The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-01-03

ceSslon of Inc Dlstrct, excepting that porioh
occupied by the public buildings and grounds, TO
Maryland. The time has passed by IN which
that scheme would quiet agitation. ut is too
late" for that. The consequence OF retrocession
10 say nothing Of The injurious effect on the in
terest of the city--would be that the abolition
lists would throw off their present pretcxts, and
make open and undisguiscd war on the inst itu-
tion of slavery in the State of Mary land.-
However it is a matter to he entertained and
advised upon. Aas one of tho permanen, citi-
zens of the District, would not oppose it.
. ION.
Mr.. UALHOUN's SPEECH,
At the meeting of Southern Members on the
Slaoery Question.
In my letter Of yesterday | alluded very briefly
10 the remarks oil Mr.. Calhoun, at the meeting
or Southern members of the two Houses on Fri.
day evening. 10 day am enabled to give
you more elaborate report which may be relied
upon as substantially correct. He said:
The resolutions OF the gentleman from Vir-
ginia (Mr. Bayley) are good, and, considering
the length of time which be- has had to prepare
them, do him great credit. but they are defec.
tive in several par,iculars-1 am, therefore,
less unwilling to agree to the motion ofihe gen.
tleman from Georgia (Mr. Stephens.) Anolh-
er consideration strongly impels to the same
course. ! am throughly impressed with the ne.
cessity of harmonious aud united aclion both on
our part and the part of the Southern communi.
ty.
am opposed, however, to too great delay,
and consequently would prefer that the commit.
lee should report to a meeting to be held on
10Th instead ofthe 18th ofJanuary. The Leg.
isaures Of several of the Southern States are
now in session, and it would be well that our
address should reach them in times TO be acted
on by them before their adjournment.
consider the address Indispensable. What.
ever action is taken must proceed from the
slaveholding States. If the Constitution he
violated, and their rights encroached upon, it is
for them to determine The mode and measure OF
redress. We can only suggest and advise. We
are on The theatre Of acton-the witnesses Of
the sIavehodng part Of the Confederacy-we
see them plainly, we feel them deeply; they are
rapid and alarming; for who believes that pro.
positions which have, within lew days past,
commanded the support of majority of the
Lower House Of Congress, would even three
years ago have been tolerated by any respect
able portion OF either House.
We are in the midst of events scarcely ofless
import than those Of our revolutionary era
The question is, are we to hold our position in
this confederacy upon the ground of equals, or
are we to content ourselves with the condition
of colonial dependence.
Sir it will be worse than colonial dependence;
for who would not prefer to be taxed and gov.
erned, without pretence of representation, than
under the forms Of representation. TO be griev.
ously oppressed by measures over which we
have no control, and against which our re.
are unavaiing. 1t is undeniable
that the encroachments upon our rights have
been rapid and alarming. They must be met.
conceive that no Southern man can enter.
tain, for one moment, the idea Of tame submis.
sion. The action OF the South should be uni.
ted, temperate, but decided-our position must
be taken deliberately but held at every hazard.
We wage no war ofaggression. We ask only
for the constitution and union and government
of our fathers. We ask ofour Northern breth.
rem to leave US those rights and privileges
which our fathers held, and, without securing
which tor their children, all know they woul1
not have entered Into this Union, These we
must maintain.
1t appears ton proper that we, who are here
On the theatre Of action, should address our cen
'tituents of the slaveholding States, briefly and
portray the progress of usurpalion
Ind aggression, vividly exhibit the dangers
which threaten, and leave it in their hands to
mark out the proper line Of action. What that
should be it is needless here to discuss. What.
,ver it is, it should be temperate, mild and de.
,ided.
Having expressed these views, have 10 say
hat make no objection TO The motion Of the
gentlemen from Georgia Mr.. Stephens) 10 ro.
er the whole matter to select committee, to
consider maturely and report to a future meeting
,ut would rather prefer an earlier day for that
meeting than the 18th Of January. am,
hove all, for union, harmony and decision on
he part Of the South.
Mr.. Pendeton's remarks (which were made
omelime previousl to Mr.. Cahoun's) are also
Understood to have been very sensible and ef.
ective. lle expressed his general acquins.
enss in the resolutions of his coleague( Mr..
'ayley) He did not so we'll, however, like
he expression in them, "measure or redress"
That seemed to contemplate that the South
hould wait until the wrongs had been consuna.
ed and then undertake to redress them. He
referred rather measures Of "notice and pre-.
aution." He was willing at once to lay down
line, and let their Northern brethren know
nat they must not transcend it, He s,ihse-
uen,Iy, however, acquiesced in the proposition
Mr. Stephens.