The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-12-05
FOR THE LANCASTER LEDoER.1
To the People of Lancaster District

had passed the Bill providing for the call
of Convention of the people of this State,
the election of delegates to take place the
9th and the convention TO assemble on the
18th December. ] Was absent about one
week. On my return home, | found that
preliminary meeting had been held by some
of the citizens, calling a general meeting
of the people Of the District To take place
in the Village on the 23d November, for
the purpose of nominating three delegates
To- represent the District in said CoHyen-
tlon. Before the meeting took place, it as
generally understood, that those who were
most apure, had selected u tic ket which did
receive the nomination, in fact, | was told
on my road home who had been selected
After my return and before the meeting |
was solicited by many gentlemen TO become
canqldqte. ] stated | did not desire the
position. that II was grave, responsible and
important trust, one that called for and re.
quned tho services of our wisest, most pru.
dent and experienced citizcns-,lIat Qucs-
tions and matters of great momerI and in.
trcacy would come before that body which
The wlnest could not now foresec that SO
tar from being disposed 20 thrust forward,
! was inclined TO dstrnst my fitness for the
trust that besides the Ordinance of Seces-
slon+ (Which probably would be the simplest
duty of the dcIegate) the Convention would
have 10 pr"'ld tor the exercise of all the
rights and powers which the State had del
cgated to the General Government, when
the present Constitution was adopted and
probably TO remodel our Constitution in
other respects Besides | earnestly and ar
IDENTIFY desired that there should be but one
ticket, that the Distric, Wouii he united
harmonious and unu,id,.i | cOunsrlIei
this, advised calmrcss. de!.nrration and pru
dence, that il was hXcd fact the State
wUu.i seccde, ] so Wr"'u To some friends
from Columbia. ! also slated that the po
sitIon of delegate was not 20 be sought
or rlectlonccrcd tor, but that the district
had ever honorcd me with her support and
cOUfd"nco, Nor which am aud ever will
be gratefully and If tue people saw proper
To select me | should fee bound to accept
and discharge the duty Of delegate to tue
best of my ability, looking 10 the honor OF
the State, and To the welfare and interest
Of the people of Lancaster District
You ara aware, that on the day of the
meeting il rained heavily the entire voters
of the Indian Land, funderburk, Taxahaw,
SmalI's and Horton boxes were absent. and
bot very few from the angling Rock. New
salem nnd Cedar Creek HeignborhOods
were present. You are also aware that,
that meeting nominated ticket. II was "A
relief To me that ] was not selected. Ia
the evening after the meeting many friends
Expressed thciI regret Since then ! have
been solicited by persons from different por.
tons OF The DISTRICT, TO allow my name TO
be used. have been nominated with 9th
er gentlemen in hattcring manner in the
N
signed Sy ninety-siX valued and cherished
friends To become n candidate. Friends
tins manifestation, this evidence Of conr
partiality and confidence places me under
renewed obligations Of gratitude. This
voluntary ou,burSt Of feeling, partiality
kindness and confidence embarrnsses me.
because il hos been 90 generously bestowed
upon NE without any solicitation or pro-
cuiement on my part wish that could
accomm pdate you. it would be gratifying
to me. that you should be grained, but
cannot. ticket has been nominated tine
peace and harmony of the people of tho
district demand that one ticket be run
The times are ominous and momaniaus-
We are in the beginning Of n revolution.
We have n Iurmidable enemy to contend
against-ifc future is untrlsd and NAV be
beset with diifcuities-thcre should be no
division as TO n on. The State should be
unit and Lancaster District an undivided
and harmonious portion Of that uni: We
should meet the issue calmly and fearless
~ Let me en;reat you, beg you fellow
citizens To waive your paTtialiiy and conf
dcnce for me and let the harmony Of the
people of the District be preserved | urv-
sr can cOnsrnt, IN this trying tim :, when wc
should all stand shoulder 10 shoulder rs n
band Of brothers, that my promotion shall
distract and divide II people 10 whom am
80 arnently attached and devoted. The
State will soon scccdr; by Christmas. South
Carolina will be out Of the Federal Union
Let every son Of South Carolina stand hy
her TO the death, there will be plenty of
employment tAg ql. her citizens | have al
ready offered her my services as n volunteer,
in that capacity cgn serve the District and
State. We have every assurance of co
operation on the pa:t of several Of the
slave States. The noble State of Alabama
led On by her eloquent Yanccy and her in
lr,p pid Coy. Moore, both natives of South
Carolina, will soon be by our side Florida
fgll Of sympathy for us, with the brave
Gov. Perry, son of Lancaster, in the lead
is ready. The gallant state Of Mississippi
il farming. Texas, flushed with tn. vic.
tories Of her own revolution, will be near
the Flashing "f the guns" Georgia, the
empire State Of the South, il inafshalIing
her forces and her hosts. Ark0nsas and
Louisiana must and i'll join us The good
old North State, our nearest sister, will take
her position with US. She may be little
tardy, but her calmness and delLeration
will be resolved Into determined resistance.
Mary land, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky
and Missouri vii! ultimately come, they
have II common interest and a common des.
tiny with us-So have all he slave States
and especially the Cotton States. Let US
receive them with open arms and cordial
greeting. Let us DO nothing To chill their
advances, but everything to Ord them come
and be welcome.
But fellow citizens whist | decline for
the reasons briefly indicated aud others
could state, to be II candidate Tor the Con
vention, allow me TO tender YOU my sincere
thanks for the interest you have manifest.
ed never will never can, aud never shall
forget this manifestation will cherish
and treasure it with grateful heart and