The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-07-28
COLUMBIA.S J.
Tuesday Morning, July %, 1868.
Democratic sIeeting ut saiuda Fac
80 tory. ~ a5l

Democracy OF the vicinity OF Saluda
Factory. They bad given out word,
for several days previous, that they
we're going to have. g barbecue ard a
meeting OF the Democracy, to ratify
the recent nominations Of the Ma
tional Democratic Convention for
President and ,Vice-P President Not
withstanding the unpropitious ap-,
pearance Of the morning, the place
of meeting was thronged, at an early
hour. by large number of the male
population freely interspersed with
numbers Of the. fair sex, who had
come out to grace the occasion with
their approving smiles. When the
hour for speaking arrived, Colonel
Palmer, who presided on the occa-
sion, introduced Gel. j. p. Thomas,
who addressed the. audience as fol-
lows: e 1aitsj& 80 ltH 'nt
FEInow-C CITIZENS OF LEXINGTON:
am here, at your bidding, to coun-
sci with you upon the questions of
the hour. regret that I cannot
bring to you a larger political expe-
rience and more influential name;
but what I am, and what I have,
these am ready to contribute to the
vital cause that now demands our
energies. And I may truthfully add,
that no one can have keener per-
ception than I of the magnitude of
the present issues, or q more deter
mined resolution to seek such solu-
tion of the problem before us, as will
secure the best interests of this
noble commonwealth, Of which we
are proud to be citizens.
Let US, now, consider the political
present by the light of the political
past of our country. and let me sug-
gest the duties and responsibilities
that pres upon ur. Ever since the
establishment, in 1887, of our Fede-
raj Constitution, two great parties
have ever divided the Union, and
this division has been based mainly
upon difference of opinion as to the
true character of our complex system
of government The one party, un-
der Mr.. Jefferso. s lead, asserted the
State rigbts' theory; the other, under
Mr.. Hamilton, advocated the national
view. The one seeing danger,in con-
solidated, centralized power, pro-
claimed the rights and sovereignty of
the States, and regarded this theory
as alone consistent with the grandeur
of the country and the liberty of the
citizens; the other, apprehending
anarchy from excessive power in the
States, favored a strong central Go
vernment. Amid all the party
changes that have taken place in the
country, this issue has always stood
out in bold relief, and drawn the
line of demarcation between Federal
ist and Republican, between Demo-
crat and Wing, between Democrat
and Radical. ..%4
On account of their traditional
conservatism and comparative weak
ness, the Southern States naturally
adhered to the Jeffersonic view Of
the Government. The question of
State rights became the subject of
debate, and the statesmen of the
South and those of the North rose to
the height of the great argument,
and brought to bear upon this point
ali the resources of mind and oratory,
of genius and learning. But the
point remained unsettled. We had
grown great and prosperous; had ex-
tended our limits from the Northern
lakes to the Mexican Gulf, from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, and still the
true relation between the States and
the General Government RENAME /
unsettled. Finally, by the seces-
sion of the Southern States in 1851,
the matter was submitted to the arbj-
trament of the sword; and as the
contest advanced, the question of the
continuance OF the institution of
African slavery was submitted to the
same arbitrament. The late great
war ensued.
I do not intend now to enter into
the details Of that gigantic struggle,
attended, as it was, with displays OF
valor, genius and devotion on both
sides, that have compelled worlds
admiration. But I will say, that the
loyalty due to the Government we
now acknowledge is not inconsistent
with our fidelity to the sentiments,
the principles and the memories OF
our Confederate cause. It NAV be
-. 5a.I- /, .i-l-'s =