The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-06-21

acknowledge that Congress had the power
TO sit in jurisdiction upon the institutions OF a
sovereign State. The South, before that un-
happy event, held equal rights in every portion
OF our extended domain; that compromise drove
her from all il north of 36 deg. 30 min, while
il did not deprive the North Of Il particle OF her
Joint interest in all south Of that line. 1t was
no compromised was an inglurious and un-
wise concession by the South to the North oil
great constitutional rights. When the Texas
question arose the effect was seen at once-an
effect taught us as inevitable by the lessons OF
hislory-unmany concessions beget arrogant
demands. The North demanded that Texas
should be a non.s n.slavehodng State, but was viii
ling 10 accept of another compromise! And
what was that! that she would consent that
one.half Of Texas, lying west OF certain line
of Longitude, running from the Gulf TO the south.
ern boundary of the United States, should have
the privilege of deciding for itself whether it
should ever hold slaves: but that in the other
half Congress should decide there should be no
slaves! Texas was forced, however, TO submit
to the Missouri compromise line to her Territory.
Mr.. Y. alluded also to the attempt to engratt
this same compromise upon The Oregon terrific
ry-a territory in which, without legislation
there would be no probability of slave ever
being held. But it was deemed desirable by
our task master that the statute should be put
upon our hooks as a precedent-show'ng the
power of Congress 10 sit in jurisdiction upon
the question! ,,,.,
MIR. Y. then spoke of the orig in of the vii.
mot Proviso, as Legislation in advance ot the ac'
quisilion of Mexican territory. Its discussion
had at last aroused the South to some slight
show ol opposition. The people met pretty
generally in their primary assemblages, and
without any distinction of party had resolved to
unite in putting down this insolent attack upon
our political rights. The effect was immediate.
ly discernabe, at least in the democratic ranks
a, the North. Why but little effect was Produ'
ced on the Wing party at the North was owing
to the fact, doubtless, that it had little to hope
or expect from the Southern Wings, and ielt 1t
to better policy so act as 10 increase and
strengthen themselves in the non.s'avehold'nS
States, in which the great mass OF their votes
Law. The democrats, on the contrary, were
strongest in the slaveholding States, and wore
bound, if by no higher motives than those OF
policy, 10 concilialc the South. Hence; doubt
less, the difference of the effect and its reason
why these primary Southern meetings produced
on the Provisoists. Leading democratic states
men came out and disavowrd the Wimot Pro.
viso; They denied to Congress any power over
the slavery question. Two of them, General
Cass and Mr.. Buchanan, however, contended
that the power to exclude slavery from the ter
ritories, and thus prevent their settlement ny
shareholders, lay in the people of those terrific
ries-thus giving 10 the first corners in terri-
tory the exclusive power of approprialing it to
themselves and such others only as they chose
to tolerare-lhus giving to them The power of
destroying the rights oil property in these terri
tories, which belong to the South as well as 10
the Norh-thus giving to these first comers, no
matter how few in number, the sole power OF
mode ling, far in advance Of the proper period
for doing so, the institutions of the new States
to be carved out of these territories!
This antagonism TO Southern rights had thus
assumed continued Mr.. T., new shape-a
mach more dangerous attitude. 1t was II half
way ground, apparently, between those who
contend that Congress had the power to prevent
slaves from being introduced into these new ter.
ritorics and those who constituted the ultra abo'
Iition wing: viii in truth it was the strongest
and surest method OF accomplishing the objects
of both wings of the enem es OF the Soulh-the
moral and political fanatics on the one hand,
and on The Other those who desired by means
of this tana'icism, 10 grasp the whole power OF
the Union.
Asan evidence Of the moral power the South
can WELD when united, Mr.. Yancy gave brief
history of the views Of General Cass on the
Proviso. lie alluded to certain devclopempnts
made by Mr.. Ralhbuu, an e1.M. c., in the Uti.
ca Convention, which showed that Gen. Cass
had been the originator Of the Proviso-had
induced certain members of the House of Re.
representatives. to tack it on to another measure
in that body, as the great principle upon which
the North could and would he allied and carried
by the Pro2 sosls-had promised to support the
move; and had, in the United States Senate,
actually endorsed it, in few remarks upon ii,
as correct in principle! This was, Of course,
before the South had been aroused TO action;
but, continued Mir. Y, no sooner hal we spo.
ken in firm and united tones, than the Northern
Democracy became alarmed lest it should be
deserted by the South and left in minority,
(and that to politicians is the ne plus utre OF po.
litical punishment,) and began to trrmb!c, and
finally to recede. Of course this quite ine'
resting change in the public sentiment of the
Democracy was not unnoiced by so keen an Oh.
server of the political atmosphere as General
Cass. His own opinion changed in a CORES.
pondng degree. Ilo deserted his poor bant
ling, and left it unprotected in the hands of
thuse political midwives, Wilmnt. Brinke rhof,
and Ralhbun! He very ingeuiousy conlesscs
to this "nteresting change" in his letter to Mr..
Nicholson.
Mr.. Y. then went on to speak Of the manner
in which the South had met this change in the
position and tactics Of lhssNorlh. Being more
disguised in his an,agonsm, it had excited less
open and strenuous opposition. In fact, it is