Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-02-19
CONSERVATISM.

We have heard very often OF the purify OF ou
| political atmosphere. We have been repeated,
told of the magnanimity, the high tone and tn
honest independence of South Carolina politicians
We have been taught, over and again, to beliey'
that our peculiar system of State polity has e1
erted transcendently elevating influence upon tn
political morals of the people. So nearly had w
given way to the idea that our public men wer'
above othe scramblcs for the spoils," that we hat
indeed begun to detect fallnces in our progressive
sentiments, and to cast about for a place in tht
so-called conservative ranks But the manifesto
tons Of the last few weeks have, no less strangely
than sadly, dispelled our doubts, and redeemed
US from our tickle tendencies. Upon the bare
mention Of remote probability that, two year.
hence, Col. ORR would decline reelection, the pa
pers were burdened with announcements, BY dis
interested and patriotic friends, in behalf Of al
least quarter of hundred distinguished politi'
cans-ranging, like an inventory, from good and
indifferent to bad, doubtful and desperate. Again
the electric wires had scarcely ceased to thrill
with their startling message; while the public
heart groaned under the heaviest burden of its
grief; ere the gallant BROOKS had been given
to the grave in his native soil-and even before
the tenement which once imprisoned his manly
spirit had grown cold under the sod, a great army
of patriots sprang out from the very darkness,
and, in full shout, began the disreputable scram-
bic for the vacant chair! Rudely and in shocking
disregard Of the commoucst decences of life, their
names have, in scores, been ohtrnded upon the
public gaze; mingling with heartfelt utterances of
coincidence and sorrow, a jarring and painful dis
cord.
We were making ready to hold up before the
world the noble spectacle OF people who mourn
cd for their dead and "woua not DO comforted." ="
But tine proud reflection has been denied US ; and,
in its stead, we must present fact which might
we'll outrage the moral sense of Hottentot! In
view of it, we have only to say, that if such be the
boosted, the long-vauuted result of South Carolina
"Conservatism,' in the name Of dccency and good
morals, let US have no moro of it
In this connection, we are gratifed to be able
to record an admirably written, manly and we'll
timed paragraph from the Newberry Mirror, which
does credit to the correct instincts of its clever
young editor And we trust that, in good season,
n name will be announced in such manner as to
conduce to the best interests of the living and at
the same time to rindicate the sanctity of the
memory of the dead. The Mirror remarks:-
We notice in our exchanges various nominations
for the vacnlcy occasioned by the death Of Hon.
Preston s. Brooks. Already, before his remains
are placed in their final tomb, while the partisan
press north are bitter in abuse and in dennucinton
of his life, and cowardy in triumph athi death,
the papers of his own section mourn his death
with bitter wailng in one column, and in another
suggest q successor, and speculate upon the chan
ces of their candidate. By refusing to do this
thing we have incurred the displcasurc of some
and met the appreciation of others. Although no
nomination has y t appeared in our sheet, we
have received one which will appear when the last
funeral rites have been paid to the dead. When
his native earth has entombed our patriot states
man we may then turn from our sorrows, and place
before the people nominations for this Office
and We can confidently say, we have no fear that
Newberry District will be wanting in q suitable
candidate; or if she fail to secure nomination,
she will, in fresh remembrance of Mr.. Brooks
virtues, cautiously select from those who will bc
put forward.