The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-03-14
From the Camden Journal. ~
PUBLIC MEETING IN CAMDEN

ar 1sTT
yss& From the Camden Journal. :..t4 i1
PUBLIC MEETING IN CAMDEN.
IA large and respectable meeting of
the citizens Of this District was held at
the Court House, last Saturday
.(March .3d.) for the purpose Of re-.
spending to the address recently put
forth, BY the Southern Members Of
Congress to their Constituents.
Capt. Thos. Lang was called to the
chair, and IA. G. Baskin, w. Thur
low CASTOR and John j Workman
were appointed Secretaries
"a forcible explanation ofsthe object
Of the meeting was given by The Chair
man. .After which on motion Of Col.
james Chestnut jjr. a Committee Of
Ten was appointed to report a Prean,-
bic and Resolutions expressive Of the
views and feelings of the people of this
District, to wit: Col. James Chestnut.
Jr. Williain M. Shannon Esq. Col J.
B. Kershaw, Col. Thomas j. Ancrum,
Capt. d. Boykin, Messrs. j. r. Nc.
Kain, L. L. Whitaker, H. Levy A.
D. Jones and O. Matheson.
During the absence Of the Commit
tee Col. w. j. Taylor informed the
meeting that His Honor Judge Rich
ardson was in Town, and moved that
he be waited on and be requested to
participate in our deliberations. Be-
fore the Committee appointed for the
purpose, started in the discharge Of
their duty, information was received,
that his Honor had just left Town.
The Committee through their Chair
man Col. Chestnut Jr.a, reported the
following Preamblc and Resolutions.
The Address ofthe Southern Dele
gates in Congress, is q solemn appeal
to the prudence, the patriotism and the
spirit Of their constituents. AS faith
full sentinels they have given admoni.
tion of approaching danger. Shall we
heed their warming, and be arouscd?-
Truly there is as much need,- all
the symptoms of coming evil arc gross
ly deceptive.
It has been always held, that the
Constitution of the United States was
the result ofwise, honest and patriotic
compromises, made by all of the CON-
ponent States for the equal benefit
of oil. For any of the States, there
fore, availing themselves of the advan-
tages of the concessions in their favor,
to undertake to withhold the benefit of
such as would properly result to the
others, is neither just, honest, nor toler-
able. And yet, we arc constrained to
affirm that such has been, now is, and
wo believe, unless some remedy be ap-
piled, will continue to be the conduct of
avast majority of the non.slaveholding
States Of this Union. What else is
their denial to us Of the right under the
Constitution to call upon them to dcliy-
er up our slaves who may have fled, or
been scduced to take refuge in their
borders? In going among them 70 re-
claim such slaves, do they allow us the
benefit of the compact, when their furi-
Gus and fanatical mobs are permitted,
with impunity, to assail and beat off our
citizens, and even to murder them? Is
it holding, in good faith to the covcn-
ant that they should not only permit
such things to be done, but pass laws
making tia penal offence in any Of their
citizens to recognize, and aid in the
enforcement of that provision of the
Constitution, which secures to us, and
enjoins upon them the capture and de-
livery of fugitiyes from service? Is it
good faith on their part, through their
people in organized masses, through
their Legislatures, through their Sen.
ators and Representatives in Congress,
TO assail us at every point; to attempt
tofbreak. down every barrier in the
Constitution raised for our protection,
and which they have plightcd their faith
to defend; to trample on our rights; to
destroy our interests; to outrage our
feelings; to pray for our misfortuncs;
and to endeavor to hold us up to tho
civilized nations Of the earth as bye
word and reproach? And by whom?
BY those we call comt,ymen--yca,
sometimes brethren! Have they not
done oil this--and do we not bear it?
!fthis be faith, then truly have they
been faithful, p'uica fdcs.
On the other hand have we denied,
or ORR h'ndered sie them ofany of the benefits
they, might derive from tho Upion?--.
iayc Wec not Witnessed, by the appEca-
ton oftlio majority powerin Congress,