The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-07-16

East, no West--nothing but our common
country's welfare, its happiness and pros,
perity.
Also, if our constitutional rights are to
be violated and disr"garded-if equality Is
to be denied us in the Union, and disnnion
becomes \ fixed fact, then am willing to 90
INTO southern convention upon the great
principles of Eberty,equalty and self.preser.
'ation--consult together, and devise con,
certed measures for our common safety and
protection.
Much might be said against conventions
and nominations for Office, hut dec, II nm
necessary. The Cincinnati convention has
met and acted, (whethcr wise or not mak.s.
now, no dilference). 1t Is past and over,
and such convention will not meet npain
for four years, not until 1850.
Gen. Pierce, from his bold and decided
stand upon the slavery question, and
his strict adherence to the constitution.
was decidedly my choice for the Presidency.
and thought he was of this District, (ho
was OF the meetipg) and of the whole Stn,o,
Donglas next, and last Mr. Buchanan. Tbe
principle reason for going into the conven.
non was to SECURE the nomination of Gen
fierce. But it seems that our preferences
have altogether been inverted. Gen. Pierce,
our hrst choice, was laid aside, and Mr..
Buchanan, who was our third choice, nomi.
mated. Why was Gen. Pierce-a sound
democrat, good president, already tried.
and reliiI man in every way--laid aside
1he reason is obvious. lie was not accep.
table TO the North. Why! Because be
was fsiend of The copstitu,isn~-the maeua
charter of our rights-and being such, tbe
friend Of the South.
l cannot, however, see any necessity for
introducing this question as a tes. in tL,
present elections. Al of the candidates in
this District, are in favor of voting for ,L,
nominees of the convention. In no o,h,,
way than in casting the vote FER tho
nominees, at the first session, can al.
snl,l'ct be connected with the legislation
OF the State, aud it will DC four years
before another convention Of the hind viii
be required 10 meet. An expires sion of
opnipp, now, may not have much force
four years after date. The statute of Iin.>
''"tions will bar an ordinary parol contract
in four years, and your candidates then.
may see hi 70 rcpndiLte nniiqua,cd opin.
IONS To make this con, cntion party
question may suit for clcrionccrng purposcs
but The best interest of yaur State aud Dis,
'F''t does not require it, nor whI ths good
sense OF the people of this District, in INV
"plnipn, approve of il.
In concluding my reply under this head.
viii make an extract, for your considera.
h"n, from the farewell address of General
Geursc Washington, the father of our conn
try whose heart was with tho people and
theirs with him. Speaking of party hc SAYS.
iherc is an opiniou tipt PARTIES in fire,
e""n,r es' are useful checks upon The ad
mihiStration Of the government. and s.rv,. +,
Keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within
certain limits is probably true; and i'm ,overn.
mcnis OF a monarchicai east. patriotism NAV
look with indulgence, il not viii e,ynr ny
on The spirit of party. But in thos. of Ii.,
popular character, in governments nurelv
elective, il is spirit not 10 be cn,nor.,,,.j
from their natural tendency. il is certain
There VIII always bc enough OF that spirit
Tor every syiutary purpose. And rher. Le.
ing ronsianl danger of feSccss, ,ll. eliot ought
10 be, by forre of public opinion, 10 mitigate
ana assuagc IL. n lire nut to be 1nen,h,i.
u demands an uniform vigilance TO prey,nt
lis bursting into "a fame, lest, instead of
warming. 1t should consume
The second question, in rcgsr, 70 cor-
il|aing the support to the South Carolina
College as at present, will reply to in m,
other communication; rcmarkinp at this
i'me' that in republican governments,
The people are the rulers, through their rep.
rcscnta,iyes. From this fact. know ledge BE-.
comes i3dispensibly necessary on their pnrt,
Tor The success of such governments. Hence
education is Fundamental and of The frs, i'm.
portanee; and. being such, IL is the duty of
The State 10 provide fo- the educational want,
OF the people, By adopiing SONS wise sys.
tenn Of general cduca,ion--the College is a
part OF. that system. If education is necc..
s"ry In any degree. il is certainly necessary
IN the highest degree, aud it is the dniy Of
The State to sustain 1t in that degree.
Sd. Question. "Are you or are you no.
IN iayro Of giving the election ,f Governor.
ana Lieutenant Governor TO the peopleY'
TO give the election Of Governor and
Lieutenant Governor to the people, involves
AN alteration in the constitution Of this State,
which provides, in substance, that bill for,
that purpose shall pass two successive lie.
g's'atures, by vote Of two.thirds. This
constitution was fraped by the wisdom of.
our foreh,hers. in June 1870, and so well,
has i answered lie purposes. that II has not
been altered more than about six times since.
its formation. A constitution which has es
's'ed for long time, should not be altered,
Tor slight causes; and unless there should
be some manifest necessity for such aliera.
ton. IL Is better That it should remain Intact.
Should we attempt TO alter our constitution,
! am not sure that We will have the sams