Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-09-07
THE ISSUE.

great service to the Conservative cause in siin-
plifying anu making plain the issue of the col
ing canpnign. 1t not only gave in its own
proceedings high example of harmony nnI
concentration but indicated the ground on
wLic, oil can stand. Without rsfrrcuce to
mere words or expressions, the action Of the
! Convention taken a wholc furnishes the
ground upon which the whole country can con.
| centrate their efforts. The issue for the fall
elections is made up. The lists are set, and the
contest coIn,neaced. 1t is The si,uple question
Of the representation Of tho South in tho law
making body of the Government. II is sim
pte, good aud strong issue. and we believe it
will prevail. 1t is no small matter that the ia.
sue is single and plain. Politics has become 80
much Of trade that there Is always danger Of
the people being confused, bcwdered and
cheated by many IDEAS ard the numerous
words Of stump orators. The people have no
motive to do wrong ana the patriotic rnusscs
! rarely err if they understand clearly. The
quest II here is III IL nut shell.
Tie issue is good one, because it il plain and
simple, 'ni;'t.;": ia pdrrt." Exclusion from
representation is the cause oc most cf our
grievances 1t is made the essential point by
the Radicals and it is SO. Representation i'll
| Congress will be not only the ,.cc of res
toratlon. but the cause Of much Improvement
! in eut condition. 1t lies at the foundation Of
The whole matter That gained almost every.
thing else will follow. 1t is the vital point.
The issue is well made and the Radicals so re-
gar'li Some Of their journals are striving to
dodge it. Tie New York Post advises his
party not to accept It, but TO brs,g out men in
favorof the South being represented at once
"The CALLED jade will vince" We fear tie
Greeiane giving gifts.
Tile issue is q strong one because it is righl--
The idea Of taxation without representation
strikes the common sense of the people as apti-
! republican. absurd and oppressive. The thing
Is INDUSTRIOUS In itself, but in this instance The
oppression is aggravated to the degree of augi
tioue crime by the circumstances. The his.
tory of the world will show that when one
people has assumed to govern another, it has
been generally on the grounds that the gov
erned people are colonial, foreign or in come
way inferior. Even Imperial Rome incorpo.
rated into the Empire her conquests Of bar
onrous nations, as soon rs they would assimi.
late with her institutions but here thcro is no
prctense that we are foreigners We were
once the associates and nt least the peers of
these modern oppressors. We are 10 strangers
20 their form Of government, and it will not be
! pretended by any Person having any claims to
| intelligence that we nro in virtue, honor or
worth one whit their interiors. As we were
once their associates we are their equals now in
every quality .of intelligence and manhood
We nre not only governed by another people
but governed shamefuly-by military triLu-
nals,-Lurcaus md buyones! Add to this our
anomalous condition - half white and half
black-the black half recently emancipated
from mslaVery-ignorant improvident and dis
honest and the governing power in sympa,hy
with that elements. ond you present conli-
tlon worse tl'un that cf Hungary, Poland or
ireland. They Lold that the original bond of
| unloE still exists-tliat hos never been broken.
Ahat tor The purposes OF taxation. punishment
ana penalties, we arc now associated with
Them and always have been. and yet in direct
contradiction to this they deny us represents.
ton. We nre in for taxation but ont for repre.
sentation. The history of the world does not
afford another instance OF such ,nonstrous in
consistency. absurdity and insolence But this is
not half the story. Every argument is against
them, but they tsubstitute passion-vengeance.
1t is impossible to assign any cause for our ex.
clusion, but the wicked and unchrs,an one
OF envy hatred and malice" This cannot
prevail! never, neverl! No party that relies
solely on the bad passion of bad men can suc
ceed before the American people Tho Conser-
waves have in their favor tho potent cry of
union' argument right, justice. policy, kind.
ness' generosity. liberty, equality and frater-
nifty. Here is rich theme for the hustinpsI
suofi as has rarely been open to the political or
ator. In contest Of this kiuI it is impossible
'or US to remain Indifferent. 1t ia not in our
nature. 1t is true VIC are not in tho fight. We
are mere spectators but We are deeply inter.
ested in the result. The issue grows out Of our
rights. We arc the subject matter of contro-
versy. Victory or defeat will enure 10 our ad.
vantage or ruin-all that is left us is at stake
Dur people have nlways been remarkable for
devotion to princiPle-tho right as it appeared
TO them. Clear as to the right in this case
and see'ng that the battle is waged for them
against tie most Infamous party Tint ever dis
graeed any country. every just man, in the
South will wish God speed to his friends in the
contest, and every generous heart will beat in
sympathy with; h;sxrsy effort made to overthrow
the hydra headed nionstsf of Radicalism-.'
"onee more Into iiis Bfeash, dcar friends,
Once nore," ssays IL .l..s.
TuE GnEEsvl1LE Asb coIyapn R.,,ro,,D
The bridge onAts Grssnyills and columbia
Railroad across Broad river'swmaHs nished
this week, when the trains VIII rEa fEaropel
as In the days Of yore Thinks u. .tlls. .easr.