The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-04-06
THE DEMOCRATIC MEETING.

By reference to the published proceedings
in another column, it will be seen that meet.
ing of the citizens Of the District was held in
the Court House on Monday last, and that dele
gates were appointed to the Columbia Demo-
cratic Convention. There was good attend
ance on the occasion, aud able and impressive
speeches were delivered by the Chairman,
Tnos. c. PERRrS, Esq, Gen. MCGOWAN, II. A.
JoNEs, and Others, in support of The objects of
the meeting, and the necessity of the propo-
sed action. We had the pleasure Of hearing
these speeches, which fo:cibly presented the
leading arguments in favor Of the Convention
Movement, but we were not convinced Of the
propriety of now departing from the long set
tied policy Of the State, and rcnouncing tho
principles which have controlled her past ac-
ton.
The rropriety Of participating in these con-
ventone is no novel question in South Carolina,
but has been again and again considered in oil
its bearings by the most distinguished of our
Statesmen. The question has been thorough
ly discussed and finally adjudicated. aud in
pursuance of judgement deliberately formed.
the State has constantly refused to participate
And now when she is asked to repudiate her
former action, and to tuke new position, it is
incumbent upon the advocates Of the measure
to advance strong reasons for the proposed
coursc--to show that former objections
longer apply, or are controlled by change of
circumst ances. calling for a change Of policy.
But how stands the casc
1t is sconccjed by the advocates of the Com
vention policy, that there has been no improve
,nent in the constitution of these bodies. but
that the lapse Of time has only given increased
prominence TO the most serious objections,
which have been urged against them. They
are the same selfconstitutcd, irresponsible
bodies ms of old, composed Of intriguing poll
ticians and hungry aspirants, and afford no
true reflex Of the popular wi-whilst the
change in the relative strength Of the North
and South, has given to the Northern element
n weight in the Convention, which it has lost
in the Electoral College. AS now constituted
these conventions enable the free soil States to
exert controlling influence in the Conyen
tion whilst they ore powerless in the Electoral
College, and MS the nomination is in fact, tho
election, Tin case Of the success of the party,)
mere men Of straw from the North, represent
ing nothing and controlling nothing outside
the Convention, elect their candidate by the
aid Of Southern votes. Wesuppose that in the
Charleston Convention, there will be at least
l3o votes from States which will support the
Republican Ticket, yet these are the votes
which are to have a controlling influence in the
election of a Democratic Iresdent-which are
to give US Douglass nominee, and squattcr
sovereignty platform.
But it Is said that we have no alternative
but to participate. ut is Convention or moth
ing. A Democratic Caucus would be perhaps
preferable, but That alternative IS not now pre-
sented; and by not going into the Convention,
we fail to exert our influence in securing nomi-
nation, which we are pretty certain to support
in any event" The natural reply to this is. that
this influence is not lost by our failure to par
ticipate, and that indeed 1t may be more effcc-
tual without than within. South Carolina still
retains her electoral vote. and withall her in
dependence. and the necessity of securing her
support of the nominee, exists with equal force
whether she participates or not in the delibera-
'i'"o VI I'e Sopse"1ioh' ny SoihS ihto thc
Convention, she enters with a tacit under
standing that she will abide tho event of its
action and support it's nominee, but by re-
out we retain to ourselves the privi-
ege of accepting or rejecting the terms propo-
sed
In pursuing this policy South Carolina does not
arrogate to herself superior wisdom or virtue
to any of her confederates. She is willing to
meet with her sister Southern States in con-
vention, but she does not desire to consort with
those who are alien TO her in feeling and inter
est, and who whilst they can give us no equiv
aent for Southern votes, will use all their ipflu
ence to force upon US platform and candi-
date that we loathe.