The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-04-02

Ito prevent change as those above Indicated
|Should the majority in that contingency, as it
has been threatened they will do, attempt to
substitute their own rules, arbitrarily adopted,
and to displace the existing Speaker because Ct
Ibis fidelity to the Constitution, then their con-
duct, being unlawful, forcible, and revolutiona-
ry, would justify and require a forcible action
on the part of the friends of the Constitution to-
resist their attempts. 1t would thus turn out
that the Northern members, having in the first
place been guilty Of a tyranncal abuse of their
powers under the Constitution, and finding that
that instrument contained provision for the
protection of the minority, whose rights they
had sought to trample on; this majority, say,
Finding that they were baulked in their efforts
by the Constitution itself, would second time
put themselves i'll the wrong, by an appeal to-
force. In such a case we, who might use the
means necessary to defeat this revolutionary
movement, would be standing in defence of the
Constitution and laws. Feeling the force of as
thigh obligations as could possibly rest on hu.
man being, cannot doubt but that in this con-
| |tingency, Southern men will do their duty with
out regard to any personal peril that may be in
cured.
One purpose of such a movement as this
would be to teach the North that, under the
powers granted in the Constitution both to ma
jorities and minoities, great mischief in prac
tice might be caused. An appeal would thus
be made in the most solemn manner to the good
sense and right feeling Of the masses of the pee
pie there, and they might then decide whether
or not they were willing to carry on our politi-
1cal system as we have heretofore done.
The time when we ought to resort to this
mode of action, hold, should be after clear
demonstration that the majority, by an arbitra.
=. ry exercise of their power intend to disregard
| the constitutional and natural rights of the
Southern portion of the Confederacy. When
lthis shall be made maai!est-when we are
brought to see that the powers of this central
government are to be used against our people
that instead of being their government, it is
Ito them foreign and hostile government--then
lit is our duty to withdraw all support from it as
far as our powers will enable us to do. Nor
/ 1thern gentlemen, however, tell MS that it would
] be more manly, and more becoming to high
minded and chivalrous people, to let legislation
take its course, and resort to revolutionary rem.
1edies. Others of them place great reliance on
/ the federal army and navy, and say that without
|any trouble to the North, they will, by block.
]ading Southern ports and sending troops where
they are needed, soon bring the South into sub.
mission to such laws as they may choose to
pass. l have no doubt but that they are perfect
fly willing, as they say, to vote all the money in
| the treasury to have their acts execute@.
But, tell these gentlemen frankly, that how
ever, willing light be in matters that con.
|cerned myself alone, to make concession when
there is an appeal to my magnauimity, | do not
feel at liberty thus 10 act when the rights of
others are at stake. | will not, if have the
power to prevent, needlessly jeopardize those
whom represent. If there is to be collision,
| do not wish the sword of Brennus thrown
into the scale against my section. If there Is
Ito be u struggle, in any event, between the
South and the North, desire that this, the
common Government, may stand as neutral
If / have power, | will, in that event, put this
Government under bonds to keep the peace.
As, in that contest, know that tho South will
have the right on her side, am not willing that
the Federal army and navy shall be used a.
gainst her. After the appropriations for the
current year are expended, the President will
have no more power to use tho money in the
treasury without an appropriation by law, than
any other person would have.
Whether southern members will take the
step indicated, | shall not assume to say in adj
vance, nor even assert that they have the polit,
|ical, moral and personal courage thus to de-
Eend their own section, should their judgement
approve the course These things the public
must decide for itself, from such evidence as it
has from time to time of southern feeling and
southern action. Should this remedy be adop-
tied, it must be temporary in its effects, and
could hardly be expected to prove available at:
ter the fourth of March next. Then, and per-
haps sooner, the southern people, seeing that
their representatives could no longer, by any
|exertt;;cn, protect them, would be compelled to|
rely ON their own efforts
There is ut this time less manifestation of ex.
ctement in the southern States than was ex-
hibited a little while since. But no one ought
to be deceived rs to the real cause of this COM
parative quiet. This state of things is in no
wise attributable to eulogies on the Union, nor|
to denunciation of southern movements.
The people of the southern States suppose
they have seen indications sufficient to induce