Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-10-28
MIR. BoYcE ON DEMOCRACY.

MIR. BOYCE ON
Our nblo and popular Congressman, of tho middle
Congressional District has recently delivered speech
at Yorkvc, in which he distinctly announces his po-
sition in regard to- the Democracy and the Admins
tration. His grounds areEprccisely those Of the
Southern Rights Dcmocraticparty of South Carolinaj
and, as IN humble exponent of that party, we hail
with pleasure this timely declaration of opinions on
the part of Mr.. BoYcE. We7wcll knew, from his po-
tical antecedents thnt such must be the complexion
of his politics. But while ho still silent, there
left for rumor to ms-statc his position and
for partizanshp to advantage its cause by wrongly
constituting that silence. It is on this account that
his many friends throughout the State will learn with
much satisfaction that he has taken fitting oppor-
tunity before his Immediate to announce
his views with drectness that does not admit of dis
Briion. We believe now: that with the exception of
Messrs kEITr and McQuEEs,our Congressional DELE
CATION is united as to the duty OF South Carolinn
towards her sister States Of the South and tho conscr
vative patriots of the whole country. The nature Of
that duty is thus set forth by Mr.. BorcE:
"Shall VIC join tho Know Nothinss in opposition
to the Democracy To do SO would be absurd in the
North, dying out at the South, and arc organized
erroneous principles and on too narrow basis 1t
is urged in sumo quarters that should disregard
nll other parties and form great Southern Party I;
but this is liable to overwhelming objections. In tho
first place it is mpructicsbe, for you cannot form
great party without the hope of success. The fact
that if tho whole South were unitod into one great
Southern Party it would be in the minority in both
Houses of Congress- and the Electoral College, cx-
tingushes tho hope Of such party accomplishing
anything. II would he the organization of despair,
and you can never organize party under the spell
Of death. If right SO far, tien "s that this ex-
elusive Southern party cannot be iorme there IS no
use to make this nedectualcfort But if 1t could be
formed, the fact that it could accomplish nothing,
being minority party, would, in my op'nlon' be
conclusive objection against ii"
And again, he remarks
ITO secure our rights in tho Union, there is hnt one
way promising any hope Of SUCCESS, That ls to lorm
alliance with Northern conservative party, strong
enough by the corporation, to control the Govern
ncnt. The Democratic party, is the only party that
answers this description. The principles OF tho DEM
ocrat;c party unexceptonable upon tho question
of slavery non ntcrventioI by tho General Govern
meut equality in the territories; the right to hold
glarcs in ull terrores the right of every new state
to admission into the Union without reference to its
domestic institutions. admit that the genius of the
Northorn Democracy in obedience to the instinct OF
seIf.preservatOn under thespressure of houe public
sentiment, does desire to See free, instead OF slave
States grow up. The conclusion draw isnot Of non-
action with this party, butof cooperation under the
guard Of prudent vigilance. Let us in this respect
be guided by the genius Of Mr. Calhoun. Under his
great leadership We acted with that party but we did
not become its blind partisans. would pursue the
same policy. Ono thing fHhould be remembered, the
South are in majority insthe Democratic party and
if they act with sufficient discrotion, they need not
s,nar H. ir;, an0
should that they did not place power in any but
the most reliable handa{ 81
In regard to tho PROPER course to be pursued to-
wards the present administration, Mr. BorcE's view
is identical with that which has all along been cS-
pressed by thosc of who have advocated
action with the government and tire democracy to save
the constitution, the rights of tho South, and posi-
blc tho integrity of the Republic. Like him too, wc
have sterrcd clear of the "fanaticism Of nationality
on the one side and tho "fannticism Of isolation on
tho other Neither haA any of us forgotten for u
mount purpose With clear record on all these
points, we can safely rs Io do most heartily, endorse
the expressions of sentim1 int which follow:
$50 fnr as Mr.. Buchanen's Administration is con-
cerncd, will glndly suAain it when right will
| firmly oppose it whep,ln the wrong. Anu trust
such will ever be the attitude of South Carona for
sad indeed would be p6sition if through frantic
zcal we should prefer tho triumph of party to the
interests of our country There nre two dangers
which besct us in this Stae-tho anaticism of nnton-
ality and tile fanaacsm pfioolation The first seduces
US with its visions Of grandeur-the second mslcads
our judgment With itskEtriotic fcrvor. We must
avoid both extremes, ayailing ourselves of the
advantages of both, avoid the dangers of either
Acting with National party, must not forget that
the cause Of the South is our paramount purpose"
The speech from which we makc the foregoing c1-
tracts land which by the way has been very hand
somely reported by the "Yurkville Enquirer" is rep
resented as having been received by tho citizens Of
York with "warm ind cordial applause" The En-
guircr ITSELF wo pleased observe, charactcrizcs
it as highly conservative" adding, Mt the time,
that it "secmcd to give universal satisfaction -
This is not to be wondered ut. Such sentiments,
properly expressed, would doubtless receive the sane
ton of every district and parish in South Carolina
Because they arc the suggestions of an enlightened
prudence, clad in the pancply of stern patriotism.
We trust that our friends Of the crtrcmc wing of tho
Carolina Democracy will now ground their arms and,
if possible, unite heartily in fully testing the wisdom
of the advice of the Hon. Mr. DoYCE, which, we en-
phalcay rcpcat embraces the full scope Of tie in
tentuns and aims of the Constitutional Democracy Of
our State.