Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-08-17


century in its power and ascendaney over
great and mighty events that are working out
tue elevation and benefit Of mankind. No
man whose hcayt beats with pride Tor his
country, can help ftcli"g Il glow Of exhibition
as lie contemplates The gigantic strides our
Conlrderacy Of free Republics has made
towards power and empire amongst the ma
tons of the earth, since the great outlines Of
policy were inauguatcd in The canvass and
election which brought Mr.. Polk INTO power.
[ would have but poor consideration l0r myself,
i'll could have confined the object OF my
visit in 1914, to the small and narrow views,
Which Mr.. Bcnton's book makes the only
'tcondition" in South Carolina voting or him.
True, an organ for the administration was
spoken of, but it was only incidental to the
other great questions. We knew and felt
that Messrs. Blair " Rircs could not be con-
tinued, because they had adhered to MIR. Van
Buren in his opposition to the annexation OF
Texas, and upon this very point he had been
overthrown l,y the party at the Baltimore Con.
vention, and of course it would have been
suicidal and weak in the first degree TO have
chosen ali organ that was opposed to the Atl-
ministration on the most vital part Of its
policy, u part upon which all other points
turned. No man was suggested as an organ
at all. 1t was only understood that some one
sound on the annexation question and the
tariff was to be selected. l made no secret of
this. In fact, afterwards wrote or informed
Mr.. Rives of it, and that he and Mr.. Blair
were Obliged to be overthrown. 1t was essen
tial to the great policy of the administration,
more particularly so, when their identity and
intimate connection with Colonel Bcntun was
known, and when it was felt by all that he
was the Ajax lebanon of oppOsitonto Texas.
AS to the $4,000, Col. Benton speaks Of.
(pagc G53.) being used lay Mr.. Cameron, of
Pennsylvania, in the purchase Of Mr.. ltitchic,
and afterwards by Hon. Il. j. Walker, when
Secretary of the Treasury, know nothing what.
tcver of it, never having heard Of it until Tread
it in his book True, it was admitted to be
important that Mr.. Tyler should be withdrawn
as q candidate, for his running would divert
many votes, particularly in Virginia and else
where, and might produce great confusion
and cndanger the results very much 1t was
calculated that we could carry the election,
even if We lost Tennessee, but Mr.. Tyler run
ming might endanger all.
The only other point of the slightest con.
sequence mentioned was III relation TO the
ultra movements then recently made in South
Calolina, commonly called the Blnfton
resolutions" Some excited persons, under
patriotic impulses, who had felt deeply grieved
by the wrongs of the Federal Government, had
indicated that this Sttte, at least, ought to
organize for separate action and resistance,
without waiting events or concert OF action.
They looked only at one question, the tarlif,
and did not consider the complication of our
position at that peculiar juncturc, and the
other great questions made. 1t was impor,
tant in other States That The friends Of Mr..
Polk should be relieved from connection or
identity with this local and ultra move at
that period. With that view, l wrote Col.
Elmore from Mr.. Polks, that it was OF great
Importance he should call meeting and in
trolucc resolutions in Charleston, rGpudiating
what were called the "Bluffton Resolutions. u
and 10 indicate that they were not the concerted
move Of the State.
thiuk he did so. Now these are candidly
and frankly all the subjects touched on Or
spoken of in that interview which Col. Benton
50 mysteriously introduces as an important
point in the political history Of that period,
Of course, l am fully aware that it was no
part of lis object to do any injustice to one
SO little knows as myself, but only to use Inc
for the purpose of makingi it appearin history,
by inference, that Mr.. Calhoun was capable
Of very small intrigue against two editors,
who had occupied a very conspicuous position
in the partizan conflicts Of that day, and that
lie was willing to make South Carolina play
the contemplate part of casting her vote for
the important Office of President merely to
crafty his personal vengeance. Atpage G5l,
he-says the South Carolina vote was disposed