The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-03-07
The Charleston Conyen tion.

Monday last (Salesday in March) was
the day appointed by number of Districts
in the State for meetings to be held at the
several Court Houses, for the purpose Of
sendiug delegates to the State Democratic
Convention in Columbia which body will
select delegates to represent the State at
large in the National Convention, to be held
in Charleston next month. So far, no demon.
stralion oe this kind has been made in Lar
caster, and it is not likely now that there
will be. 1t has been said that II majority
tf the people of this District are opposed
to the State taking part in Presidential nom-
insitng Conventions, and the result of the
effort made here four years ago 10 have the
District represented in the State Conven.
tion, favors this belief.
we have taken no pains To ascertain what
the popular sentiment is in relation to this
matter and there has not been, to our
knowledge, much Interest manifested in re-
gard to Lancaster being repre- in the
State convention. We confess to an indf
ference upon the subject ourself; but this
indifference was partly the result of the
conviction, early entertained, that the State
would assuredly be represented in the Ma.
tional convention, notwithstanding few
Districts might refuse to take any part in
the measure. We have never doubted that
the State would go into Convention, and
we have been equally as well convinced
that il is her duty to do so. The system is
liable TO many broad objections, but mas
much as il is not n new question--that it is
already established, and that some such or
ganization is expedient-ls in fact the nec
essary result of 4 Government like ours, we
should make the best of the system we
have and not repudate the whole plan be.
cause Of its imperfections. Besides, South
Carolina can effect nothing by holding her
sell aloof. Her exclusiveness only serves
to weaken her influence in the National
Councils. She has decided that separate
State action is neXpedieHt-has determined
TO abide thefortunes Of her sister States of
the South. Then let her take counsel with
them for our common interest duty to
them and to herself demands this of her
South Carolina holds herself in readiness
10 cooperate with her sisters States of the
South in any plan looking to dissolution
of the Union but before that event is con-
sumated there are battles to be fought in the
Union, and here too she should be found by
the side Of those Of her sister Southern
States with whom her interest and fortunes
are identified. Recent political events ren.
der il matter of vast consequence that she
be represented in the approaching Charles
ton Convention, for there n contest will be
Yaged affecting her rights in common with
the rights afthe other Southern States :;
but she should, in our opinion. rs the State
of Alabama has done, instruct her delegates
to accept no platform ofprncipIes that does
not rePudiate the Douglas squatter Sow
erignty doctrine, and to insist upon the
adoption of Fl creed which will project the
rights Of the owners Of slaves in the Ter
ritories. Failing to secure the adoption of
such platform of principles, they could
then be OF no further advantage to the
South and should withdraw from the Con-
yention