The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-06-21

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themselves. The limitations Of constitution
are designed to protectthe minority--those who
have no power, against those who have it
Hence, the great motive and duty of selfpro-
lection is peculiar to a minority, independent of
that faith to the constitution which they owe
in common with the majority. They must
protect themselves, and protect the constitution;
and if they fail in this double duty, they are at
least as cul pable as those who, in aggrcssing
upon their rights, overthrow the constitution.
And the public opinion of the world is in con-
fomity with these views The oppressor is ha-
ted--but the unresistngl ly oppressed is despised.
More respect follows the tyrant than the slave
who submits to his power The Southern States,
from the responsibility of preserving the consti-
tuition, and, in preserving it, to protect them
selves
In what way shall they preserve the constitu-
ton and protect themselves2 '''.
As general rule, it is undoubtedly true, that
when. in government like ours, a constitution
is violated by majority, who alone can violate
it in matters Of legislation, it cannot be restored
to its integrity through the ordinary means of
the government for these means, being under
the control of the majority, are not available to
the minority 1t is for this reason that frequent
elections of our rulers take place in our system
of free government, in order that the peo-
pie, by their direct intervention, may change the
majority. But his resource cannot avail us in
the violations of the constitution which now
press and harass the South. By changing their
representatives, how can the people ofthe South
affect the majority in Congress and restore the
constitutional Their Representatives are true,
and have done all that men can do to preserve
the constitution from the aggressions of the ma.
jorty. Removing them, and putting other Rep.
resentatives in Congress, could have no effect
in restoring the constitution. 1t has been bro
ken by the representatives of the people of the
Northern States, who sustain them in the vio-
lations of the constitution. 1t is clear that the
ballot box in the South is powerful for its pro-
lection. And the same causes which induced
the violations of the constitution by the North.
ern majority, prevents its restoration to its in.
tegrity. Throughout the Northern States there
has been no indication of any change III their
policy. On the contrary, the majority against
the South is greater in the present Congress
than in the last, following the usual course of
every successive election for years past. Nor
have we seen in the action of the States, with
few exceptions, any proof ola returning sense
ofjustice to US, or ofreverence for the constl-
tuition. Several of them, lest false inferences
might be drawn as to their position, have taken
care lately to reiterate in the most offensive
forms their former declaration against our
rights; and when great Senator, repre-.
senting one Of them, anxious for the per-
petuation of the Union, has ventured to advo-
cate something of Justice to the South, he has
been rebuked by the Legislature ofthe State he
represents, and virtually denounced for his fdel-
ity to the constitution. This resource then, un-
der the ordinary operations of the constitution,
is ofno avail And how is it with the pres
ent Congress, the only other source of re-
dress in the usual administration of the
constitutional For six months il has been
in session, and during this whole period oftime
slavery has been the absorbing topic Of discus
sion and agitation. Yet nothing has been done
to heal the discontents which so justly exist in
the South, or restore a bleeding constitution.
All we have received has been bitter denuncia-
tions of our institutions by many members Of
Congress, and threats to coerce us into SUBJ
mission. Although nothing has been done,
report has been made in the Senate by COM
mittee of thirteen members, which is now pen.
dingin that body; and as the measures it pro.
poses have been pressed upon the South as
worthy of her acceptance, we deem it proper to
lay before you a brief consideration of the mat
ter it contains.
This report embraces four distinct measures
list the admission Of California as n State,
with the exclusion of slavery in her constitution
I'd. Territorial Governments to be erected over
the territories of Utah and New Mexico, with
nearly one half of Texas to be added to the lat.
ter Sd. The prohibition of the slave trade
in the District of Columbia and 4th., pro.
visions for the recapture of fugidue slaves in the
non-slaveholding States To understand wheth.
er these measures are consistent with our rights
and worthy Of our acceptance, each of them
must be considered separately.
The South is excluded by the bill from the
whole Of that part of California lying on the
Pacific, including one hundred and fifty thous-
and square miles of territory; and if this is done
by the Legislation of Congress, the mode in
which it is done is Of no Importance. Califor
mia belongs to the United States, and all action
by the individuals in that territory, whether
from the United States or from the rest of the
world, appropriatng the soil to themselves or
nractin0 q povarnmonf ovar II 10 nf po validity