The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1860-08-14
Our Position.

UuT IOSlblOO
In our prospectus we announced that We would
conduct our paper Independent of all parties, fac
tions or cliqucs. We arc.awarc of the difficulty of
such an undertaking in these troublous and
tumultous times, when party, is arraycd against
party with all the aspcry Of ancient hatred, fired
by recent injury. Party feeling entirely disorts
the Judgment, and where the mind is once infected
with the disease it can only find pleasure in what
contributes to increase the distempcr. When one
unitcs with party he must cling TO it through all
its changes or be denounced as a traitor, anu
called by all the ''unloyely epi;hcts" that satire
can invent.
These are some of The reasons why we are un-
willing to unite with any political party without
cspousing the cause of any. VIC will attempt to
moderate the rage of all, holding to the rule that
medium is the best in all things.
We regard it as the duty Of every individual en-
dowed with reason tothink for himself and arrive
ot his own conclusions in matters touching his in
tercst 10 cpdble him to do this, he need only
have facts set before him. lie who hears but one
side of a/9uestion must eithe, form onc-sided
opinion, or not form opinion at all. To obviatc
this we will present to our readers oil sides of cv-
cry question which. may come up for discussion,
and about which they may be interested as good
citizens willing to contribute their influence to the
general welfare and intelligence After making
fair and impartial statements. we will express our
opinion without regard to popular favor
In regard to our public functionaries, the ser
wants of the people, and to whom they are answer
able for their political deeds, will pursue like
Independent poicy-approving when there is any
thing worthy of approval condemning when there
is not We do not intend to act the vain pane
cyrist, or idle satirist.
In Federal politics. We recognize no higher
law " than the Constitution we want nothing less
than the rights it guarantees to us. We hold to
the doctrine that when our rights are invaded by
false constructions of the Constitution, that we
have the right either to resort to coercvc measures
to compel q recognition of them, or to Withdraw
from the Union and act upon the defensive.
Should the Union survive the present crisis, to
avoid future strife, arc in favor of so altering
and amending the Constitution clearly to de-
fine our rights that there can be no doubt as to
the powers it confcrs or the meaning thereof We
arc opposed to the disposition that many in the
South manifest to abide by the decisions of the
Supreme Court of the United States touching the
institution of slavery. Though the decision Of
that Court in the Dred Scot case was just and con-
ryriru,1unss yet il is no guaranty OF similar deeis-
ions in the future We believe thut-IEc.- Lave Ger
tain inal:cnable rights of which neither legislation
by Congress- territorial legislation or judicial de-
cisions can justly deprive us. Among these are
personal security, personal liberty and private
property We bclieyc that slaves are property,
and as such, one of our inalienablc rights We
regard the institution as no moral evil, but as Il
social and political blessing. We are in favor of
an immediate and permanent settlement of this
question, which for the last forty years has dis
turbed the peace of our country, and has come
very near demonstrating to the world that true
democracy is, q sLmera in politics We ara orne==@ r :
to the timorous policy that has heretofore charac-
terized the South
Indignation, sigh and frown,
But with too little courage to throw the gauntlet
down"
Our motto ls7 EquaiIy Ill 'he oiiion VI i"ue
pendencc out of it," and that speedily We arc
strictly States Rights in our constructions of the
Constitution. The Virginia and Kentucky resol''-
ton of 1889 embody our State Rights creed
Want of space forbids our going into particulars,
and discussing the questions that now engage the
public mind These few general remarks must
suffice for the present to show our position.