The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-09-09
Eon. j. P. Reed.

At the meeting of the District Central Club on
Monday last, a resolution was offered and unani-
mousy adopted proposing the Hon. ]. P REED as
a suitable person to receive the nomination for
Congress ut the Nominating Convention to- be held
in Columbia on Tuesday next. The suggestion is
an admirable one, and We desire to endorse this
action MS deserved tribute to our fellow citizen,
whose efforts in behalf of the Democracy have
produced splendid effect and have been warmly
applaudcd in this and other Districts. The speech
es delivered by Mr.. REED, here and elsewhere, are
the best evidence that he has fully dgested the sit
uation of affairs and is ably prepared to discuss
the great issueG of the day, while his powers of
oratory would exercise an immense influence for
the Democracy, and inspire the popular heart with
that zeal and enthusiasm which would sweep evc-
ryhing before them. AS the nominee of the Dem
ocratic party, we are satisfied that Mr. REED would
make any needful sacrifice to secure thorough
canvass of this Congressional District, and when
ever the people could listen his eloquent appeals
in behalf our down-trodden country, they would
arise in their might to throw off the shackles OF
despotism, by making every peaceable effort TO
gain triumph for SEYMOUR and BLAIR in the
coming election. We firmly believe that the gen.
eral result of the November election in this State
would bo favorably affected by placing the Hon. ].
P. REED as the standard-bearer of the Democracy
in this Congressional District, and being impressed
with this conviction we take the liberty of urging
the suggestion of the Central Democratic Club as
worthy of the most favorable consideration by the
delegates to select candidate.
In this connection, it may be we'll to present o
few thoughts in relation to eligibility, as 1t is well
known that law of Congress requires its members
to subscribe to what known the iron-clad OATH
AS matter of course, Mr.. REED cannot comply
with this requirement, and neither do VIC believe
that any Southern man upon whom the choice OF
the Democracy might fall ought to take that pro-
scriptive oath. AL such requirements are opposed
10 tho genius of republican institutions, and the
Democratic party should never recognize, by its
own voluntary action, that Infamous test OF loyal
ty, so-calcd. This however, is an individual
opinion. But there are stronger reasons to inttu-
ence tho Nominating Convention against :csking q
candidate whose highest claim, perhaps, rested
upon his ability to take this oath and in favor o
selecting one without regard to it. The next Con
grcss will be composed largely OF Democrats, ant
especially will this be true of the House of Repre-
sentatives, andi the law insttuting the test oath
be not repealed, each House is the judge of qualf-
cation for its own members. There will be 10 difn
Guilty. then, in sending Democrat who is unable
to take the iron clad, for we have the example o.
The present House of Representatives, which ad
mitted Gen. P. B. NJ. YOUNG, of Georgia, and sev
cral others in the same category, by waving the
the iron-clad and substituting the ordinary const
tutional oath.