Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-09-08


In representative Government, it ia q privilege
tho people claim that their Representatives should,
FROM time to time, give nm exposition Of their vOws
upon such topics as may agitate the public mind.
The exercising Of this privilege in South Carolina,
is peculiarly agreeable, both TO the Representative
and the constituency; for it is boast that wo nev
er discard public servant for error Of judgement
for differences Of opinion in matters Of suull mo-
ment We claim that We look to tho tenor Of his on
tire course and that tolerate all such and
differences of opinion In consequence Of this spirit
Of toloraton (Which God grant may sver exist in our
Stute,) never carry false asuos into our Congress
sional elections; and there Is by which the
constituency indicate their opinion Of tho course
Of thcr Representative but by public demonstrations
We, Sir, do not merely tolsrate your during
the last scrsion of Congress upon the English Confer
Bill the question Of the session, "an error on
tho right side" We approvoi it. You, with one il
lustrous exception, aonc-rwith spirit above party
tics and party control-clamed Of the North direct
meeting of tho issue prefcntud which involved prin
cplo Of vast Importance, although it might have been
trviul in its practical effects.
AS an indication Of our approval, and Of our
thanks for the honor reflected us by your course
upon tlis measure, havo tcndered you this festival
At tho close of these romarks, tho Gonora assembled
the rostrum amidst applause and proceeded to address
tho assembly We bnppy in being able to furnish
his remarks from his own manuscript, which ho has
hurrcdly and he fears mpcrfectly, written out from
his notes, on the eve Of leaving for Laurens. He
spoke as follows:
FELLOW CITIZENS was prepared to thank you for
the demonstration Of your kindness ovnced by this
public entertainment. but the complimentary man.
ncr of my reception, by this largo concoursc of my
-ctzens, far exceeds my expectations and fills
my bosom with emotions which I End no adequate
words to cspreaa. When remember too, that solno
who join in this testimonial do not concar with mo in
all the political views known to entertain that
testimonial, and your endorsement Of my course, be-
como peculiarly gratifying as proofs that you believe
have conscientiously discharged my duty. was
preceded as your Representative by RoDERr GooDLoB
| HARPER, WV. BUTLER, JoHs c. CALHOUN, ELDRED
SluxIxs, GEORGE McDurFIr, FRAscIs W. PIcxESs,
-AnusrKAp BURT and PREsroN S. BRooks-a galaxy
of which would reflect lustre on any constitu-
ency-and the last of whom, though youngest in
yoars and servce had hold on the affections of his
constituents which few have equaled and mono have
surpassed. Well then, might feel anxious as to my
winning the appreciation Of constituency whose
standard was formed upon such illustrous examples
and cold indeed would be tho heart that could BIO in
sensible to this mark Of your appreciation under such
circumstances.
Tho people of Kansas determined in 1853, in favor
| 80 ooll;,, n Convention in lima 1897
Delegates wore elected. Tho Black Republicans re-
fused to yote and by the uoll-undurstood laws Of
popular elections ttoS Wero.bOund Iy the decision Of
those who did vote. The Convention assembled and
adopted Pro slavery Constitution. The slavery
clause submitted to popular votc 2lst December
lS57-that cauae being the real bone of contention in
Kansus. Some of the Black Republicans agun
! stayed away from the polls. The Constitution was
therefore fairly and legally adopted Appended to
no part thereof Ordinance In which it is rs
sumed that knnsns will have the right to tax the pub
lie lands Of the United States, and in which Is pro-
posed to surrender that right in consideration that
the United States shall give her twenty millions acres
of public lands oil Salt Springs, and Gold and other
Mines, &c. On the End February, 1858, tho Prcsi-
dent transmitted the Constitution to tho two Houses
with message setting forth its mode of adoption,
giving history of the Kansas troubles, and oarmly
recommending the admission of Kansas under 1.-THE
Lccompton Constitution. In the mean time, On the
reading Of tho Presidents Message mt the opening Of
the Session, fire vas opened on the Lccompton Con-
stitution by Mr. DOUGLASS in the Senate, ard Mr.
Cox of Ohio in tho House. which after tho st Janua
ry, steadily kept up till the lst April On the
18th February, the Senate Bill vas introduced which
provided for the immediate admission Of Kansas with
tho pro-savcry Lccompton Constitution, refusing its
assent to tho Ordinance, but declaring tho willing
mes. Of Congress that Kansas should havo the same
grants those made to Minnesota, which are much tho
those finally tcndcrcd in tho Conference Bill.
Tho Senate Bill passed that body 23r March, amended
by tho Objectionable Green Pugh Amendmcnt-a
milk and wutcr recognition Of the right Of the people
of Kansas to reform their Government when they
please, but dsclaimng all right on the part Of Con-
grcss, to declare the construction of State Contitu
tion &c and madc cndurablc by these qualifications.
On lss April, the House adopted the Critendcn.M Mont
gomcry Amendment, tho juint production of Mr..
CRIrTESDEH of the Senate, and Mr.. MONTGOMERY of
the House, in lieu of the Senate Dill-thc g Doug
las Democrats Of the North voting for it. II admits
Kansas in the terms usual in the admission of new
States. But affirming that there was not fair sub
mission it therefore provides directly for rc-aub
mission Of the Lcconpton Constitution to n popular
ros and if that aha DO rejected the people may call
q Convention and form another Constitution, which
tho Bill requires aso shall bo submitted to the peo-
pie, and that this Constitution without being sent
to tho two Houses Of Congress, inay be adopted by
proclamation of the President. The Senate disa-
greed. The House adhered to its amendment The
Conference Committee at tho instance of the Scnatc
was appointed on tho 23d April, reported tho Bill
called tho Conference Committee or English Bill,
which admits Kansas in tho usual words but goes on
to mako provisions which will appear sufficiently in
the argument.
The feature in the Crittonden-Montgomery Amend
mcnt, admitting Kansas by proclamation of the Pres
ident her Constitution, without its being cub
united to Congress, Is peculiar to itself and in direct
violation of tue Federal Constitution, which provides
that New States may bo admitted by the Congress,
into this Unon," and provides no othor mnlo,
The Crittcndcn- Montgomery Amendment and tho
Conference Bill, both abandon tho State Rights
ground, that the State Convention Of Kansns had tho
right to submit the Constitution or not, ably nain-
tanned in the discussions in the Senate by the whole
Democratic p'rty in Congress for four months, with
out dissenting voice-thc Douglas Democrats ex-
copied; and submit each to the poople-tho ono d-
rcctly, tho othor vrtually-the Loeompton Consttu-
ton for ratification or rejection. Ono need not 60 be-