Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-07-01
IAN Interesting Letter from the Great
- ~ North West. -. 4, - --''e

|
"A friend has placed on our table the follow.
ing letter received by him from a citizen o.
Aiken, now on a tour through the North
Western States, which will be found unusual
y interesting. Weshould be pleased 10 hear
from E. FRI frequently during his sojourn
North ,> s.i,-+'7. - '-'ss s.;-&. ss,t
- LAFAYETTE, Indiana, June Is, 1868.
/ DEAR SIR: Knowing that you would like
to learn the exact condition of affairs in the
great. North West. from a Southern man
whose privilege it is,aso observe daily, the
stlroesa fthe'great struggle for the7ys Or
deatsyof the government Oft United States
Of America, I am persuaded that you will
peruse. .(perhass with INTEREST," q communiea-
ton from even as humble an individual as
myself. 49,, =. .... =. e. az ;. -,s;-A
+ :. My opportunities Observation-Disclosures
:out,th entire North West have been very
advantageous, my business bringing me in
contact daily, with the masses, and thus af.
fordiug ME an opportunity Of ''t feeling tie
pubic pulse' as i. were, and preparing me to
form a just and unprejudiced opinion of the
state aud condition Of political affairs. -,
It.has been, my privilege to attend.a large
nuHher of Conventions in this.section of the
country, sbo,hsRepubiicau and Democratic.aI
was present in Chicago, when. General Grant
was selected to carry the standard Of tie Re
publican party in the great Presidential cam
paign which is soon to he i6augurated. Great
enthusiasm prevailed among the particular
party, nominating him ). but in the sober cQun.
IStenauces. OF thousands of staunch- old Demo
Gratis, couldSbev plainly seen zwritten:that un-
mistaka5le 2evidence ssof q determination to
make tremendous effort-ste overthrow the
Republican party, and redcem'th the lest charac.
ter Of this great nation. And thus it is all
over the North West. Meu are tired. out
with the, continued prosecutions of the Radi
cal party, and they are not only beginning to
see, butthey are Jeelngsthe calling yoke of
oppression which. has weighed down upon
the pAople of the late Southern4C 4Confedera.
cy,'s+tso cdl7ca: Yin there very midst; and the
thigh handed" measures which are being in.
tro,daccdl into the national legislature strik;
ing at the vital Interests Of the loyal States" !"
lso callea, Twill cause thousands to enrol un-
der the, Banner. of Democracy, which before
might have thrown the whole of their iuau:
ence'intotte scale on the other side. - -
Take for instance the Introduction Of a
bill in Congress by Mf. shalla5arser, Of Ohio,
declaring rod the Visible Admixturc Law"
Of Ohio, so far as i. relates to the election of
feprrsen1ar rirgsi II GoIlgre DIrFwss
referred to the Committee; on Elections.
From what can learn, in conversation4Sith
theas knowing ones,,h Mr.. Shalabarger is a
member Of the Ohio bar. He has been, you
know, several years in Congress, and if he has
been faithful to his trust (Which is doubtfal,i
and made proper use of his opportunities.
he ought to be, by this time. pretty we'll
versed in the tert oflhe Constitution, and to
have tolerably distinctidea OF: the, legal re-
lations subsisting~ bstmesn tile States and the
Union. Now bill of this kind, to the intel
ligent North West, is SO abborrent to their
ideas of the character OF this relation, and SO
in conflict with all past legal and judicial in
terpretations of it, THAT is so far as Mty the
North West are INDIVIDUALLY concerned,)
that they are compelled to,see that the party
TO which Shaabarger belongs (Radicall is
blind to lam and Constitution, through that
moral obscuration which attends those who
are afflicted with that dreadful disease " Fa-
nattcism."
In the. political history of the country, it's
ne,o thing Ito this section) for Congress to
attempt, by-bill, to repeal or overrule the
statute laws of "a State. 1t is me'o thing for
Congress to attempt, by bill or otherwise, to
confirm the decisions of STATE Judiciary
The function Of Supervisor of State laws, or
| of State judicial opinions, certainly was never
understood, by them, 10 belong to the Fede-
ral Congress. So far as | have any knowl,
\ edge no attempt has, been made to exercise
this function, in respect to any of the" loyal'
S,ates,-and the people now plainly see, that
| if this supervising power cxstinthe one case
or in respect TO one subject; or under one
state IF circumstances, it exists nal cases
in respec. to all subjects, and under all states
Of circumstances. They see, ii it exists. as a
matter of right, it exists also as matter q
obligation; and therefore, it is duty ofCon
eress to pass under its review, and confirm oil
annul all the laws of State Legislatures, and
all the opinions of State judiciaries; and
this with no rule of conduct bnt its owr
discretion.
+ You see they have not been accustomed te
+ these ou,rages up here. Heretofore the prin
ciples Of" States Rights" lave never beer
ignored, and now, when the shoe pincheS'
at home, Gust where it ought to,)they car
not oily sy mpath;ze with us down South
bat they can and tOil! give their support tf
the panlnee Of. the National Democratic Con
vention, whoever it may be, (and Pendletor
seems, to be the strongest candidate ane
thus rid the country of the terrible tyranny
Of faba'icalparty. -.
You know we have often spoken Of taxa
ton, unjust taxation, and l canhot soon for
get how iorclbly. you, on one occasion, I'M
pressed upon me the fact that in the simple
question of taaationthere rested the final de-
! c;sian of q full settlement Of all our natiOne