The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-08-23
" For the. Journal. "
WHAT SHALL WE DO2

day more alarming We have seen one bill af.
ter another, providing for the protection Of our
rights defeated in tho Senate; we have seen the
President in an official document threatening us
with the sword, unless we shall basely yield
our territory to Northern aparice and fnnati-
eism. We have heard our best and most pa
triotic citizens branded with the name o" trail
tors" and threatened with ca traitors death
the gibbet"-yet the South remains almost in
active, and seems to await the final blow ere
she will endeavor to rouse herself from her inac-
tivity. Our fathers fought not because they
really suffered from the tyranny Of England,
but because their freedom appeared in the hands
of another. The South burns with injuries
inflicted on her in q most tyrannical man.
ner, yet she is inactive! Let her beware, lest
like Rip Van Winkle, that when she wakes
from her dreams she shall find her strength has
departed; her muskcts ruined with rust, and
her powder spoilt by exposure to the weather.
What have we to expect from the Congress now
assembled, or from any subsequent session!
Justice9 /, for my single self, would just as
soon "expect mercy from the devil" as justice
from men led on by avarce and fanaticism
from men void Of every sense of honor and pa
triotism; from men ready at any moment to rc-
cct religion ITSELF if it conflicts with their revo-
lutionary ideas. Ii it will not be voluntarily
yielded to us, it will be Impossible for us there
to obtain it. Our Representatives, with the
exception of Clay and Foole, have done all
thai men could do, but they arc in the n,inori-
ty, and instead of bcncfiting, ly their endeavors
to secure our rights, have rather, i'll fact, in
jured us. The North sees our weakness in
that quarter, and hurries on to new agS.,reSsons.
II VIC wish to preserve inviolate, those privi-
leges for which our ioreiathcrs bled; five wish
to maintain our positions as free and sovereign
States, and not to Le degraded to the condition
Of colonies, mere appendagcs, to the North, we
must have recourse to some other expedient
than the legitimate action of Congress. Legiti-
mate action OF Congress, did say9 When has
that body acted in accordance with the powers
delegated TO it, both by the Constitution and
the Articles of Confedcration9 The Constiu.
tuition provides for the equal protection of all
property owned by the citizens of the United
States. Congress has not only cndeavored to
nullify this provision, bui also TO render it llc-
sal for the South TO carry her property into the
territories of the U. States. With regard to Ore
gon, the Wilmot proviso has been engrated in
the bill providing Iur its government. Califor-
MIA, with her mixed population of Indians, Me-
groes, Asiatics and Europeans, has patched up
thing she dares call Il Constitution, and abo-
litionsts are now clamoliug at the door of Con-
gless for her admission into the Union. Does
any one think for moment that this demand
will be rejected! The Articles OF Coniedra.
ton says: "No State shall be deprived OF ter
ritory for the benefit of The United States"-
Has not the territory Ola Southern State been
seized upon by federal officers! And have not
the majority in Congress endeavored to justify
this act! Then let me repeat tit is not to
Congress we should look for protection. Non
intercourse is our only hope. Let us keep our
cotton from Northern manufacturers-let our
Representatives refuse 10 grant supplies TO the
Government, and then, ifjusticc is not given to
us, let US divide the Union, and having thrown
away the scabbad, preserve the line, OF $500,
or perish in tho attempt, 1t would be disgrace
ful to the memory Of our fathers to live i'll an
Union where we are not equals.
36.3O.