The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-08-30
MESSRS. BUTLER AND CALHOUN.
We copy from The Mercury, the following

the Charleston meeting:
Mr.. Butler commenced bis remarks by con-
trasting1his present position with that occupied
by him at Washington for the last ten days Of
the session Of Congress. There he occupied
the position that every Representative OF the
South did who fearlessly and honestly attempted
to do his duty, the object Of odium and dislike
TO those who were animated by the reckless spirit
of sectional ambition; here he was sustained
and cheered blythe approving plaudits of gene
rous constituency. He alluded to the Procee'
dings Of the session, many of which were I'M
porant in their character, and some OF its mea'
sures of momenlous consequence, not only as
affecting the honor and interest Of the South,
hut as dangerous TO the harmony, nay, to the
very existence OF the Union. The Mexican
war, in which the skill and courage Of the
American arms had been so sgnally displayed.
had unfortunately brought in its train questions
fraught with perplexi,v and danger, among
which was the issue made between the North
and the South upon the subject Of slavery. That
institution was never assailed while the Union
consisted of the original thirteen States. The
compromise Of the Constitution was faithfully
observed alike by the North and the South; hut.
with the acquisitions of new territories, new
questions were introduced destructive OF the
harmony of the contederacy; and, as our terri
tories have increased, these difficulties and dam
gers have increased with them. The terrific.
ries of new Mexico and California had been
acquired by the common blood and treasure OF
the North, East, West and South, under the re.
QUESTION Of a common Government The
West has been enriched by the war in furnish.
ing an immense market for their products.-
The North and the East have derived great
benefits from furnishing the munitions Of war,
and the employment Of their ships as transports.
What has heen left for the South! We are told
there are your conquests. the glory in the ac-
QUESTION you have richly shared, and the laure!s
you have won are freely mingled with the cy
press; but you shall not enter upon The terrific.
ry YOU have so dearly purchased, and you and
your institutions are forever prohibited therein.
If our forefa,hers could have anticipated that
such restriction would have been imposed
upon their descendants as to the common pro
perty of the Union, is it supposed they would
ever have consented TO t7 The Southern States
were equal when they entered into the Con!ed-
eracy, and they never would have joined it had
they anticipated the attempts made to degrade
them whenever the North acquired the power
of doing so. When the Union was formed the
South was the strongest portion of it, but its
compacts were held inviolable; and he had
challenged on the floor Of Congress the produc
tion Of single instance where Southern
State had violated the compact of The Union
He adduced several instances in which New
York, Pennsylvania, and other Northern States
had proved iaithless to their constitutional obli
cations.
A rapid sketch was given of the proceedings
in Congress in connection with the two promo.
sitions for Compromise, with which our readers
are familiar. They had been both voted down
by the North. II was papab!y the determina
fion OF that section not only to exclude the
South from all the territories Of the Union. hut
to make these territories hereafter the inSlru
ments Of further oppression. When settled
and formed into States, with the present Anti.
Slavery States, they would have a sufficient
power to amend the Constitution, and deprive
us of the letter of its protection as they had
long since Of its spirit. The South had failed
to arrest this invasion upon its rights, but the
spirit Of determination and unanimiy with which
it was resisted was most gratifying. He would
never forget the last night Of the session, when
the Southern men presented united and deter
mined front. Party bonds were repudiat"d,
and party ties were broken. He would say
that the South need place no reliance on either
party. IL they put themselves in the keeping
of party-if they trusted to the honor or good
faith of the North-they would he deceived,
and they would find themselves enslaved-lhe
mo of tl,o toFth h. H.
time had passed when any hope ofjustice could
reasonably he entertained from that quarter;
and il the South thinks The institution Of slave.
ry worth preserving, they must prepare to do
it in some other way than by party.
He was no advocate of disunion. The man
did not live who could look disunion in the face
withou. an awfuI shudderng at its consequences.
But il the Union is 10 he made bond to fetrer
one portion of the Confederacy for the aggran.
dizsment of the other, he would not worship il
as an idol, upon whose altar was to be sacrii.
ced the prosperity, the equality, and the honor
Of the South. The spirits of Laurens. of Gads.
den, Of Rutledge and of Pinckney. would spurn
from their companionship that Southerner who
would be so recreant to his duty, as to consent
TO wear the badge of degradation and inferior.
Hy.
The North. it was evident, had determined
npon their policy of arresting any further ac-
cession Of political power 10 the slave States,
and nothing could cn'interact this policy but the
determined and united action Of the entire
South. IF the Southern States were united.
they could dictate their own terms. They
would not obtain their rights by President ma
king. General Cass, if elected, would not veto
the "ilmot Provso, and he was equally sure
that General Taylor would not veto it. All
hopes Of that kind were utterly fallacious. Pre-
sident Polk had administered the internal affairs
of the Government in a manner which deserved
the highest appreciation, and he most willingly