The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-12-06

acquired, they will, through tho agency of Con.
gress, accomplish Indirectly what they concede
to be unconstitutional? will not speak of our
equal rights as citizens OF this Confederation.
The argumen, has been long ago exhausted,
and demonstration as palpahe as malhematl-
cal conclusion will avail nothing.
The probability is, whether we will or Will
not he permitted to carry our slaves into The
territory acquired by the treaty with Mexico,
will be definitely settled at no distant day II
against us, the questions will necessarily arise
as to the measures we ought to pursue. All the
other slaveholding States have precisely thr
same interest in this question that we have ana
we know that many, if not all ot them, irc' inc
same soIicitude about it that we do and 1t may
reasonably he supposed they would readily unite
with us in any measure promising relief. WIN
our united, moral, and physical Strength IN
Just aud honorable cause, we can successfully
appose any powey that can he brought 10 pear
upon US. Concrt rs to the time and manner OF
action is indispensable to this unity, and the
question now is. when and how this is to be
brought about? Is the present time proPI'Ious!
We know already, or have abundant reason
to suppose, that the present Chief Magistrate
Of the United States, adopting the Missouri
Compromise as d rule; WILL il Congress in IFS
folly and madness, in total disregard OF reason
and right exclude us entirely from the Mexican
territory, interpose the conservative veto power
1t is known, too, that in the election OF his
successor, many of the saveholding States cast
their votes for the candidate who will he elect
ed; and that in all the rest there was great dI-
vision; more probably than the results have
.t,, l;,,b, nj | tol,, n ntpI thai
it was upon the faith, that, being Southern
man, he would not be mnmindlul of Southern
rights. 1t cannot be supposed, then, that The
States which will vote for him, and the mlnori.
ties in those States which will vote against
can be brought to act together in anticipation
that our rights will be violated under his admin
istraton, he having the power to prevent 1t.
The present time is therefore, in my judgment,
unpropituous for action. We ought, notwith
standing, to provide for any contingency. The
blow may be struck when we are unaware OF
our danger. aud no time ought to be lost in pro
iecting means to unite the slaveholding States
in same common mode ofac,ion, when the oc-
casion shall arise; and free discussion and in.
terchange Of opinion will greatly promote this
object in preparing the public mind to meet its
consequences. AS before remarked. unity OF
time and concert of action are Indispensable to
success, and Southern Convention is the most
direct and practical means OF obtaining it.
No one State can reasonably hope for sue
cess, when acting alone in opposition he opIn'
ions of all the others. The effect ofsuch an at
tempt would expose them to be overwhelmed in
detail. What, Il may be asked, will South
Carolina do ifshc is left alone TO fight this bat.
tie! There are spirits in her bosom that would
willingly perish in defence Of her rights. But
would it be wise to seek such destiny, as long
as there is hopesuccor?
DAVID JOHSON.
COLUMBIA, NOVEMBER %, 1S4S.