The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-02-29

port would arrest the evil of which we
complain. How plausible is this argu-
ment, yet how delusive and untrue. If
such would be the result now, why has it
not mad the effect heretofore! In 1929
these petitions were referred to a commit
tee, and report was made against the
prayer of the petitioners. Again in 1886,
they were referred, and Mr.. Pinckney,
chairman Of that committee, made an able
and lengthy report. Did this stop the evil
did it rcta:rl it for q moment! On the
contrary, yoar t,SS,ie ids literally groaned
under the weight OF abolition memorials,
from men, women and children. Sir, the
movement that gentleman made on thai
occasion Il do not impeach his motiveS
was unwisc and impolitic, to say the least
of it, and the irreparable mischief which
followed, fear, is not spccdilyto to be cured.
1t opened the doors of tbs Hall to the
abo!itionists, and invited them to come in
and prosecute their unhallowcd purposes,
and wei! have they improved the opportu-
mites thus afforded them. Think you, sir,
m the face Of these facts, that any South
e1n member can be found on this floor, or
elsewhere, 50 utterly regardless of his own
interest, and forgctiul Of his constituents,
as again to be caught aiding and abetting
the worst enemies of his country? Why
sir, 10 man here can believe that rcccp-
ton, reference, report and all, would salts
%fy and qucll the movements of men goad-
ed on by fierce and fanatical resolution to
accomplish them ends, or rcnd the Union
asundcr. They have the sagacity to see
that they have advanced a step at an ear
ly stage of their operations, much beyond
their most sanguine expectations; and no.
thing, no. sir, nothing, can now arrest their
onward course but the adoption of some
such rule as the resolution before you pro-
poses. Pass that, sir, and you give us qui-
ct and an assurance that you mean to
uphold Our constitutional rights; reject it,
and you prove to us that upon ourselves
aione depends protection.
The sacred hight Of petition" is said to
be involved, and gentlemen cannot come
up to our proposition because their people
Will not sustain tilc.r.> NJ one wishes
to invade the right Of petition; but do not
under color Of this right, send memorials
here of and about things in which the
petitioners have 10 interest. grant, sir,
that every citizen of this country have a
right to be heard here, By petition, upon
such matters as Immediately pertain to
themselves; but it docs not follow that they
arc oiiiciously and Extensively to thrust
themselves into other pc tpl:s concerns,
totally distinct and unconncctcd with them.
Are we to be told that because the right of
petition is guaranteed by the Constitution,
that citizens in the northern states are au-
thorizcd to petition Congress for the
redress of imaginary grievances un-
der which their southern nc;ghbors are la
lorng! Shall other portions Of this u
Mon impudcntly and alrogantIy to assume
to themselves the duty of eniightening US
upon the subj biccts in which we arc alone
Interested! Shall they become our kind
guardians, and point out to this Legislature
the bl!ndnes, the evils, and turp;tudo Incl
dent, as they al!ege, to our situation? If
upon ordinary subjects, and there was no
other objection, the very impudence of
the thing would excite our Indignation and
contempt. But, sir, when we sec the sys-
tematic and ceascless attacks made upon
our institutions, our property, and our Sc
curity, from those who have no earthly in
tcrest in the matter, we can but feel it an
outrage. Suppose the south was to imi-
tate the north in this abominablc crusade,
organize societies, send out missionaries,
ercc: presses, and load your table with Pc
tons, to hang all aboiitonists, to pass laws
compelling the free white and free black
of the north 10 inrc2 marry, or to do any
thing else equally wrong and improper,
and in what did not Immediately affect us;
would all this be tolerated by northern
gentlemen in their zeal to support the con-
stitutional and sacred right of petition?-
Would such petitions be received, consid-
cred, referred to committees, and treated
as in ordinary cases! | apprchend not
" circumstances would alter cases" with
gentlemen, and those who arc now vocife-