The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-10-08
Gem. Ronhanl's Snnoch

Gen. Bonham's Speech.
According TO previous appointment the Hon.
NJ. j.. Bonham addressed his constituents of the
District OH Monday last, during the recess Of
the Court lie is in fine health and spoke with
great cnse and animation: and was attcntivcly
listened by the large and intelligent audience,
who greeted him with frequent applause.
The speaker began with touching allusion
TO the many strong ties and rlcasart nss"cia
tions which connected him with the people of
Abbeville. lie had spent portion Of his early
school-boy DAYS in our village: later in life lie
had been associated with Representatives
III the State Legislature. and afterwards, during.
the Mexican war, with Moragnc. Mattison, md
others of our citizens who had III cd nobly in
defence Of their countrv's flag. lie had been
since honorcd with mark Of their Appreciation
in being elected as the Congressional represent
tntivc of the people of the District, for which
he WAS profoundly grateful; and he was now
present to give an account Of his stewardship,
and to indicate his views upon the political
issues which were before the country.
We shall not attempt even synopsis of the
address "f,hc distinguished speaker; and indeed
it is scarcely necessary, rs his views are very
generally known from his various published
speeches. On very important measure of the
last Conyrcss--thc admission of kansas-it was
his misfortune, he said, to differ from the rest
of his colleagues but subsequent reflection and
the progress of events had hut confirmed him
in the belief of the correctness Of his vote. He
would not discuss, he said, IN detail, the vari
ous phases of the Slavery agitation in Kansas
The people Of that territory had finally formed
q Constitution and applied to Congress for al
mission into the Union. The real ground of
objection to that Constitution was the Slavery
clause. though this was vciled under the prctrxt
that the Constitution llan. not been submit ,.
T." the popular vote, md did not express the
public sentiment Of the people. The speaker
thoroughly discussed this object ion. and exposed
its fntility. The original Senate Till prop"sci
to accept til" Lecompton Constitution with
out qualification the Crittrndcn- Montgomery
amendment required its submission to the pop.
ular vote. In this respect the Conference B i'll
was not a whit better. 1t did not submit the
Constitution in go many words, but did So vir
tually, by enabling the people of Kansas to re
jcct the Constitution, by their vote upon the
stnn,in,cd by the rcsult-il,c Cunst tuition has
been rejected and Kansas jest to tL. South
Though he did not vote for the Conference Bill,
he was however, he said, in favor of riri.lly ell
fo.cing its conditions and woald OPPOSE the
admission Of Kansas, until she attained the
requisite l'"pul;t ion of $1,000. He did not be-
licvc. however, that the question of admission
could be III iscd in the next Session, rs there
was not time enough to prepare Il Constitution.
With regard to the President and the leading
measures of the Admin niStra,ion, he was pre-.
rare'! TO endorse his general policy, AMI Thought
that it sh"ul'l enlist the sympathy and support
Of the South. lie was willing to act with the
Democratic party, and to go into Convention
with them, hut he did not favor the idea of be.
ing absorbed into that party; and he insisted
upon maintaining still and forever, the ,listinc.
tion between "National' and Estates Rights
, Democrats The purity and conservatism Of
the organization depended, he Thought, upon
! the Southern element and it was our duty, by
united connscis and n determined effort, to
. maintain the rights Of the States and the in.
tegritv Of our institutions
The necessity Of Southern union was never
more apparent than at present, in view Of the
| designs and policy Of Il great party to revolu-
ti"nizc the Government, amend the Consttu-
tI"n reform the Supreme Court. abolish Slavery
IN the territories, and, perhaps, eventually in
the States. To arrest the progress Of Black
Republican ism, we should act with that party
which is now making common cause with us.
! aud by giving due prominence TO the States
Right element, preserve in their integrity the
constitutional guarantees of the Union, and the
cardinal doctrines OF the party.
The speaker concluded with glowing tribute
; to the wisdom and patriotism of the great Cal.
houn. and referred TO his published works as
! containing the ablcst and most conclusive vim
dicaton of the rights Of The States.