Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-03-26
com N b N 1O.ATIo MS.
FOR THE ADvERTlsER.
TIN CINCINNATI CONVENTION.

.s.s..-
cribe this opposition 10 the fears entertained by some
thai hereby new course of affairs, and a new line
Of policy would bs instituted among US DC.
Allow me to say, that in charging such motives upon
the onusers of the Cincinnati movement, you DO In
Justice 10 many of your political friends, who have
the misfortune to differ from you on this subject.
While conceding to yourself and to those who think
with you, the utmost integrity OF purpose, ana iuli
share of patriotism, large and respectable portion OIL
your fellow-cilizens, with equal honesty, presume
oppose this measure upon prncpleupon high grouncs
of public policy: because, indeed, they believe the
Convention will be gross usurpatOH upon the rlghs
of the people, and utterly sbuersue OF the principles
of the Federal constitution. Would you no, pity l'e
pusianitnlty of them, who, thus believing, shonla
still participate in the movement merely to swell the
numbers of those whp inclined that way, or from
any bare notions Of temporary eIpediency! Your
generous impulses would, know, promp. you TO say
If this be your belief keep, pray you, aloof from
the movement
To Convention properly organized, upon the plan
suggested BY our State Convention in 1914 at Columbia
many Of u.s. might under the presen, peculiar circnm
stances of the country, ntepuse no objection out 10
nv humble conception, it w uld he recreancy to our
noliticaI faith, and TO what deem the true inter-
ests of the State We, with our present notlons'
10 urge or consent to- representation oil the sa'e III
the Cincinnati Convention that body is now to be
constituted.
Ihaye advanced, Sir, bold proposition relative to
this Convention Is it true! Does itnsurp the rights
of The peope anil subver the principles OF the consti-
tuition! If it exercises power not sanctioned by law
and does not fairly and authoritaively represent the
views and wishes Of the people, then even you must
admit its usurpat!on.
Now take the Convention in its very incpiency-in
the primary assemblies in the Districts and Counties
of the several States, in which it takes It's origin.
Who bring it into being, Is it the people generally,
bv expressing their voice at the baos.box as they
have right to do, or by neighborhood meetings, IN
which, the sense of the meetings is taken by vote No
bu, two three or four hundred persons, who assemble
under some public call, and constituting themselves
The representatives Of The party or District to "hrh
they belong, undertake TO speak and act Tor Inc "oe
party or District. Have they right thus 10 SPEAK
and uct1 Whence do they derive this right! No
such power is conveyed by the Constitution OF our
civil or municipal law known in the land. There Is
no natural law that would authorize it. Those ab'
sent from these gatherings being by Tar The most nu
,n.rous have the same rights and interests at stake
and have an equal right 10 make known their views
relative to those interests with those who may be pre-
SENT Why should others assume 10 speak lor them
when they can speak for themselves, and yet choose
10 be silent, Will it be said that, remaining silent
when notified of an unauthorized proceeding, their ST.
Ience is to be construed into assent! AS we'll might
you claim general ASSENT to the action Of Two, lhres
or four hundred persons, who should lrregulary as
semble together, and proclaim new law touching the
rights, property and welfare Of the community IN
which they live Questions Of property or OF anypr
vat. interest involve no than great question
public policy like this. Yet in that case who would
say lha, the many, who remain quietly al home trust
ing TO the safeguards of law and the constitution to
protect them, would be precuded from rcpudia,ins The
acts Of the few, aud from refusing 10 be bound BY
ihem 1t is an obvious principle Of Free representa-
tive government, that no men, nor Sci of men, have
rieh, 10 speak and nc for Others unless authorized &c
to do-uness, in short, they have the express or I'M
piled assent Of those to be represented.
In the very outset therefore, they who assemble ir
the Court Houses elsewhere protesting to rcPrescn
the District or County without being delegated BY
the people at the baol-bUx, or in full neghborhoot
gatherings where opinion is 10 be nscertained, o.
under sumo other direct authority from the people gen
orally, assume exercise power, which does not rights
fully belong 10 them. They, therefore usurp the right
of their Feow.Cizens wbo remain at home quietly
attending to their business.
But follow up the action of these original Delegates
When assembled, they select, certain delegates o
their own to be sent 10 mscaled State Convenliof
at Columbia. There again these delegates Of dele
ra,es send their chosen delegates TO the great Cincin
natl Convention; and they send them, uninstrucled
with full power 10 choose from the whole c1panse
The union some man (probably not even known by
name 10 the people Of the State) who is to be the
States chosen Candidate for President. Thus c7Sh
men. who are delegates, Of delegates who them
selves chosen by delegates not having the authority
the people to speak and acl for them, are Permitted,
their own judgmdgmenls and wills, toseect Presden
,ia Candidate for the people Of South Carolina ant
YET we are gravely told it is s people who chuose T
nominee is certain 10 be the President if the party
be successful and we are told til: State is bound
vote for hm-yet seek TO persuade US, that ih'
pcople ar. all the while carrying out their own will
From beginning 10 end, the peoples voice has neve
been regar,led-,heir wishes never consulted. lr
choosing the greatest Officer of the Republic the peo
pe do not ever declare their choice through their au
Mori.ed agents. p .ce Of political machinery II
nut in motion, which removes those who chouse fou
degrees frum those who should authorize, and bl
which the whole political power Of the State in th'
chuice of President without le sanction OF The peo
pie is placed in the hands Of eight irresponsible men
If this be not usurpatou tell me what s usurpalion
But further. At Cincinnati u host Of motley pollli
clans assemble from various part Of the Union undc
the general tenn, Democrats, but entertaining every
shade Of political opinion from the mpious doctrines
of the higher law," and black Republican creed, Il
tile purer tsnets Of tile genuins States Rights School
Their. is but one ground Of action i'll which these msr
can cordially unts and that is the desire to seek Of
flee and 10 appropriate themselves the spoils OF party
conquest.
But upon what principles is this convention organ
lied, Does it give fair and equal representation Il
the party, whose organ it assumes to become! Or
the contrary does it moi violate the painest principles
of correct and equal representation! States il
which The Democratic party greatly in the minority
(and hence can give vote for the Democratic nomi
nee in the Electoral College, are permitted to have
greater representation in the Convention ihan states
thoroughly. Democratic. New York, for example
which, is 80 split up into contendng factions as 10 lose
entirely its democratic vote in the electoral College
goes into the nominating Convention with % votes
while Georgia, though giving full vote To the demo
cratic nominee, has only 10 votes. So Massachusetts
which is whs State, and does not vote at all io'
the democratic nominee has l3 votes in the conVen
ion, while South Carolina, thoroughly Democratic
-, 49,. ,,,. Al nb;o ,vhnss Drmocrncy is