The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-02-08
MR.. CLINGMAN'S SPEECH.

makes the following remarks on the speech OF
Mr.. Clnsmau on the Wilmot Proviso-
We publish 10 day the concluding halt OF the
recent speech of Mr.. CIingman, Of N. Carroll.
ma, which made such sensation in Washing
ton. and has so stirred up the bile Of the north
ern press. The National Intelligencer, oi last
Saturday, in publishing it snrmises that It's con-
tents, "should he not have already heard an ac.
count Of it, will astonish the reader The In.
,elligencer had already felt the stroke Of the
trencbant blade, and knew the sensation. II
had also time to observe the rage 1t spread
among the Free soil agitators. There was no
mis,aking the power of its contents to 'astoa'
ish" that sort of people. And it is that portion
of it which we copy, that has this power IN an
especial degree. 1t is bold and perfectly prac.
tical view of the question. 1t calculates the
value Of the uuion,'' such as we now have 1t;
and moreover it calculates the value and all the
consequences Of disunion, with calm audacl'
10 and truthful moderation, and arrives at a
conclusion logically unassailahle that 10 every
aspect Of mere interest, the South wou'a DC
gainer by separation. lie does not advise or
desire such course.-he reveres The Union
and he is righ, in affiring that the Southern
people revere it-doubly right in affirming that
their attachment is sentiment, sPri"gIng from
and fed by proud and glorious recollec''ons' and
in no degree dependent on the promptIng' OF
interest of fear, of doubt as to their ability 10
take and maintain for themselves place among
the foremost nations ofthe earth.
And this sentimen, Of loye and reverence
Er the Union as an inheritance from our fathers,
is daily weakening and fading before The wick
ed assaults of those who are bent on compelling
US to think Of it only as an engine With which
thew can insult and injure US. How long do
they suppose mere idolatry on the past can
make US callous 10 the "whips and scorns' OF
the present? The very faculty Of chcrishing
the glories Of heroic age, is On assurance lhat
the instinct OF honor, the love OF liberty, and The
pride of independence, are fresh ana strong
The North has trifled with these too long and
loo madly, not 10 have thoroughly looseued the
whole foundation OF the Union. 1t will be
patched and crazy, full of alarms and easy OF
assault. in all time to come; and for this desc
Grafton and deslruct on, the North is response.
ble. We ask for bread and they have given
us a stone: for fish, and they have given US
serpent. We ask for peace aud the right 10
enjoy our own in que,-,hat deh"rion ana
compend of Just governmen:,-and they nave
answered us by hostile as;lations IN the Con
federa,e Legislature; by unconstitutional am
destructive laws in the States; by Protecting
the ships that kidnap and the mobs that PUN
der our property: by makingit condition OF
the Union that we should be sigma,ized as in.
ferior members of it, and denied the right OF
sharing in its possessions. This is but faint
sketch Of what they have done, and dim fore.
shadowins of what they threaten TO do. And
vet We are called rash, hot headed, and most
unreasonable, because we are not satisfied with
so blessed and glorious Union as is here set
forth There are even Southern men who
sing these siavish notes. We have all MIR.
Clinpman's contempt for such; and for those
who are no, Southern, and who pitch the key,
we answer them with Mr.. Clingman's plain
defiance.
For The rest, Mr. Clingman is a leading whig'
and represents the Mountain District OF North
Carolina, where there are perhaps fewer slaves
than in any other Congressional District In the
South. In every aspect then, this bold posi-.
ton of his deserves the consideration oil the
whole country. 1t shows how strong are The
elements OF union at the South, and how base.
less are the calculations ofthose who have sup.
posed that i, is only the large shareholders who
care to resist the aggression of Abot IonIsts'
and only they who would shrink from being
pIacei on level with emancipatcd negroes.
M. Cngman represents truly The spirit OF hts
constituents. No part of the South will, IN the
day of trial, show a s,erner determination tc
defend her honor and her safety, than the hardy
and gallant people Of the Mountains.
Mr.. CLAy's PRorosED C0MpRoMIsE.-Pub-
lie attention had been aroused for some time,
by announcements in various forms, that a com-
promise on the question of slavery now assum.
ing such threatening aspect, would be offered
by the distinguished Senator from Kentucky, and
hy those whose efforts were directed to sup.
press agitation and excitement which TO them
seemed unnecessary, the hope was encouraged
that peace and harmony would be restored, the
Union rescued from the perilous crisis and the
rights Of all effectually and abundantiy secured,
not only from encroachments now medltated'
but from any fear similar attacks tor the iu.
ture. We need mol say that under such cir
cumsfances, propositions leading to settlement
of this question would receive all due consIde.
ration. The age, character, and public scrvl.
ees of Mr.. Clay, the part taken by him in tor.
mer periods, when dangers like the present
IL tsnnd