changed,
and although it was doubtless right that the
parishes should have. had a negative on leg
islalion in 1908 when our dearly beloved
compromise was adopted, yet the reasons
no longer exist. The districts now have
70 A. [