Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-03-24


the balIot-boX. l., rs one Of the Representa-
tivcs of tic South, accept that issue, and NV
people will accept it,. We are neither the
custodian of Vir%inia's rights nor the guardi
an of Nirgmias honor. Right well has the
Old Dominion take care Of both. True to
hcranclent renown, she has metcd out to the
invaders of her soil the just reward and pun
ishment due their crimes and conduct The
calm dignity of her position now claims the
admiration OF our Southern States. My SYM
pathicS arc and have been with her in all the
trying scenes through which she has recently
passed and had the lbc support of this
right arm been required in her behalf it
should have been rendered US readily as ever
1t was extended to lift one of my own off.
spring from It's cradle. But Virginia ,hcd-
ed 1T not. She has given one at the best
practical illustrations of the sovereignty of
the states and genuine State rights doctrines
that has yet been presented to the people of
this Contcderacy since the foundation OF the
Governments.
As have already said, Virginia has once
more rendered the issue, as | understand her.
at the baot,boN on the election of Presi.
dent OF these United States, for the four years
succeeding the Ith of March, 1860. and for
one, accept it, and my people will accept it.
Planting ourselves under the standard of
the great Democratic party of the South. we
will make one more effort to bear into the
Presidential chair a fair exponent of the Con-
st'tutian in the person OF the man, whoever
he may be, whom tile delegates in convention
from the South and from the true Democracy
of the North shall present to MS i Shall
stand by Virginia and the great States of the
South i'll support Of the nominee they may
offer me: and if we go down in the stucnlc.
viii again unite with them in such action
and policy as the eXigcncics of our situation
and the necessities Of our position may de-
mand.
And now, sir, have word or two to saw
on the subject of a vote which east here
sometime since for the distinguished gentle.
man form Illinois Mr. McClernand1 us Spca.
Rer OF this House, which vote has been cIiar-
ncterlzed by a ioumalin my own State as an
ahtl-slnvcry Douglas, squatter sovereignty
vote and for which | have been set aside,
oy the ,PSc dinH of said paper, " forever in
the State of South Carolina" | will read
Que or two brief extracts from that paper:
MIR, ASUMoRE AND THE DEM0cRArrc
BANNER. the vote was about to be
taken on the election of Speaker in the House
OF Representatives, Mr. McClernand BEING
the Democratic candidate, the account of the
proceedings, published yesterday in our col
umns, states as follows:
Mr.. Asllmorc, of South Carolina, made
an earnest appeal to the Democrats from all
sections to rally to the Democratic flag. If
they be stricken down, that banner will cover
them"
The Democratic banner on this occasion
was borne by free sill, squattcr sovereignty,
internal Improvement Democrat (f such Il
man can be called Democrat at ail). Those
were the principles embazoned on its folds.
we know very little of Mr.. Ashmorcs politi-
cal principles. He comes from the old Whir
Federal District of the State-rcpreScn,ed
tormcr y by General Thompson, as a Wing, |
and which sent Col. Orr to Congress running
IN favor OF General Taylor's election 10 the
Presidency, against Mir. Perry, running 0s
the Democratic candidate in favor of General
Cass. We have always understood, however. |
that he was II State Rights, anti.tarif, anti |
internal improvement, anti irecSoil man In
lbs canvass for the seat in Congress lie occu-
pes, he proicsscd, we are informed the strong
est State Rights and Southern Rights views.
Now, such man, we would suppose, would
not only refuse to rally under banner in
scribed with Squattcr-Sovcrignty Frecsoil.
and Internal Improvements by the Federal
Government, but do all he could to strike it
down. lie seemed very jeolous, short time
since, OF the House, when one of its members
was harshly assnilcd by public press. The
honorof the South and of South Carolina. we
would suppose, might. appear to be somewhat
involved IN eevatng n man to the Speaker |
ship, t"grant'y representing principles hostile
to her constitutional rights and interests, and
to his own principles. Vet, for some reason
or other, he seems to glory in IL banner which
has inscribed upon it Exclusion of the
South from our Territories by SuuatterSove
re'Gnty; no more Slave States and the plum |
der OF the Federal Treasury for Internal In
provements." He says that if stricken
down. it will cover him. 1t was stricken
down, and we think it will cover him, poti-
cally, Us eifectuallyas six feet of earth. Can't
MIR, Ashnore bc persuaded to come into the
Convention, and briuy his Demo
cratic banner with him2 1t may cover more
people than HIMSELF"
[Ch0rleston Nercu,y, FEB. 4.
Acknowledging no allegiance to or affinity
with the sentiments that control that Daper. /
yet dcemit due to those whom represent to
put myself right on the record in regard there (
to Having no disposition, Mr.. Chairman.
10 engage III a newspaper controversy whilst
IN the discharge of my public duties here, I
sln'Ii, nevertheless, proceed to show the gross
n0ustice that has been done, not only to inc,
but to my honorable and distinguished friend
from Illinois. The paper which aiude to
has also indulged In sneer ut the whole peo.
pie ot my congressional district. lin answer