The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-06-06

and manner OF organizing the Baltimore
Convention and its evil tendencies. There
had been two Delegates for the State at
large elected by the State Convention, but
under this letter of Mr.. Calhoun tho Con.
.:rcssional Districts were Indifferent t, elect
ing any Delegates us propo"rl Ly the State
Convcnllon, and thcrc were none appointed.
Air. CalhVuns na,nc WAS even taken from
'cPapcrS OF ,llisStatc li"t just ut this june
illrc there began to loom up another great
absorbing question upon the bubble horizon.
The lone star Of Texas had risen like n fiery
meteor from the bluoly fields Of san .Iacinlo.
In 1888 Mr.. Van Eurcn and his Secretary
Of State had refused to consider The nucs.
ton OF annexation, and it had died away
until 1873. The british Government had
lntc'trr"d To prevent annexation, wowinr
through Lord Aberdeen, that her oh
jcct WAS to produce emancipation through
the world. This excited the public mind.
ani the able letter Of Mr.. Calhoun to Mr..
Ming, our Minister i'll France, made the
whole South deeply alive to TIC delicate
and vast interest involved. The CANVASS
for the Presidency had narrowed down p,ct.
~ much To 4 contest between Mr.. CLAW and
MIR. Van I'urcn. 4 majority Of the plc
gates already elected were known f, hc in
favor "I Van l'urcn. And it was supposed
that Mr.. Clay and Mr. Van Buren, rs
llc;'ls Of the two parties could sink the
lexis question, and make the election turn
on the old issues upon which Mr.. Van
tiurcn WIS defeated in 1910. There had
been Il great reaction on them and it WAS
thought he coul'l now be elected. Mr..
Clay WAS at Raleigh, anl Mr.. Van Hurcn
ncar Albany, and Yet their letters against
annexation Of Texas appcarc, in the Ma
'ional lntcliiccnccr, at Washington. il not
the very same day--"nn appeared ".c lav
and the other the next. This looked like
collision, and it MRS universally believed il
was lv consent AMI understanding, and
thence rosc that conflict which cnlc.l in
tic overthrow of Van Buren,. The Demo
cratic party were too sound on principle to
I'll" WligS, 'Who;" it Is notorious atwGavNs Az
fought for abstract prin:iple followed their
leader aEI he lead them To LrEc;t After
tie appearance Of these two letters from
MIR. Clay and Mr.. Van Buren, against an
nrSaion the excitement became intense.
myself to 90 on to the baltimore Convcn-
ton 10y I'LL means, AMI to have Il meeting
in Charleston to get others to GO with us,
rs il WIS inpnrlant to the South, and to
the triumph Of Texas. ! WAS very reluctant
to go, under the circumstances, but We did
get Il few together at Stewards. Hotel,
Charleston, and could get no ono to go,
except Mr.. Aiken, the present member Of
Congress. We attended the Convention.
not however rs regular mclnLclS, hut when
MIR. Polk was nominated wc were called OF
to speak, and We cordially approved Of it..
Mr.. Polk WAS for annexation OF Texas -
sound on the Tariif-intcrnal improvements
Bunk, and. AL great questions; and as TO
general politics, occupied the same ground
with Mr.. Calhoun; and but for Mr.. Cal
houn's letter against. the organization of
the Convention, in I'LL probability he would
have received fhe nomination instead Of
Mr.. Polk. Wte-c;,mc home from the Con-
vcn'i"n and public meetings were held in
the State to rality the nomination. 1t was
received with enthusiasm, and South Caro-.
lima once more entered warmly into the
c:.iivass for President and Nicc-Prcsidcnt.
He was elected and appointed Mr.. buchanan
Secretary of State, and the Mexican war
came on. Mr.. Calhoun threw himself against
it, and lost tie sympathy and control of the
Democratic party in the South. And
again in 1913 Soutl, Carolina became i'll
different to the nominating, Convention for
the Presidency. Gen. Cass was nominated,
aud many of our members of Congress were
against lin and in favor Of Gen. Taylor. The
people of the State, however, took very &C.
ci,lcd ground for his nomination assagainst
Gen. Taylor, and although Gbafiest0h Was
carried for Taylor, the rest ofstte States vent
decidedly for tho nominee. In lS50 and
81, ,spranG up all thosc angrysana exciting
questions connected with the admission OF
California. A Southern Conventionssas
called on the recommendation of Mississippi
to meet at Nashville; secession enlisted the
deepest feelings in South Carolina. The
State was divided into two very decided
Fand bitter parties. After the termination
Of the controversy, the whole pubic feeling
Of the State became prostrated and indif-
fercnt to general politics. just at this pc
Rod came OH the Convention for nomina-
ton, and Of course, the State under the
hented events she hadsbn recently passed
through at home, took no interest whatever
in the Convention. But when Gen. Pierce
was nominated, she took decided and
unanimous part. There was not division
enough amongst us to produce discussion
have thus givena rapid view Of the course
of the State, and Of the principal cause
that influenced the course rs well rs I un
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