The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-04-06
(COMMUSIcATED.)
THE CHARLESTON CONVENTION.

After tho adjournment Of the Agriculture
meeting held in the Court House on Mouda,
lost, Democratic Convention meeting was or
ganized, by appointing Mr.. Thomas c. Perrin
Chairman, who, upon taking the Chair, ex
pressed his views in a. few approprate re-
marks. lie said for time it had been the pol
ICY OF tho State to stand alpof from nominating
Conventions, but he thought tho circumstance {.
which originated that policy no longer existed;
that time had passed, and that the State, q. this
Junctnre of our political affairs, should be rep
resented in the nominating Convention. where
alone her influence could he felt in selecting the
candidates for the highest Offices in the Govern.
ment. This was due TO ourselves and especially
to our Southern sister States, who would bo rep.
resented in the Convention. and would nced the
assisianc of all their natural allies in their efforts
to select good and true men.
This ia eminently necessary at this time, for the
reason that the majority of tho Convention will
represent Northern States. mnny of which, it is
certainly known will not be able to cast for the
nominees single vote i'll the election As the
South is to DO represented in tho Convention,
the whole South III full strength sh ould he there.
lie thought it our duty ut thi time, waving for
tho present nll objections to tho Conventional
saystem, to join the phnlunx Of our Southern
friends
Gen. McGowan said he would not mike II
speech, but would preface tho resolutions hc in.
tended to offer, by the mere statement Of two
or three simple propositions, which hn thought
conclusive as 10 the rxpcdiency Of our heing
represented In tho Charleston Convention. The
election for President and Vice President will
certainly take place at tho regular period pro.
vided by the Constitution whether we par,ici
pated i'll it or not. 1t is not matter Of in liircr.
ence to us, whether n fit and proper pc,son
should hold the Office, which has veto upon
Legislation, immense patronage, and the power
Of influencing the whole policy Of tho Govern
ment- In Government of States like ours, dif.
ferng in soil, climate, products, institutions and
political opinions, it is impossible that any party,
principle or policy can attain the ascendency
without concert of action, aud in reference to
the election for President, this concert can only
be attained by some preliminary machinery, such
as Congressional Caucuses or Conventions
Whatever may be the objections to these bodies
either they or something to accomplish the same
purpose, are absolutely necessary The attempt
to dispense with some contrivance 10 produce
concert of action would result in confusion worse
confounded, aud finally in the overthrow of the
Government There are objections to the plan
Oh which the Conventions are organized, as there
were objections to the Congressional Caucus sys.
tenn, but still concert Of action is none the less
necessary. South Carolina has endeavored TO
correct the errors in the organization of the Con-
Vention, but 10 no purpose. They are now the
established usage of the country, and will be
held whether we 90 into them or not.
The only proctical question for us is, whether
we will go in or stay out. There are undoubt-
edly responsibilities connected with going into
the Convention, and perhaps for mere politicians
the safest course in our State is to oppose the
whole thing. But arc there not also great re-
sponsibilitics connected with staying out? It
Is safe to stand aloof from the struggle That
position affords an opportunity to claim part
of it, if victory is ours; and if disaster comes,
to disclaim all responsibility for it, but is
it generous or honorable towards our friends, or
just to ourselves or the country?
There are now only Two great parties about
to enter into death struggle for the Presidency
the Black Republican. q sectional party, which
IS utterly hostile to us. and the Democratic par
~, which claims to be, and in the main is, a
Constitutional party, even according to our
strict standard. We must take sides with one
or the other. To stand aloof is virtually to join
the enemy. In this great struggle he that is
not for us is against us. But the State will not
stand aloof-she will, in oil probability, vote for
the Democratic nominee, as she has heretofore
done. Then why not have a voice in selecting
that nominee? There are before us. two con-
tests-one in the nominating Convention as to
the proper person, and the other before the peo.
pie as TO his election; the first of which is
scarcely of less magnitude than the latter. At
this crisis it is all-important that the proper
man should be nominated. Our friends in the
Convention will need all our assistance, and in
order that our proper influence may lie felt there,
he offered the following Preamble and Resolu-
ton:
Whereas, it is deemed expedient that South
Carolina should unite in counsel with the only
party of the country which has any regard for
the Constitution, and especially with her sister
Southern States, who will be represented in the
Democratic National Convention to be held OF
Charleston, on the twenty-eighth of April inst,
to nominate candidates for the Presidency and
Vice-Presidency Of the United States. And
Whereas State Convention will be held in Co.
lumbia for the purpose of sending Delegates To
the Charleston Convention; and whereas, also
it is desirable, as said Columbia Convention will
certainly be held, that the whole Stete should
be properly represented there, in order that the
course of South Carolina may bexdeliberately
taken. and her influence felt in selecting candi
dates for the highest Offices in the Government
Therefore, be it
Resolved That Delegation Of twelve be ap
pointed by the Chairman of this meeting IL
represent Abbeville District in the Convention
to be held in Columbia the sixteenth day o.
April instant.
Mr. Jones seconded the resolutions, and CAV,
II L. n