The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-05-21

TIE Co;onibus, Ga. Times devotes the fol-
lowing manly article to the Democratic organ
ut Washington. 1t contains much with which
we cordially agree, and its tone is such as the
peril of the times calls for on the part of all
who represent the South.
THE WASHINGTON UNION"
The editor of this paper is man, venerable
in wears, under whose lead Virginia Dcmocra'
CIV for forty years, has been led to victory. The
standard to which he has been enabled to rally
this triumphant army for SO long period in the
history of the Government, was the standard
of State Rights. In hoe signo uinces. While
true to the Virginia principles, laid down as
land marks by the "earlier" statesmen OF the
"Old: Dominion" his power was irresistible,
and his triumphs signal. Atm time in the pub
Ec history of the country, has there been stron-
ger need for strict adherence to Virginia doc
sIines. than the present. Never were the rights
of the States in greater jeopardy of being over.
slaughed by assumptions Of Federal power, aud
their very footprints of being obliterated by the
advancing tide Of personal aspirations, and in-
cougruous party combinations; all looking to
the Presidency, and ooer looking true, South
ern principles trampled down in their progress.
In speaking of the Washington Union, we are
compelled to do Justice to the difficulties Of its
position. Its location makes it the organ of Il
National Democratic party. 1t has friends and
supporters North aud South of the Potomac.
1t has the task to perform Of reconciling iinpos.
sible preiudices between adverse sections, and
of maintaining unity where schism results, from
the irresistible force of circumstances. There
is but one platform on which Northern and
Southern Democracy can securely and harmo-
niousiy stand together; it is the old Virginia
riatform of State Rights. The Constitution
must be held sacred by common consent, the
Southern States must be let alone to manage
their own domestic affairs, and common inter.
ests in common territories must be scrupulously
respected or there is an end to the National
Democracy. Now the Union" has either to
show that the Northern section is ready for this
holocaust Of its local prejudices on the altar OF
4 common patriotism, or it has to choose un.
der which king it will serve. 1t cannot at the
same time, serve the god Of principle and the
manmon of prejudice. Itcannotgloss over an.
tagonisms on vital points of constitutional and
natural right, and blend in one triumphant par
~, an organization having these seeds of rotten
ness and discomfort within it. We give the
warning now, and in time, that there are men
of the Democratic party at the South, who will
be priv to no such sepulchre. whitening process
with q view to future Presidential and Vice
Presidential arrangements. These men have
consulted expedients and temporized, until its
following has brought theirfeet to stumble upon
the dark mountains" of Southern wrongs. They
have SO adhered to their Northern brethren be
cause they believed that all Of fidelity to just
cause that could be found at the North, nestled
in the bosom Of her Democracy. Northern
Whiggcry had .ong since gone over horse and
foot to the Free Soil enemy, and there was no
hone there. But the time has come, when
Southern men must be just to the South, when
they must place claims of her sons, her daugh-
ters and their children to their protection, far
above the qualification OF mere party triumph,
Though Gen. Cass should neper be President
and Messrs. Foote or Cobb should neper pre-
side, piirtute o6icii, over the American Senate,
these men ale determined to surrender not Il
..iot or title" of Southern rights. The Union"
deludes itself and deceives the North, it it pro-
poses to convince either, by publications from
Southern newspapers under the imposing head
Of" Public Sentiment" that the Democracy Of
the South will ever consent to stand on nation
al platform that is not securely based as the
Constitution and the just rights Of the South
There is 10 compromise that they will listen to
but one-the Missouri compromise of 1919
and 1920. In that they have yielded their
last inch. If the South and North cannot
enioy territory in common, the only just and
equitable alternative is to divide it by deter
inmate line. That line was drawn thirty years
ago. To listen to other compromises, is but to
debate proposition to surrender some new
constitutional right not yet given up. The
South has no occasion for compromises. She
asks nothing from the North but what is clearly
her own. The Federal Constitution is itself Il
compromise, and if that cannot work on ac-
count Of the conscience of the North, it is not
the fault of the South, and upon that conscience
must rest the responsibility Of making the Fed
eral Government an impractcable machine.
We saw then to the Washington Union, that
the Democratic party of Georgia, 0nd a large
ondinRuential poriion Of the Wings have reach:
ed a point, in their history Of concessions and
surrenders for the sake Of peace, beyond which
they are determined not to 60. They have
found that yielding does not purchase peace;
that their generous sacrifices are only met with
the horse.Ieeeh demands Of "giye." They be
ljeve that it is political power, Northern dom.
ination. Southern abasenent, and universal G.
- :.:o,, tb,t tho North ia steadily pursu.