The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-08-08
From the Washington Union.
OHAS BETRAYED THE SOUTH


in relation TO the subject Of slavery has taken
place in the free States. not only in the senti-
ments which prevail among the mass OF the
pcopc ofthose States, hui in The political action
of both Of the Igrrat parties into which they arc
divided. The fact cannot he denied, that it is
ba. few wears since when Abnlitionisn was
a meaere faction cvengin the New England
States, and its advocates were eren there trea'
ted with contempt, ridiculr, and sometimes with
violence, when they attempted to hold meetings.
for the purpose ofdiscussiug the doctrines which
,bey ,profcsseti.= Nor had it made any headwaY
in Congress. The South presented, at that
time. an undivided front upon question which
affected so ssi,ally her great interest, and she
was sustained BY band Of firm and intrepid
friends among the Democrats of the flee States,
which enabled her in great measure TO sup
press even the agitation ofthe dangerous ques.
ton of slavery. 1t cannot be Denied Una! ""'
more than six years ago the South was 'r'u'h'
plant in the4hails of Congress on this question,
which so iniimately involves her peace anu
secu,ity, and was enabled through the hdel,'Y
Of the Democratic Representatives from the
tree States, effsc,ually to suppress all agitation
upon the subject. Such was the state oi'n'nss
no farther hack than six years.
Now what is the state of the question ho'h
;pCongress and the States in which slavery
does not exist? | Congress the South have
been defeated and Frustrated on this great qnes-
lion. She has been insulted, and even the So
credpuaraniies of the Constitution, which should
he her protection, have been grossy violated
and trampled upon in the House oi Representa-
,iyes. The rules adopted TO prevent The as'ta'
tion Of the subject have been repealed and even
on ,be prca, question relating to the territories
she has failed in obtaining the rights and secu'
rites which she claims under The Constitution.
And what is the state ofthe question IN 'he
free Statesl change equally as radical ana
profound shasa sathere taken place among both
people and politicians. Six years ago the South
could reIyfmplicity upon the support OF one OF
the great parties al the North. She had tr'ends
in Congress- from the North belonging to the
Democratic party, who nobly defended and
maintained her rights. Bu, now, what is The
state of f,bingsf Nearly all those friends have
been stricken down and have disappeared, and
sheis left 10 battle for her rights almost alone
md s;nafe handed. These are facts, stuhhorn
facts. and they cannot be denied. And now
II remains to inquire into the causes when nave
produced this great change in the sentiments
and conduct Of The people ofthe free States' ana
n 'conoress. upon the subject of slavery, and
10 asceriain, if possible, who have been us au
ihors. s-'s.
In our judgement, there is but one cause and
tho authors to thai cause arc as apparent 10 our
view as the cause itself. 1t is the alliance OF
the Southern Wings with Northern Wings; tor
which The leaders ofthe Wing party in the
South are alone responsible. Let US look
hack into the history ofthe slavery question IN
Congress, and see if we have not abundant ev.
idence 10 support the position which we have
assumed
Every Southern man will remember, that the
agitation Of the slave question in Congress Is
comparatively of recent date. 1t commenced
under the authority of the late John Quincy
Adams. who owed debt Of hatred and revenge
to the South for the political hostility which
boih he and his father encountered from the De-
mocracy Of that portion of the Union. lie be-
came the great agitator, and the patron OF 'ne
pretended right of petition, under which the an-
oIitionisis claimed the right ofinnndat'ng both
Congress and the country with their iniiama'
BILE matter upon the subject ofslavery. In
1888. the nuisance had become SO intolerable
in the House OF Representatives, that body
found Il necessary to take some steps to suppress
and put an end 10 il. And hence the reso!u.
tions known as the "Atherton resolutions" were
adopted Those resolutions were presented by
Mr.. Atber,on, a Democratic member from New
Hampshire, and were adopted by unanamous
vote on the part of the Southern members. and
a large share the Democratic members, from
the free States. very few il any Wings from the
free States, voting for them. They provided
that Abolition petitions should be received and
referred to committee without reading.
Still the agitation was not allayed. Under
the lead of Mr.. Adams, aided and assisted by
Mr.. Slade, Wing from Vermont, and MIR.
Giddings, another Wing from Ohio. petitions ol
the most objectionable character, and most IN.
sul,ins to the South, continued TO be presented
in greater numbers than ever; and SO great was
the excitement produced by them, and the con-
sequent interruption of business, that the House
was compelled, at the session OF 1889. '4o to
adopt the celebrated 2lst rule, which excluded
the reception of petitions upon the subject OF
slavery. This resolution was adopted by the
unanimous vote Of the Southern members, and
twenty.eipht Northern Democrats; all the wing
members from the free States voting against
them except one. Thus, at that time, the whole
Whig party ofthe North had abandoned the
interests the South and come out on The side
the Abolilionists; leaving the South and de-
voted band of Northern Democrats to fight the
battles of the South against the incendIares.
who were endcavoring to light up the torch OF
instruction and servile war in her very bo'
som. -
After this c!ea. demonstration that the South
had nothing ohopo from The Wings ofthe North
and everything to hope from he Democrats who
had proved to be her true and steadfast friends,
what course ought she 10 have pursued! The
voice of reason and OF common sense answers.