The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1836-03-28


10 observe the direction given to such anti
slavery memorials, as were presented. As
they were offered then, they were success
siyely laid on the table, ard were never again
called up. This was in conformity with the
common usage, and with the icx exceptions
stated, has beeo the invariahle practice Of
Congress, from the origin Of this Govern
men,. 10 this time. Not word during the
whole session was spoken, to The best OF my
recollection, on abolition, either on tue noos
OF Congress, or elsewhere.
] depiore it as a deep misfortune, that the
common practice Of the Congress OF tho
United States has been abandoned; that the
course Of son,hrrn presses .ana southern 10.
licy has been abandoned; that the order OF
the business, and tho time Of this House,
have been 10 considerable extent, occupied
With the discussion Of these miscrabiy dis
,urbins petitions and memorials.
From my earliest reeolleciions, from my
cbildhood up TO Ibis time. it has ever been
tho settled and fixed policy Of the southern
people, never 10 write, to speak, or 10 print
any ,hiag on this all absorbing question:
Consul, the old men Of this day-loos orer
yoar public legislative journa's-lock over
the columns Of the newspapers in the SOUTH
cru States, AID you will find nothing to dis
prove what have hero asserted. SIR, l am
no, mistaken; :hIs has been The settled po!i-
cy Of tue South, aud wherefore depart from
The slave property Of the slarcinld;ns
States has bsen, and is 80 surrounded and
guarded by the sanctions OF prcscripnse
right; by long lines Of inhe.itanecs; by the
apprubliion oil civilized men at that period;
and since i,s FIRST institution. By tl,e Join,
par:hase with s,lc unncd capital of northern
and southern men Of this kind Of property;
by the sanctions Of iaws. compaeis. and con-
s;i.ut:oas; By The approval Of purely viriu.
ous, and enlightened clergy; and moro shan
aIl. by the arrangements under the plans
or Divine Providence. that no question OF
doub, coaId ever be entertained BY Us. Our
policy has been, aui sill is, ncrcr 10 die
cuss. never TO entertain discussions Aud
il the countless, guards, which, wc believe,
are sufficiently strong 10 protect aud TO ss-
cure our rights, should fail ns, We should
then be compelled 10 cm:Ioy all those means
oil sclEdcfance and protection. which the
Providence Of God has placed amply within
our reach.
What I have said, i, no. the opinion OF
Yesterday. I, is oac, which was publicly
expressed, and which was. / presume, pub
lIcly recorded. in lseG.
Onc objection urged asains, The resolution
under consideration, is, shat II is improper TO
re.afiirsn that Congress has 40 power TO IN.
,csf.re with slavery in the States. How can
n rci,eraiian Eof a sclfcrident proposition
;mp1ir .,rsWeakcn its farcr! Can the rcpe.i.
,ioa, for ,ca millions OF times. that TWO at,c
tao make Gonr, impair this selEcridcni .ruthi
Or tho rci,cration ct tha truth, ,jba, tue
~rusr~r greater 'rau part, weaken. one
10, OF one title OF tho evidence upon which
this truth rc.,s. O. l,ow can the r,:i,er s'inn
Of The fac, that Congress has II, right tn in-
tcricrc With sia,cry in tho Slaies, add ar
take fromi ,i,c certainty Of this truth! i.can.
not. Tic ,noscr ofihcsc rcsola,iors believes.
with many who hare voted ZOE apd supported
them. that Congress has ,lo con,p-,-n, pow.
CT 10 isiasstrc with Tho cxistcncn cf ulascsy
in the Dis:ric, OF Columbia hare already
declared ihai t'.ts Is mr. own belief; bui, sir.
all tho friends oi soathcra rights DO SO; be-
licrc as VIC do, bu, entertain diif;rcn, opin-
ion on an abstract legal question, with &c.
gard to tho powers Of Cs.ns.rss. ovcr the
Dstrie. Of Columbia. Those gentlemen
wl,o differ from US on this poin, are as s,auneh
aud abiding, uay, as devoted ificuds 10 our
institutions. as The pa,cs: and leftics, pa.
iriots to be found on Garth. Was il polite
OF crpcdlcu,,. andcr these ei-cansancc.. 10
assume ground on which. for practical re-
salts, the advocates sand friends OF southern
rights and southern security uadcr the con-.
promises Of tho constitution, were unaro.da-
biz to DO separated! WAS !, sish, 10 brig on
fuccd aud unnatural ac.ioa of Congress on
tho constitutional question, when II was ID
rcsul, in an inpoli,,c division auii separation
Of our friends, Was !, polite that a weak
ro,e should go forth. making i, appear 10
tho world that the g.aa, msjnri,y OF Congress
were against the rights and Interests OF the
Soulhi This would hare given false aud
unnatural presen,ai,oa Of tho lrun feeling Of
Congress TO The people of the uuncd States.
n vould haYr psotuccd Jis,YuN. crcaicd ua.