The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-06-06
Proceedings Of the Meeting Of the First
Instant.

Instant.
PURSUANT to the notice heretofore pub
lished, the citizens of Kershaw County met
at the Town Hall at Camden, on Saturday,
the 1st inst, to choose delegates to the State
Convention, to be held at Columbia, on the
18th instant.
The meeting was organized by calling
Hon. James Chestnut to the chair, who, after
few remarks explanatory of the object Of
the meeting, spoke as follows: .
Through all the daysof our bondage, !
have seen no chance for deliverance until
now. You will remember that it was my
expressed belief, during all that time, that OF
ourselves We could do but little to loosen the
grasp of the iron hand that held US. 1t re-
quired melting, and the process has been go
ing on, drop by drop, beneath the hot breath
of the worlds indignation. AS little also did
believe that the Democratic party, by itself,
could relieveus. 1t was inadequate to the
task of assuaging the inAamed mind of the
North, and leading it back to reason and
Justice. 1t had no power to direct the Sow
ernmcnt and confne it within the limits OF
the Constitution.
/ am not unmindful (nor am hhgfateful
therefor) of the fact that members OF the
party did nobly struggle'to that end. They
succeeded in keeping alive the fire 'of the
true faith-but for reform they were impo.
tent And why? Simply because, in all
cases, reformation must come from within.
Now, fortunately for us, the event so long
hoped. and looked for, has occurred--an effort
at reform within the Republican party, which
has resulted in division. Through the open
ing of that division has come to us CLEAN
of hope. Shall we avail ourselves of the
chance thus presented, or shall we wantonly
throw it away? For me, 1 say, let us unite
Democrats, Liberal Republicans, the. low
ers of constitutional govsrnment--all-cTery
whcre-unite and overthrow the tyranny
and stupid misrule, now upon US, and rescue
the country.
Ihaye great faith in this Cincinnati move
ment. It resembles others have seen be-
fore. Often has it happened that political
parties blinded by long and unquestioned
power, and bloated by corruption, have fail
ed to sec when their mission was ended.
Forgetting their responsibilities and pre-
suming upon the former confidence, and pa
ticnce Of their constituents, they impudently
seek to convert sacred trust into an 'abso-
Lutte and indefesable right, to be used only
for party and personal advancement. When
this occurs, then it happens, just as surely
that the heart of an outraged people, sitting
all minor differences for the time, beats all
one way. Reaving and swelling like the
great ocean, it rises in food tide, and sweeps
from place and power these who betrayed
trusts, and endangered liberty. Such will
be the fate of President Grant and his party;
if we can only persuade Baltimore to shake
hands with Cincinnati.
And why should not this be done Can
there be any valid reason? None that can
see, unless it be that the Democratic party,
pure and simple, feel sure that it can by itself,
bring back the government, and place 1t
within the folds of the Constitution. Can
this be done? do not believe it--and if any
BODY does have yet to hear him say so.
Is there anything in the avowcd purposes
of the Liberal Republican party that we
should object to- If there be, have not
been able to perceive it. They propose ia
effect to re-establish constitutional govern:
ment. So do we. They are advocates Of
well-ordered civil, liberty and local self:
government. So are We. They go for. .econe'
nv, competency, and integrity in the Ad,
ministration of the Government So do we.
They propose to lift the laws from the slough
into which they have trodden, and place
them again in their wonted supremacy; and
to subordinate the sword to civil authority
Do we not desire this2
But it may be urged that they have left
unsaid many things they ought to have said
What are they? Dead or living issues? Fo,
my part, 1 am glad they have said what
they have said, and left unsaid those things
which might have prevented our union-
which in my opinion ought not to have beer
said
But I rejoice they have said enough h
bring US all within the pale of a common
cause. Can we not fight together till such
can be triumphant? 1t seems to ME we can
for there will be time enough afterwards tc
differ and divide upon minor questions which
must spring up under we'll established and
well regulated governments.
I do not regard the coming contest as ar
ordinary struggle between political parties
On the contrary, l think it will 80 to th'
bottom of our whole polity, TO Inc it pre-
septs itself in this form. Shall we continue thu
subjects of military despotism and irrcspon
sible powers; or shall we become free citi
zens of free States under Federal Republic,
restrained by constitutions and governed by
municipal instead of military laws ? The
question between the parties is nothing les:
than this.
The politicol fate of Mr.. Grant or Mr.
Greeley, personally, could excite no emotion
in my breast. But we must regard these
men as representatives of different ideas, of
different feelings, and above all, different
purposes. In short, they are symbols merely
10 nv mind Mr. Grant symbol zes central