Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-11-04
ELECTION OF sENATOR--ITs IMPoR-
TANCE TO THE STATE.

We have heard with surprizc, that there arc persons
in South Carolina who speak Of the approaching
choice Of United States Senator ms matter in which
tho State has but little interest; and who hence, give
themselves but little concern about it. Surely, such
expressions of sentiment the result Of acci
dental thoughtlcssness than Of any thing approach
ing to mature conviction It cannot be, that gentlc
mon who thus talk arc loss alive, than ohors, to tho
reputation Of South Carolina-a reputation, by the
way, which has beon in q largo degree gained upon
the floor Of the United States Senate. 1t cannot DO
that they are less desrous than Others Of seeing their
State render her full share of ability and political in
formation to that great Council Of SoVreigntes In
which the mghtest issues of the country are discussed
by its mghtest ntellects Whence thsn, at this par
tcular time this tone of indifference as to who shall
fill the highest post in tho gift Of our Legislature ?
on Indifference equally irreconci0able with what our
State has done for the country upon the arena in
question, and with what by her pledges to the South
she stands bound to do in the present and approach
ing Issues between the two great sections Of the
Union.
From the foundation of our Republic there have
existed two contending parties in the country, the
leaning to nn absolute central government the ether
to simple confsderacy Of Independent States. In
giving direction to tho great ideas connected with th
political warfare Massachusetts, has always led upor
one side, md South Carolina upon the other. Wher
important issues have sprung up, involving these two
systems it is not going far to say that Massachusetts
mind has developed tho one while South Carolina ha
done the same aa to the antagonist system. 1t wa
20, RS fur back as tho days Of Lowndes and Flshe
Amea, and Rufus King. It was so, during the war o
1872, when Calhoun, Chevcs and Lowndes stood to
gether, with Webster, Oates, and othcrs opposed t.
them. It was 30 again, in the famous debate on Foot
Resolutions, in 1929, when Webster and our own go
roua Huyne stood forth the giant exponcnts Of tn
ideas of their respective political crceds. 1t was
also in the yet greater debate of 1892 when the nigh
ty Calhoun met Webster and Massachusetts on tn
Force Bill, and when those fundamental principles
upon which tho existence of the government itself dc
pended were discussed and clucidated by them, unit
the names of Massachusetts, and South Carolina wer
upon the lips Of every man, woman and child Il
America. 1t was so again moro recently, when Sum
ner like the agitator 0Conne made his revolutionar
speech in the Senate against the South and Sout
Carolina, and particularly against
Senator. The issues then made were discussed an
road by overy man in the Republic.
And is this timo to say We have no interest il
our representation in Che Senate Of the United States
Docs not every intelligent citizen feel and know thu
the difficult questions, which grow out of the tw
forms of society North and South, are again to com
up for discussion, when every inch of the ground wi
have to be fought with skill and Judgment And or
we not concerned to havo sdc represented by th
first ability of the land? Have we no care as to ho
We arc to stand before postcrity? Have We no regar
for our position in History? Talk not then Of indi
ference in this important matter. 1t is our right
be represented in tho great assembly Of States an
it is our duty to ourselves and to the country to
represented by our most powerful and intcllectut
men, Tho question is far above one of mere persons
preferences. In deciding it. tho chief enquiry shoul
be: who can bring to bear in our cause the groatc
range Of ability? Who will be most felt among
peers in the Senate Of tho United Statos?