Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-09-16
Gov. Pickens' Proposition that the
Constitution he RemodeIed.


Constitution be RemodeIed.
The newspaper press of tho day, referring to
the interview between Gen. RosEcRAxs and cer-
tin distinguished Southern gentlemen at the
White Sulphur Springs, naturally points to arc
marx of Gov. PIcXENs uttered on that occasion :.
That something more than the installation Of
the Democratic Party into power, is required to
save tho country. And that New York, as tbe
most powerful State of the Union, should call
Convention of all the States, to remodel the Con-
sttution to suit the new order of affairs"
We regard this remark of Gov. PIckEss as the
remark of q Statesman, in contradistinction TO
.hecrudites of many of our politicians. 1t is
replete with profound political sagacity and philo-
sophie foresight. Forthezmost thoughtless must
see when their attention is directed theroto TINT
the old regime has passed away. That the Dec
laraton Of Independence, which is but little moro
than reduction Of tho "Rights Of Man" of the
French Jacobins, declaring equality and fraterni-
ty4-that Law is the expression of the People, and
thatliberty cOnsistsi doing whatever one chooses
is not taltegether suited to tho civilization and
wealth of the prsseG. day. That anything like
the exclamation of the market women, when ar
rested for the murder of citizen in the streets of
Paris-dWhat! we cannot kill whom we please
whom wo'are entitled to the benefits Of the great
charter of the Rights of Man 2'"-together with
the unlicensed freedom resulting from suchteach-
ing, cannot and will not be tolerated in country
now amongst the foremost in the worlds in popu-
lation, rank, wealth and intelligence. And thnt,
as Gov. PIcKESs says, something must be done
to meet the I" new order of affairs"
The powor of the People, their equality, their
liberty, their fraternity, their sovereignty, as
taught in the rights of man, will answSr worry
we'll as long as country is newly settled, when,
population is sparse, poverty general, and ambi-
ton laudablo because this very state affairs gives
birth to purity of morale, to virtue in Office, to
economy in admin istration, to prudence in couh-
Gil, and to general probity in the people them
selves. But it is inherent in the very nature of
things, that as society bccomes'mor advanced,
wealth more general, and ambition of place and
power more vaulting, something stronger than
anything to be found in the famous Declaration
above cited, must be appealed to in order to gov
ern men.
It is now evident and admitted that our coun-
try has undergone great and marked change,
itlhaving advanced from the purity of sparsely
settled Democracy to On ambitious, powerful and
wealthy oligarchy, Of which seven men, now
members OF Congress- may be said to constitute
the Directory that the termination of q civil
war of the first magnitude, has decided the two
cardinal doctrines Of the South, slavery and Sc
cossion, to be myths; and, substantially, that
the Constitution of the United States is mere
!. rcbment. -
It cnnnot be denied that the worse. passions of
men have been engendered during this war, and
now slumber only through policy; that those who
have lost their rank are empoisoned, those who
have lost their property ore. embittered, those
who have tasted Of power in both Armies, now
sent back to civil life, disappointed and dis
contented that in fact, as in Rome after the par.
tition of the Empire, so graphically described bS
Sallust, all who had lost their patrimony, al
who wore most remarkable for depravity, all whom
wckedness or disgrace had driven from Their
homes, found their way to that great Capital Us
the common sewer of the Republic, so now the
reckless, the turbulent, the ambitious, the disnp
pointed, tho proligate, all those who envy th,
good and eItol the bad, are 'cro@ding to oui
great cities, with the view to dcride Government
to set up innovation, to encourage mObocracy
ssdition and tumult. @
It is not from Democracy or its teachings that
in such country and amid such corruption, any
-aiyevatinn of tha preaant avils should be expect
ed. The history Of the world teachos that such
expectations have always ended in ruin and
disgrace. 1t ended in Byzantium in tho faction
Of the Blue and Green Ribbon Of tho Circus. i
terminated in Rome in the reckless combats q
the Hippodrome aud the glitter ofslicensed pros
titution and mightrhaye been foreseen in the
note of sssignation from the sister of the groa
Censor, Cato, to Caesar, when read in the Senate
Chamb,r by the latter, to the modification of hi.
rival and the enjoyment Of reverend Senators
It made bankrupt Of tho kingdom In the days o.
Louis XIV, and pictured itself in the scenes o.
Faublas, md afterwards in the celebrated ant
seductive Rights of man. 1t has filled the Presi.
dsntlM chair with Eail-Splittsrs and Tailors
Congress with Shoemakers nnd Faro Dealers, and
Washington with thieves and prostitutes. -.
Something more than Democracy and the lin.
stallation into power Of Democrats, is necessary
to meet tho new order of affairs" And we ven.
turc that the accomplished gentleman and states.
man who made this remark, does not anticipate
that the Rights of Man will assist in the cmer.
gency.
In the redress of experienced evils and the
dread Of present corruption, the last and highest
responsibility rests with those who from their
ability and experience, zee the yawning gulf OF
Democratic ruin, All will not, either from The
fear OF unpopularity or of factious demngogues,
attempt to bridge the drcadfd chasm.
We agree with Gov PrckESs that call for n
Convention of all tho Statss, in order to nter or
amend tho Constitution of the Union, would be
wise and dpolitic advance in theproper direction.
And.wc earnestly commend the suggestion to our
contempora aries Of the press. .ai.-.