The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-08-18
From the ISouth Side Democrat d,,o At
The Southern Democracy and the
Union.

The Rinhmond Wing, of Yesterday.
mas an article, reviewing the recent speech
OF Senator Hammond, at Beech Island,
South Carolina, on .he occasion of a COM
pimentary dinner, rendered him bv a
large number OF his constituents. The
general tenor OF the Wings criticism, is
rather euiogstic, and affords an instance
OF magnanimous lberality, which is ex-
tremeIy rare in these days of rancorous
political elimination and recrmination.-
lnoeed, considering our neighbor's TN.
measured detestation and adherence Of
every thing, which savors of Democracy.
amounting in most cases TO absolute in
fatuation, we may characterize his re-
marks as exhibiting the very acme Of
generous forbearance III political adyer
sary. lie says the Senator's address
was moderate in its tone, conservative in
It's sentiments, soothing in its tendency
and calculated to inspire the kindest feel
ings between the North and the South.
as well as to excite the liveiest hopes Of
the perpetuity Of the Union.
"ouch speech from a South Carolir,,
statesman is new end refreshing indica
ton of the decline of Southern ul,raism
and OF returning good sense and patriot,
ism among the Southern people-yea,
even among the class o: fiery Hotspurs
and restless secessionists, who have so
long made the heavens ring with their
frantic clamors for cisunion."
Excellent in faith. Though we do not
altogether share the Wings opinions con.
corning the formidable proportions of that
constantly-recurrlng clas. of infammable
humanity, who 60 by the cant title of
"hre-eaters," nor apprehend so much mis-
chief from the excessive display of South.
cru zeal, we nevertheless heartily com
mend the tone and temper of IFS panegy-
ricaI commentary on the "miId wisdom"
OF Democratic statesman. For oursel.
YES, we were fully prepared to hear such
wise counsel from the lips Of Senator
Hammond. He has long bone the repu
tation o! prudent, thoughtful and sa.
gacious statesman, stiunch advocate of
constitutional union, aud not apt to be
carried away by the monetary ,empests
OF political excitemcu,.
But Senator Hammond is No exception
TO the general character of Democratic
statesmen OF the South. None Of them
oeionG 10 that description OF uncondiIion.
al secrsslonlsts, from whose spasmodic
throes tue Wing seems to anticipate the
worst calamity. They are all equally
ANXIOUS :" preserve the federal alliance
III Its tn't Constitutional vigor and purity,
and to avoid ' 'De administration OF its
Ieg'um.D' tune'ons, the dangers of Sec
! tonai aur,u,s'tv
There Is nu difficulty, however, in ascer.
tanning why tue Wing IS 50 ready to COM
pliment Mr.. Hammond, at the expense Of
his Democratic associates. In one oJiter
dtetam of the distinguished Senator, which
relates in no wise to Democratic principles
our contemporary derives the comfortable
assurance that the speaker is somewhat
OF submissonist. Some months ago
the Wing, in spirit of speculative dis
QUESTION, hroached the doctrine, that the
peope Of the South would not take the
election OF Black Republican President
As the signal for immediate dissolution.
Not being able to appreciate the per-
tinence OF such bootless inquiry at this
Juncture, We suffered our neighbor to pur-
sue has interesting speculations without
moIestation. But the subject is again
brought forward in more impressive and
significant form. The WIFI g finds its
opinions sustained by the high authority
OF Senator Hammond. One passage Of
his speech contains this remarkable dc.
claration: Even II at the next Presi
Dental election, the North should by
combination, elect an Abolitionists, he did
not think that on that issue the great bo.
dy OF the South would go out of the
Union"
We did not understand Senator Ham
inond to say, that the election Of free.
soil or abolition President at the next ell.
ect;on ought not, in his opinion, to result
IN dissolution Of the Union, but merely
that he did moi think that on that issue
(unless repeatedly } the great body Of the
South would be prepared to 90 out Of the
Union. We doubt not, however, that
Gen. Hammond, like most of his consti
tuents, would regard the election Of Sec
tioDal President, on the slavery issue, as
such an overt act Of hostility to the South
and treason 10 the Constitution, as ought
10 render it the knell of the Union
What the body of the South may be
prepared to do, in such an event, Is ole
thing-wbat South Carolina and South
Carolinians, Ger. Hammond incuded,)
would deem jus.ifable and right, in the
same contingency, is quite another thing.
Gen. Hammond, although a conservative
statesman, and willing to perpetuate a
constitutional Union. against rash and
preciPitate measures to destroy il. is yet
fully up with the spirit Of his State, and
will be with her in action, whenever the
emergency demands it.-EDs. COURIER.
A gentleman having been asked, on his
return from aparty, he had seen any,
thing OF Miss A., replied that he had