Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-03-13

Mr.. Calhoun's chances had been as good
when the Baltimore Convention met, as they
had been at the time Of the meeting Of the
State Convention which appointed the dele
gates, that they would have hesitated about
uniting with National Democrats and Of
nominating Mr.. Calhoun? They would have
been inundated over the fires of public in
dignation had they dared to do so.
But was not South Carolina virtually re-
presented in the Baltimore Convention ? Are
the facts not that two delegates were chosen
to go to Baltimore-that they appeared in
that city while the Convention was in ses-
sion-that the name of Mr.. Polk was sug-
gested by our OWN dclegates-that they made
speeches in his behalf at different points Of
their route on their return home--that dis
trict meetings were called to hear their re.
port-that the State of South Carolina en-
dorsed the conduct of her delegates, and ap.
proved again the mission upon which they
were sent by voting for the nominee Of the
said National Convention? And if this be
not "tamperiug" with Conventions, would
like to know what is. Why, cir, the mis-
sion to England was offered to each Of the
delegates in reward for "services rendered"
in their mission to Baltimore, and was mag.
unanimously declined by them both.
Ours are gallant but peculiar people
Why cavil about "squatter sovereignty"
while the Abolitionists are taking possession
of Territory which has been re-opened to
slavery. They fiddle while Rome is burn.
ing. They profess an earnest desire for
the reelection of Gen. Pierce, and are yet
reluctant to make the only move, which can,
by any possibility, benefit him. That they
arc sincere, l do not doubt, but am sure they
are influenced by motives of patriotism.
1 have deliberated upon this question with
the deepest solicitude, and have reached the
conclusion that ne have every thing to gain
and nothing to lose by going into Conven-
tiou. We should be there to unite our South.
ern brethren in demanding platform Of
principles, and candidate we can trust We
should be there to encourage our friends,
and urge them up to the highest poiut Of
Southern sentiment If no other good re.
suits from the association, it will relieve our
State from the charge of desiring to dictate
to her equals-from an alleged assumption Of
superiority which is always offensive. Waiv-
ing every other consideration, would have
our State represented, in order to promote
Southern harmony.
Since the opening Of the session have
made it my duty to confer with every lead.
ing Democrat in Congress from the South,
and all concur in regarding the representa-
ton of our State under the peculiar circum-
stances in which We are now situated, as a
high moral obligation. The legislation Of
the last Congress was in our favor, and the
present administration as true to the Con-
stitution, as the needle to the pole. Besides
We stand committed by the last Convention
Of our people to cooperate with the South.
Many gentlemen who cherish the extrem-
est South Carolina views--who earnestly de-
sire that South Carolina principles shall per-
wade every Southern State, and shall be en-
grated upon every Southern heartfelt me
that it is all important to them, to their
principles, and our principles, that the South
should present an unbroken front at Cincin.
natl. They tell me that "South Carolina
impracticability is stumbling blockin in their
path, and in the onward progress of South
Carolina doctries." Shall we strengthen or
weaken the hands of our friends2
have observed with painful regret the
want of unanimity in our State in regard to
this Democratic Convention.
1t will require the achievement of very
much good to compensate us for distraction
at home. In all internal State issues, how
ever, the will Of the majority must prevail
and it is the duty of the minority to ac-
quiesce. Government itself is compro-
mise between the sirong and weak, and /
trust that compromise may be effected be-
tween our friends of opposing opinions. The
contest for the Presidential nomination will
be between Pierce and Buchanan. The
antecedents of Buchanan are good, but those
of Gen. Pierce are better. Gen. Pierce is
the choice of the South, and in our own
State do not think that one man in hun
dred objects to him. The strength Of Buch-
anan lies in the fact that he is lacked by the
large State of Pennsylvania, with her twenty
seven votes. His friends urge his nomina-
ton upon the ground that he is -srtain to
carry Pennsylvania, and that it is doubtful
if that State will vote for Gen. Pierce. Ifthe
South is firmly united upon Pierce, Pensyl-
vania must yield. Now, the compromise I
propose to the people of our State is, to send
delegates to Cincinnati, selected from our
ablest and best men without regard to past
party differences, and that they be instruct
ed to vote for Franklin Pierce for President,
and to use all honorable means to secure his
nomination from first to last. The condi-
tions upon which our delegates will enter
the Convention, will give strength to Gen.
Pierce and if other Southern States initiate
our example, his nomination is secure, and
that is equivalent to his election. If he is
not nominated, some other sound Democrat
will be; and as to the obligation which will
deyolve upon US to support another nominee
than Gen. Pierce, think I have shown that
we will do that in any event, rather than
embrace the other alternative and vote for a
Black Republican. By the pursuance Of
this course, the escutcheon of South Carroll
ma will be preserved in its pristine bright
ness, no blot denoting the desertion of a