The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1868-04-09
To the People of Kershaw District.

come the law of the land, I deem it
my duty to announce to yon my ac-
ceptance of the said nomination, upon
the principles laid down by the conser-
vative party Of the State and District,
as they have been represented to me
by friends who have visited me during
my recent land to some extent, still
subsisting) illness
The constitution proposed for your ac-
ceptance, contains many fatal and fun
damental errors of principle andpolicy
Without any reference to the so urce
whence it came, which, if it were 9TH
erwise such as met our approval, would
not prejudice it in my eyes, it cannot,
in many Of its provisions, be rendered
acceptable to the well informed people
of South Carolina, nor could it be to
any community Of enlightened men, in
any part of the world, because it is ut
terly violative of the conclusions of hu-
man experience and wisdom, derived
from history, sacred and prcfane.-
Believing this, it becomes my sacred
duty, rs 1 believe it is yours, to oppose
its ratification by all peaceful and law
full measures, without violence, without
bitterness, without prejudice, but, with
the sober earnestness of sons Of the
soil, conscienciously striving to avert
danger and evil from your beloved coun-
try, upon whose proper government all
her children depend for prosperity and
happiness. 1t is true, there is no great
| probability of defeating this constitution
at the polls, but it is not the less due to
the cause Of truth, that every individu-
al who is opposed to it should by his
vote, record his solemn protest against
measure, fraughtas We believe, with
very great mischief to all the interests of
the State. Letno consideration oftempo-
rary convenience, no disgust OF indifer-
ence begotten of past failures, no. base
fear ofpossible personal consequences,
no hasty and lnconsiderate resolution
heretofore taken, prevent any of you,
from the discharge of this duty, to
which Manhood, Truth and Patriotism
invite you.
The object of this movement is to Sc
cure peace and harmony among all our
people, without which, there can be no
prosperity to the State: We propose
to bury our prejudices in one common
grave To recognize the truth as
revealed in the Sacred Word, that God
made of one blood, all the nations of
earth. That though it has pleased Him
to appoint some unto honor, and some
unto dishonor, yet we shall not stand
in the way of any safe and sober eleva-
ton Of any of His people, whom He
would advance to new and higher po-
litical conditions; but on the contrary,
as it is our duty, SO it is our pleasure,
within these proper limits Of safety and
propriety to advance to the free exercise
of the franchise with all just correlative
advantages, every son of the soil who
can be considered qualified for its judi
cious exercise, either by an interest in
the body polite or by SO much learning
as may enable him to vote for the man
of his choice, without the assistance OF
another. This, which is the hroad
pledge laid down by the conservatives
in Columbia, is entirely consistent with
the views which I have long entertain
ed on this subject, and am prepared
now, and at all times, to maintain it as
Just, reasonable and liberal, and rest.
ing upon the purest and soundest prin-
ciples of the philosophy of popular gov
srnment. 1t must be evident to the
comprehension of the dullest mind, if
it be but honest, that the man cho has
neither substantial interest in the soil, nor
learning enough to read his o~n ballot,
ought not to be trusted with the right
to govern the State either in whole or
in part. This platform is SO wide, so lib
eral that it pens the door to every man
in the State if he has capacity and will
exertit. Eaccepted, it will soon harmo-
nize oil conflict, and blry all prejudice,
and we shall learn the mutual depen-
dence of a common citizenship Of COM
mon wealth. If it is rejected, and CONT
nues so, instead Of peace aad harmony,
what is now merely prejudice, will, af-
-