The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-07-25

clear, and he now stands condemned. for dsobey-
ing the constructions Of his legislature, which he
himself praises, and which he does not even pre-
tend to charge with disunion.
I notice in the progress of this communication
that Col. Benton evinced unusual soicltude to
iconfound the Missouri compromise and all other
compromises of the kind, with the Wmot Provl-
80. 4 Iiattribute it, in part to desire to screen
ifhimse' from the odiu of having voted for the
Wllmot Proyiso, by confounding it with other
measures that were far less offensive; but said
thatthere was another more powerful reason, which
would be explained in the sequel. That reason
was to shelter HIMSELF if possible, against the
CHARGE of fviolatmg instructions which he acknow-
sledged to be above exception. If he could poss-
& bly establish that the Missouri compromise and
the Wmot Proviso were identical, as he would
have his constituents believe, to obey the one would
be to obey the other. But have shown that was
impossible, mud thus he is left without the Poss-
bilfy IF escaping the charge of dIsobeying them.
-al With few additional remarks. shall close
this long communication.
- (,o BENTON assigns devotion to the Union as his
motive for taking the course he has; and by i'm
niieatjop, charges yours as being the side OF dis
nion and his and the abolitionsts' that of union.
Tn this he but follows the example OF all who have
BETRAYED you, or intend to betray you 1t IS SO
common, that it has become notorious, that
strong profession of attachment to the Union and
condemnation of what is called the violence and
uftraisnn of the South, accompanied by volley OF
ahpse Of me, and the absence of all ceDsure or
condemnation of your assailants, are cer.ain
SIGNS that he who utters them is ready to sieze
~tbe first opportunity 10 desert gour cause.
% To these signs may be added another-an ap-
eat To that portion IF the farewell address of the
Father of his country, quoted by Colt Benton, un-
der circumstances which make its application ap
solys to,yot and not to those who assail you. re-
sspond to every word it contains, with hearty
amen. II is indeed deeply to be deplored, that
,parties should be designated BY geographical po-
siition. and regard whatever party or individual
NAV have caused it, as deserving of public repro
baton. But to avoid geographical designation OF
parfiest is indispensable that each section of the
1iIuons should respect the rights of the other, and
carefully abstain from violating them. Unless
that is done, it will be impossible to avoid tag
,fression will and ought to lead to resistance on
the part of those whose rights are trampled upon
and safety endangered. Sectional assault on one
side. and sectional resistance on the other, cannot
failto lead to sectional designation of parties
Fhe blame and responsibility rghtfully falls on the
section that assais, and not that which repes as
sal,lts: Which that lin the present case, admits
of no doubt. The South has been on the deten-
siye throughout, and borne for long series OF
and safety with patience unexampled, and yet
she is basely charged with dsunion, and the North
lauded as its advocate. We must learn to disre
gard such unfounded and uni Just charges and man.
fully do our duty, 10 save both the Union and our
selves, sif'n can be done consistently with our
equality and our safety; and if not, to save cur
selves at all events. In doing so we should but
follow the example of our Washington in the
great struggle which severed the union between
the colonies and the mother country. He was ar
IDENTIFY attached to that union, struggled hardto pre-
serve it by resisting the Entertainments of Parlia
,neat on the old and established rights and privi-
lepes or the colopies, but the folly and nfatuaton
Of Parliament, and the vile Vaccinations Of tories
among ourselves, rendered all his efforts and ,hnse
81 the patriots Of his day. unavailing The world
knows the consequence. My sincere prayer Is,
that those who are encroaching on our rights
righss essential to our safety, and more solemnly
guaranteed than these of the colonies, may, as we'll
for their sakes as ours, profit BY the example
ss5sst1 a.s = ~ -sf.'2fr'7 J. c. CALHOUN.
.sgESor,r ,Hrr1 July s. lS40.