Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-06-24
coL.w. s.poGAN.

In Union District, Col. DoeAN published in the
last Journal the subioined "Declaration Of In
dependence tits 6ns 81 the Colonies 'lpecu-
uarities p bears his ear-marks plentifnlly-hsre
and thers It i loud- very loud; moreover, it is
peryaded bya high moral tone, an %uncompromis-
irgsslssrespeot, q manly Independence, and apa-
triotic regard for the public veal, which deserve
to,be heartily commended.
IN, an address;at Cross Keys we learn that Col.
DooAs planted himself npon his unti-trsatng plat,
form, and Was Handsomely reosived. The move
menti Is q good one, and only needs the energetic
labors Of SsH such msn to make il successful:
Five years ago, but few menin York District were
sauguine enough to enter q cnnzassNithout 9 gem
eroas supply Of bald-face nov the sentiment Of
our District is superior to such base and ignoble
influences, and We ventue to say thatn no intelligent
man would risk his election upon the Hhiskey;jug
basis. The reform has been worked out bya few
strong hands and stout hearts |; and. we are sure
that what has BEEN done in York can be done in
Union. Read Col, DoaAs's bill. of-right:-
Mr., EQtf0T-l nave Uetu uUUliudt6u III " OUuys
nal for the Legislators, aud It is proper that I
should make some response 70 the nomination. l
fully. appreciate the compliment intended, hut I'M
der existing circumstances, Iesnnot consentt to be-
come q candidate; lean never: consent to resort
to the treating mode Of electioneering. 1t Is I'M
fortunately true that, in Union District, it has
become the established custom for all candidates
To treat and 30 firmly has this usage fixed itself
upon the people, that it is doubtful if any man,
however we'll qualified he may be, could be elected,
who would refuse to resort 10 II. An election to
the Legislature Is o compliment Of which any man
should be proud. tits no Insignificant distinction
for an intelligent community to raise mp, and by
their votes signify that they desire that any par
ticulsr individual should serve them in that capac-
ity. It is an emphatic and expressive endorsement
| of his character and abilities. But in order to
have this expressive character, it must be the tre-
,cil of the people, uninfuenced by any considera.
tons except those of merit md north.
Such q complimentthus conferred, ! would sp-
preciste as highly as any man, and would feel I'M
der the strongest moral obligations to serve to
the best Of my ability, those who had conferred
It upon me.
But there is no meaning in an: election obtained
nv bribery or treating. ! liza man is elected by
this means, his election b. significant Of only one
| thing. that his purse islDnger- than those Of the
defeated candidates. Ifbs Is elected by treating,
his election signifies onlythat he is agood drtnker.
| Forif he treats he must drink-snd the more he
treats the more he win sdrink-and his election
only proves the size of his stomach and the
strength Of his nerves: Unfortunately am not
strong il either. My otomach is capricious, and
nv nerves weak, and I am perhaps the most I'M
ft man in the community to represent Union
District. If this be the test ofmerit. Butt Is time
our people had changed their policy in, this res
poet.
This treating, which Is expected Of aHeandldae',
has dsterred many worthy man from becoming
candidates, who ore well qualified to discharge
the duties of the Office. A man whose principles
forbid him to resort to these means, will not con.
sent to become q candidate, when he knows defeat
certainly awaits him. For myself, / cannot nm
derstand why o man is necessarily qualified for
the position because he treats. cannot per-
ceiye how it is, that because he drinks, ne is
therefore. a 6t Representative OF the people. lao
not prescribe any man because ne drinks OF treau,
but / do condemn the practice Of treating TO ootd'n
votes. That which in itself is to some e1tentharm-
lesg. then becomes an instrument of incalculable
evil II deerades the candidate and corrupts the
ueople. I object to the whole system. ] hope to
live to see the day in South Carolina, when othce
hunts men, aot men ofice-That time once was.
Judge Hnger, when his friends determined TO run
him for Office, left the State, and was elected. ne
wanted the proud satisfaction of knowing that he
had no agency in the matter. / can never consent
to become q candidate If tits expected that am
to treat on all oecasions.
/ am not disposedto give. the lie to N y past his
tory. Ihope you will pardon me, fellow citizens,
for alluding to myself. Thefrst Twenty-Five dol
lars / ever made / gave to the Churcha and Eduea.
ton, and i'll had only twenty-five dollars In the
world, and the interests Of the Church and the
State of South Carolina required the money
would cheerfGlly gfys every dollar; ! have made
two speeches In fifteen days 1t different places,
andin different Districts and In addressing those
Hho are To- be- the future Jaetora .ppon the gtea5