The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-07-30
Tho Dinner at White Hall.

OF White Hall, and to which the candidates and
the people generally of the District were iuvi
ted. AS the distance from the village is about
II miles, and we had as q companion n cunsi
date who WAS impatient to Lc upon the scene
OF the days operations, we started bright and
! early in the morning The day was pleasant
and we had delightful ride. All along the
road, were to DC the fine orchards laden
with the ripening fruit, whilst the luxuriant
crops of cotton and corn promised abundant
harvests
upon our arrival, we found n considerable
crowd already assembled. stand and mum.
Der of conveniently arranged benches Ind
been prepared in n pleasant grove. whilst in
The background We're the ample arrangements
for the coming feast. The country around is
one of the richest and most populous in the
District. and boasts many II fair maiden and
manly youth, and these were well represent ed
on the occasion. BY ~ o'clock, we suppose
there were Mt least 900 persons assembled.
Gen. =. H. Bradley, the President of the
Day hcrcnpon announced the order Of cxcr-
cscs--,hc assembly would be addressed success
sively by the following candidates for the leg.
pcrryman, Col. II. H. Harper, Dr. j. J. Ward
law, Capt. J. n. Cochran, Col. NJ. .. Tnlnan,
Mr.. Samuel Jordan, II. y. Jones, Esq, Tho,.
Thomson Esq, Gen. S. McGowam All of these
gentlemen were present with the exception of
MIR. LomaX, and responded Gen. Bonl,an,. our
h"norcd Representative in Congress, had been
invited, bnt wns prevented from attending
Gen. Perryvnan gracefully responded to the
call, and after disclai,ning any intention Of ma
king long speech, proceeded to imlicate his
views upon the vnriols subjects of future lrgis
luii"n. Among other measures, lie advocated
the policy of Il dog.law, which he thought
would equally subservc the interests of the an
inal and ills master; he favored some rnn,liii
cation of the militia system; and urged the
pulley of imposing proper restrictions upon the
banks. He clesel by scme wells.mrd and ap
l'r''Iriatc remarks I" the ladies'
Col. Harper next spoke in his usual manly
and effective manner. Without attempting he
said. t" anticipate the subjects Of fu,nr. actinu
hy the Legislature, or to discuss their merits in
detail, he announced that if elected, he wnull
bcst"w upon every mrasura, n thorough and
patient investigation. Identified in feeling
anl interest with the State. his highest amb;.
,lon would he TO advance its honor, anI pro-
tcct the interests Of his constituents
DR.. j. j. Wardaw in easy and self pos.
Scsscl manner. gave clear exposition of his
views upon the various questions of federal
aid State policy. Among other suggestions. he
advocated the l'ropricty Of clccting the Com
mlssioners Of Roads by the people he thought
it to be the duty Of the State to foster the in
forests of Agriculture and popular education ;
t" preserve u sound currency, by imposing pro-
per checks upon the banking privilege. On
the subject "f federal politics, he declared his
opinion that Mr. Bucllannns administration
mcrtcd the confidence, ami should enlist the
support Of the South.
Capt j. y. Cochran commenced his remarks.
with pleasant ailns:"nAo tho practice OF call.
ing unexpectedly upon the candid .trs for n
speech, rs I the gift cam: by nature and re-
Inlscd no effort. On the contrary, he thought
; 1t the hardest sort of work, ns any one NIGH,
! find out by experience. Among other 1ucs.
tlons, he discussed ut some length the merits OF
the banking system. lie WAS in favor Of i'm.
posing every possible restriction against abuse,
aud cxacting every guarantee to secure the
convertib;lity of the bills into specie. In con.
clnsion he made some happy remarks to the
ladies, in which, whilst expressing the creates,
devotion to the fair Sex. he declared Ills inabil
ity to RixS tie Jabice, which seemed to be some
times thought to be necessary qualification in II
candidate.
Col. Tnlman next responded to the call, and
hIs easy and ready nttcrance elected the re-
mark of gentleman next us. that he seemed
to he practiced speaker. lie had been twice
; already cndidate for the Legislature, and il
again rejected he could but 80 back to his re
tirement; and if elected he pledged that Zeal.
Gus devotion to his duties, wkich the highest
regard to the honor and interests of the State
could prompt. He would meet fairly every
question of Legislation, and would hope by n
regard to principle to preserve n manly and
consistent course. AS to federal politics he was
a strict constructiouist-"a Pharisee Of the
, Pharisccs"
MIR. Jordan, next followed in n speech II,
which lie discussed at some length the various
Questions growing out Of our federal rela tions
the origin and character Of the federal com
pact the extent Of the powers conferred upon
the general government, and the nature of til,
| rights reserved to the States. One of the mo $,
striking and original ideas OF the speech wa:
that which finds the surest guarantee of the
institution of slavery in that clause of the con
stituton, which prohibits the States from pass
ing law to impair the obligation Of contracts
This would deprive the states of the right o
emnncipating slave property-and if prohibited
TO the States, much less does it belong to til,
general government, an agent with Limited
powers. Other collateral and incidental aues
tions of constitutional construction and amend
ment, were also discussed at consderabl,
length.
Upon the conclusion of Mr. Jordan speech
the President announced that there would u,
recess for dinner of two hours-that the gentle
men would first escort the Indies to the table
after which, the others would be served. Th,