Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-07-11
~ -. ci,izeniSs Of south Carolina.

To the Citizens OF South Saioiin"'
PrI,ox-Crr1zExs As Vice-President of
the National Union Club forthe State OF South
Carolina ! earnestly invite your attention to
,ho call for a National Convention, issued by
tbe Executive Committee of that body, and
recommended bY many OF the most eminent
and oat,iot;c members of both branches OF
tho preser. Congress.
the importance O! this meeting, and tic
beneficial consequences to result from 1t. can
scarcely he exaggerated. Separated as we
nave been for the last Eve years from all com.
mnnication with the people of the North and
West knowing but little of their opinions,
except as expressed through the unjust and
oposessive action Of the bitter partisan ma,
i5rity which at present controls the NationG'
LEGISLATURE. this is the first opportunity which
has hccn offered us to take free and equal
counsel with those who feel impelied, by a
sense Of high patriotism, to oppose the nn'
las, schemes of tue radicals in their systemh-
tic tic effort to oppress and humiliate the people
of hose States, aud defeat, if possible, the
rcconstr uotion Of the Union indefinitely. Ihe
address states clearly the rrlnc!p!es rpon,
which we are expected to act in common, snd
Il seems to me there is not one to which tins
State cannot subscribe in honor and Tith
sincerity. We simply recognize those results
which tie events Of the late war have placed
beyond bonds OF any future political discussion,
results in which we have unanimously snd SIN
rerely acoaiesced, and in conformity to which
we have already modified our Constitution.
onr legislation and our political sentiments.
We are invited 20 join in an acknowledgment
Of the wisdom Of that policy by which An
drew Johnson, President Of the United St-tes,
has. in the midst of difficulties unparalleled
IN tha history Of any Administration, man
tanned tie integrity of the Constitution, ldcn-
t;6ed the exercise Of the Executive power
with the rules Of strict Justice snd the spirit
of mercy, and proved his legitimate right to
sncceed the great founders of the republic as
the Chief Magistrate of a common country
which can be made and preserved as one ma.
lion only by the equal administration OF JUST
The purpose of the Convention will be te
organize, upon the principles set forth inthe
commi,tee's address, all conservative men OF OF
I'll sections, and of all former parties, and, II
ncssible, drive from power that radical party
who ara daily tramplinS under foot the Con,
eti,stion, snd fast converting Constitutions
Repnblic into consolidated despotism: =,
fhe great mass of the people, North and
West, have no higher interes. in party than
through it TO secure the wise, enlightened, just
government OF the country, and when organl'
9ation is effected, and the Presidents enlleh
tened policy of reconstruction is presented
for their approval or condemnation, there can
ps little doubt that he will be trlumpaanliy
sustained, and our rights as equals Id o Ee'
stored Union fully conceded.
The compact organization OF the conser-
ya,iye men is o necessity to meet successfully
the well-organized bands of the radicals, anc
every man who disapproyes of the tyrannica
and unwise policy of the latter, should join il
This national patriotic lesgue to defeat them
We are without repr, sentatlon IN both
houses Of Congress neither our opinions mol
condition caa be officially known to the conn
1rv: unjust and discriminating taxes are lin
nosed on us-a people sadly impoveris he'd
hv the calamities Of the last hvs years-and
We are allowed no voice of protest even in
the councils OF the netion. Our loyalty to
.ss Go~ernm.nt os the United States is inn
pncned in the fsce ofour caths of allegiance,
fa!cn solemnly and in good faith, and the
moor privilege an official denialis withheld
We are Threatened with disiranchisement
and being remanied to a territorial condition,
and We ere TO be denied all the rights ard
privileges dear to al American, and consecra-
Led by the blood of the heroes Of l77C, until
we subscribe to terms too degrading and hu-
initiating to be entertained by a freeman for
single moment.
We, then. have the deepest interest in the
meeting of the Convention, In organizing all
conservative men 70 aid in carrying ont the
wise and generous policy inaugurated By Pres
ident johnson and / therefore reilerate the
earnest hope that you will take Immediate
stops to secure the representation ofthls State
in the Philadelphia Convention, in August,
by the wisest and ablest men in the State.
AS the time is short, and the means OF in'
accommodation between the different Sec
tions of the State imperfect, beg leave res
pectfully to suggest that public meetings Of
the citizens of each Judicial District be held
on the fourth Monday in July instant, (23d,)
st the Court Houses, and that delegates be
appointed at these meetings TO Convention
Of the State, to meet at Columbia, on Wednes-
day, the first day of August; that the State
Convention appoint the delegates to Philadel
phia. Each judicial District sending as many
delegates to Columbia as may be convenient
or agreeable, end that Convention determio-
ing the vote of each District, which will, per.
haps, be vote equal to the representation OF
each District in the House of Representatives.
he delegates from the several Judicial
,lricts making up the Congressional Dis
.cts, will most likely be charged with the
ELECTION of two delegates for each District,
and the whole Convention select.the four del
egates at large to represent the State. The
selection of the delegates for the State at
large would seem to require State Conven-
ton, and if it assemblies, it wonld be desira
BILE, as already indicated, that it should like
wise select the District delegates.
These suggestions as to the mode Of select
ing convention-the time, place Of meeting.
and the basis Of its orgauization-are made
in the hope Of certainly securing action in
every District, and there is not time other.
wise to settle byediscussion or consultation
the details which have Eentured to make.
JAMES L. ORR,
yiceyPresident of the Union Club,
For South Carolina.
ANDERSON, 8. c., July 4, 1866.