The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-01-16
ABBEvE II, SOUTH CAROLINA MORNING. JANUARY 49, 1857

tlnue TO cooperate with the party, by
whatever name it may he called, which rep
rcsen's its principles. My connection with it,
however, is not Of so intimate a character
as to make it responsible for Inv position, or
to cmbarrass me 10y any which it may take.
| believe that most of its principles are the
true principles of the Constitution, and
| have the fullest confidence in the wisdom,
patriotism, and orthodoxy Of MANY Of the
party leaders at the North and in the free
States. Yet in the party, as such, have
neither the fullest reliance nor confidence
and | will give my reasons. When I first
entered this Hall, | was an unqualified dis
unlonist. had been made SO hv the ac
ti"n Of the General Government in refer
rncc TO the tariff, to the territory acquired
from Mexico, aud its whole legislation in re-
gard TO slaves. Shortly after the meeting
of the Thiry-Third Congress, bill was
passed repeating the Missouri restriction
line, whereby the States Of the South had
been excluded, as interiors, from the COM
mon domain. A change Of sentiment in,-
mcdiatcly occurred within me, and INV
heart expanded with love for our who'll,
country. l chi'ed myself for having done
injustice to the Democratic party, which, by
repeating an odious restriction, had relieved
my people from an insult which had burned
them for many a long year. l rcproached
myself for distrusting the virtue of people
who, 10y an unprecedented majority, placed
General Pierce in power over the greatest
military captain, with all the prestige of
military glory frcsl, upon him. felt that
l had wronged, in my appreciation of them
he Democratic members Of Congress who
had molly redeemed their pledge Of non
Intervention made at Baltimore, and on the
first occasion which presented itself, had
applied the principle of non-intcrvcntion
by removing the obstacle they encountered
in Kansas and Nrbraska-the line of in
tcrvention. They had been elected, as had
the President, upon the Baltimore platform,
the cardinal feature Of which, was non inter
vcntion by Congress with the subject of
slavery in the District Of Columbia and the
Territories. This was the distinct issue be-
tween northern and southern Democracy,
and the people of both sections elected
Democrats 10 Congress. Yet, sir, for faith
fully doing that which they were commits
stoned to do, what was the consequence {?
filled the air. A contract had been broken,
with the terms of which one Of the CON
tracing parties had never complied
common statute had been repealed, which,
forsooth, WAS irrepeaable and christened a
compuct between sections, when it was no
torlous that representatives from the differ
ent sections had indiscriminately votetl-
some for and some against. A sepulchra
howl was waited from Maine to Iowa, and
our northern friends chased down with a
Tue and cry.
The act which repealed the Missouri re-
strction also provided territorial govern
nents for Kansas and Nebraska, and futher
provided for their admission as States upon
the terms and conditions heretofore stated.
When the Thirty Fourth Congress assem-
bled, l inspected the new material sent to
succeed the Nebraska Democrats of the
Nortk-when learned more of their prin-
ciples and observed their efforts to extend
them, my faith in northern Democracy be-
gan to lose some of its saving grace. had
observed the deluding influences of secret
political association, which mysteronslv
made dark lanterns Of the thinking heads
OF men, and endcavored to caiole myself
into the belief that northern Democracy
had been temporarily led astry by its bewii
dermcnts; but that, aided by the light of
the Constitution, they would ultimately re-
cover the true faith. hoped for a reaction,
and felt bound in honor and in gratitude to
stand by such Of our northern friends rs
had remained faithful, and who had stood
TO US in the hour of their adversely. Infu
enced by these and other like considerations,
my friend Of the mountain district in South
Carolina Mr.. Orr and myself alone of our
delegation, advocated the representation of
our State in the Democratic Convention at
Cincinnati; and our people of the State, not
because Of our influence, but of their own
free will and generous nature, which never
fails to respond to acts Of justice or mag
nan'mty, met our Democratic friends in
common council for the common good
we were there to organize for great po
iitlcal contest-tlie most momentous that
this country ever yet has witnessed. Our
old leaders have been gallant, vigilant, sue
cessui. They were entitled by every right to
the gIores of the victory which had been
won, since upon them rested the response
blItles OF the measures passed, aud what
ever OF odium might to them attach. Nor
thern prejudice and northern hatred bad
been specially directed towards the Presi-
dent who had approved, and towards the
,ilustrIous Senator who had matured, the
Kansas. Nebraska bill. They had beon iden-
titled with the principles Of the bill and in
sustaining them, we but sustained its prin-
c'pies; and, in rejecting them, we seemingly
decl'hed the naked issue which the Kansas.
Nebraska bill presented. confess that
when saw the distinguished leaders to
whom have referred-abIe statesmen, and
each a resident Of free State-put aside,
and danother leader chosen, who had no place
IN the picture of the fight, my faith in nor
thern Democracy was again shaken. Irea-
soned with myself in this way: if northern
Democracy is so tender-footed upon the
Kansas Nebraska bill as to reject northern
men, even New EDglander, because of
their too intimate connection with il, what
security have We Of the South that our con-
: struction OF the act will obtain in the policy
~ "a lA<xtgd sxlS SSSl.