The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-08-16
The Proposed Conference.

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The Proposed Conference.
We take the following paragraph from
leading article which appears in the last
issue OF the Barnwell Sentinel:
"As the City (of Charleston) has succeeded
in ousting from rule the carpetbagger and
scalawas, so can the country, by the same in
tslligent organization and united action. we
inuite the lea. ng men throughout the State to
the consideration OF this important subject, and
suggest the nert Annual Fair in Columbia as q
fit time TOR conference and organisation. I'VE
understand that leading men from all the coun-
ties haze been invited to such a conference, and
are hopeful tha. mach good aoiH result from
this Interchange Of thought and opinion"
Without compact and thorough organiza-
ton, and united action, no important move
ment can be expected to succeed, and, when
we enter upon the next general contest in
South Carolina, we expect that the whole
people will advance steadily and hopefully
towards goal which shall not be beyond
their reach. 1t is meet and just, therefore,
that the Conservative voters should con-
slider, in due season, the condition Of their
political affairs, SO as to insure the adoption
OF plan Of operations which promises the
broadest practical results. This, however,
is very far from proving that the proposed
November Conference will rebound, in any
way, to the advantage OF the people OF the
State.
Such Conference can only have advisory
| powers. 1t is made up Of gentlemen who
are called together by some two or three
prominent citizens, and the members, in the
popular sense, represent themselves alone.
Their scheme would naturally be to discuss
the political situation from every point of
view, with the hope OF agreeing upon
course Of action which the members, as in
dividuals, could support when theJ returned
to their homes. Calm deliberation and
weighty argument would be Indispensable,
and we doubt that these can be had, for
any purpose, in the midst OF the hurly-
burly OF State Fair. And should settled
policy receive the assent OF the Confer
ence, the members must either remain idle
and silent, in which case the Conference is
90 much labor lost, or they must take the
sense of the people upon the subject. This
involves the holding OF primary meetings to
which the action Of the Conference would
be submitted for approval or rejection. The
people must have full opportunity OF de-
claring whether the conclusions reached BY
a number Of gentlemen, assembled OF their
own accord in Columbia, shall be accepted
as the expression OF the wishes OF the State.
Any other manner OF working would, in
appearance at least, be an encroachment
upon the public rights OF the people.
The opinions OF the Conference, as soon
as knowa, would become the subject Of
general discussion. No policy, however
wise, will please everybody. The criticisms
Of adversaries and the apologies Of friends
must disturb the public mind, aud, as the
township meetings are held, the excitement
will increase. Poor South Carolina, which
Graves tranquility and rest, which earnestly
desires the longest possible truce between
opposing parties, would be plunged at once
into q heated controversy, which, develop
ing latent differences OF opinion, would dis
hearten the Conservative forces before their
adyersaries had sounded the first note OF
serious preparation. Agitation, unrest dls-
cord! And for what?
The general elections do not take place
until October, 1872. With sensible plat
form and strong candidates, we can, IN
canvass OF two or three months, bring out
the whole Conservative strength OF the
State. Next summer is time enough to
arm for the fray. Primary meetings can
then be held, and the townships and wards
be quietly organized. Delegates from the
townships and warls will form the State
Convention, which might meet in July or
August. When the platform is adopted,
the canvass may properly open, and be
pressed vigorously forward until its close.
And, moreover, Conference held in
November would. in mGny important mat
tiers, be cropping in the dark. The men,
bers could not foresee the events OF the
following six months. To them the plans
of the domestic enemy, and OF the friends
beyond the border, would be altogether un-
known. The Conference would, we repeat,
precipitate South Carolina into an untimely
contest and might find, when the real work
began, that they had adopted policy which
the lapse OF few months showed 10 be des-
perate and impolitic in the extreme.
We are not informed as to the details OF
the action which the promoters Of the Con-
ference desire to take. It is sufficient for
US to know that the mass of the people
whom we represent believe that such Con-
ference can do no good, and may work
great injury to the State.
|
~New Hope and Courage Throughout
the STATE"
The Horny Neeos, speaking OF the result
of the city election, says: