The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-04-30

whenever;it shall become necessary for their
happiness" ., c,ns.;+,
ton, proposed by the convention OF the state
of Virginia, that convention declared
arhat governments ought to be instituted
for the common benefit, protection and secu'
rity OF the people, and that the doctrine OF non
resistance against arbitrary power and oPpres
sim. is absurd, slavish, aud destructive OF the
good and happiness OF mankind.
The convention of the State of North Car
oliua, assembled under the same circumstances, &c
made the following declaration iii their bill OF
rights: .., g.,
"That government ought to be instituted Tor
the common benefit, protection and security OF
the people, and that the doctrine ol non'resis-
tapce against arbitrary power and oppression,
;s absurd. slavish, and destructive to the good
and happiness Of mankind. c, .,o
Sir, thus spoke the men VINO irameu inc
Constitution under which we have so long llVea
and acted; and with these declarations, ana
this understanding OF the meaning ana theory
of our republican system, the Federal Consti.
triton was ratified. The sovereign parties to
the compact of union, at the moment tiey
formed It. declared in express terms-to whlch
,ll the States assented that they entered into
tho covenant with the understanding that a
breach of any one article, by any one par
tv leaves all the other parties at liberty to con.
sider the whole dissolved that tAey were at
liberty to withdraw from it, and re-assume the
powers granted whenever, in their Judgment IL
became necessary to their safety ana hapPiness'
and at the same time affirmed the right ana du,
ty to resist arbitrary power and OPPRESSION ana
that the doctrine of non-resistance Is absurd,
slayish. and destructive Of the good and hap
piness of mankind. :, :,
have appealed to this venerable authorlta, /,
tive record, for the purpose of contrasting 1t
with the doctrines of the majority who now
control this Government. This majority have
adopted, as principles of political action, set
Of axioms directly at war with these tundamen.
tai doctrines of our republican fathers. These
ax;oms are. that this Government is the sole
Judge of the extent Of its own powers; that a
majority, either within or without the Constitu-
ton, must govern in all cases whatsoever; that
to the will of this majority, as expressed by
their votes, the minority must submit; that a
State-one or more = cannot peaceably secedc
from the Union, without the consent of the ma
iority; that to attempt to do so, is rebellion;
that rebellion is treason against the General
Government, to which all primary allegiance Is
due; that, as consequence, the people OF Il
State which should attempt to secede from the
Union, would be rebels and traitors; that BE-
ing thus criminal, resort by the President to
the military power is the proper remedy to put
down such rebellion, and thereby preserve tne
Union by force Of arms, and enforce the VIII
of the majority by the sword. lhese doc-
trines are continually avowed here i'll debate.
Let me call the attention of this committee to
the concluding paragraph Of speech lately
made by the gentleman from Illinois, Nlr. Bis
selI.) calling himself democrat: illinois"
said he, "profered to the country nine regl-
mcnts, to aid in the vindication OF her rights IN
the war with Mexico; and should danger
threaten the Union, from any source, or IN any
ouarter-in the North or in the South-she will
be ready to furnish twice, thrice, yes, four times
that number, to march where that danger may
be-to return when it is passed, or return no
more"
Let me not be misunderstood by this House
or by the country This trade of the member
from Illinois, is extremely harmless; and, under
ordinary circumstances, would excite Il smile
only. But when viewed in its true light as one
of the signs of the times, indicating clearly the
fact, that the independence of the States is de-
MED, and that this Government is, III fact, no
longer a confederated Republic Of sovereign
and equal States, but consolidated despotism,
and that its edicts are to be enforced by the
sword; then, this declamatory display OF the
member from Illinois assumes degree Of i'm
portance not intended, perhaps, and should
arouse the people of the South to a united and
determined resistance.
But this is not all. The gentleman from
Massachusetts, (Mr. NANNY in recent speech
"a speech characterized by a spirit Of ferocity
and malguity never surpassed in parliamentary
history used the following language, i'll reply
to some remarks lately made by Governor
Troup, of Georgia, in letter to a friend:
"Mr. Chairman, (said he,) such collision
would be war; such forcblo opposition to the
Government would be treason. Its agents and
abettors would be traitors. Wherever this re.
bellioa rears its crest, martial law will be pro-
claimed, and those found with hostile arms in
their hands, must prepare for the ielon's DOOM"
These are the doctrines of the majority, to
which the people of the South are told they
must submit, under the penalty of teons aud
J,o,, rI'bo nhinrt Of This m