Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-09-17
For the Advertiser.

z,
a continuation of your enity and patronage: IN Inc
publication of few more remarks in your paper. AS
RICHARD" has gone into his cell, like iHshteneo
snail, do not wish 10 disturb his repose, ny adding
this rs rejoinder to his last piece. If he Is sane
man hope he will do better and improve every day
lie lives but if he is really distracted man, as some
seem to think he is, really pity him. In his wan
dering from the moon to the rain bow, and thFo"gn
the heavens and the earth, he has Jailed 10 produce
one argument destructive to divisions but has ,ouch-
cd on point that deserves our attention, and lhat s
that we have no right 10 division OF our District
because he supposes to be in the majority lnihe
which we do not believe, but which we VIII ADMIT
for arguments sake. Nothing can be more absurd OF
inconsistent, than 10 assert that majority sionlo
rule. A majority is quite as apt to be wrong rs
minority, and even more so, and the history OF man
fully establishes this fact II but one man in the
world was Just and right and all the rest were wrong
hi, on. man should rule if any, because iuatice and
eauiy should predominant whether with the many or
the few. Our Fathers well knew, that it would not
do to trust our Government in the hands OF MAORI
ty; and hence the constitution of the United States
which was intended as permanent check upon all
u,urpa,ions of the kind. What has shaken the very
nar, of our liberty and caused the best government
ever instituted by man to ioer but dominant ma
iory acting contrary to the principles OF Jusce ana
equity and to the constitution Of the United States
Mr.. CALHOUN saw very clearly the insuf1icency oil
Justice, of Legislation and Of the constitution 10 re-
strain licentious majority in their attempts to snb
vert our Government, and hence, his suggestion to
~ o1tf he
and tho other at the South with the condition thai
both should agree in the confirming or passing OF az
laws enacted by Congress, and thus to check the
growing power of relentless majority at the North
This suggestion, l think a very good one, and th'
only one in my judgment, could it be effected, tina
could preserve our union Tell me nothing abou
the Justice Of majority ruling. There is no justice
in it. The Abolitioniss preach the very same doc
trine and would use it too if they had The power
theocracy must be as pure as any Government can o
on EARTH and there certainly does exist greatresem
blance in our Government, and that which God CAV
to his people in one particular, the people were to
, poyernsd by laws and commandments, and not b.
po,entates or maorilies under the Mosaic laws an
we rejoice to think tina, ours is similar government
in those particulars. Moses think will be ackno"
edged by al as one of our greatest law givers,
having the advantage Of Others in his being divneI
F.! inspired.
In all Moses laws we see nothing that would ind
cate that majority should rule. Laws and certai
penalties annexed to them, were enacted and the onl
rulers were the agents to carry those laws into eiec
!. and the whole object Of those laws seems 10 nav
been, not only to project the rights OF men IN the
persons and properly but also in very especial maj
ner, 10 protect the weak against the strong the ie
AGAINST the many and this certainly was the ob)e'
of our constitution and our aws; however much the
NAV have failed in accomplishing the contemplate
object. Except in elections We see nothing IN OF
constitution that favors bnre majority rulihg' o.
to the very reverse, see strong checks upon u
maury and would 10 God they Msre much % sI9ng
majority. Even two thirds of all, are found to be Il
small number TO alter or change our Government
it giving entirely too much power to the many 10 o
press the few. Though we believe majority amonn
ing 10 Two thirds o.: all The people, is not large
it should be 10 cause a change in government, ar
thus deprive the other one third Of its rights yet w
as divisioniss, profess to be law abiding men, and
two thirds OF the men in Edgcfeld District are foun
W oe pdlly lnulIlcTSI
to it we will submit 10 our hard fate and say no MOI
about it.
We claim at least to be a respectable minority an
consequently, our claims are not only just but Legal
We are States rights men, and are assured that nc
only States, hut Districts and even communities, hav
their rights which should be regarded and atlcndc
to by Government. We maintain that we have a
good right according 10 our numbers, according t
our locality, according TO our services and according
to justice, as any people in the Stale, 10 division
and 10 District and Court House suited to our abso
lute necessities. 1t is said by some, that our obi ect
10 elect few members 10 the Legislature and TO sli
up strife among the people, we say in positive term
that this is false. We are surprised that any mar
that knows our situation can think so. We had al
most as we'll be without District, without Cour
House and without law as in our condition, for ir
many instances We cannot avail ourselves OF the dd
vantages of either, Lam an old man, and never
expect TO have an office and know there are hun.
dreds like myself, that want the District divided pure.
ly for the good Of The people. We ars sorry then
that there should be two parties in the District. We
do not desire this and we think that all good men who
acquainted with our condition will not oppose US,
but will sympaihse with and help us to obtain our
rights. JOSEPH GRIFFITH.
For the Advertiser.
Mr.. EDITOR 1T is generally believed in this