The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-12-20


bic and successful resistance, We shall be in the
Union, but not of it. Having abandoned our
position as a State, and Withdrawn our repre-
sentation from Congress, we shall he reduced
10 territory, and governed as SUCH"
These sentiments would have atonod for the
foregoing and Mr.. Freeman would, doubtless,
have been invited back into the The ,tre by the
rrpentant audience, and been received with
three cheers.
We should like, however, to knowthe modus
opprqndi of getting at Mississippi, if ever cir
cumstances force her, in defence of her nstitu-
tons, her firesides and her sovereignty, to with
draw from this Union. We can imagine how
the Federal Governmentmigh possibly, annoy
a seaboard State, but how would it proceed
against Mississippi She is an interior State.
Or the necessaries of life she produces more
than she consumes, and her exports are indis.
pensable to the existence of New Orleans, of
Boston, New York, and Liverpool. Her great
staple is the lever that regulates the trade and
the peace of the world. She could not there
fore be blockaded. She requires not one dollar
from the national treasury. She is surrounded
by slaveholding States, of kindred sympathes
and interests. No response on them for militia
to invade Mississippi would be made; not a
man would volunteer, or submit to be drafted ;
and no army of federal mercenaries could set
foot on their territories without finding an am.
bush and an enemy on every mile Of their march.
We cite this instance to show how power
less the Government would be in an emergen.
cy of this nature, and in The hope that it will
exert all its influence to restrain those who are
meuacing and assaing the constitutional rights
of the South, gradually forcing on catastro.
phe at which hope and patriotism and humani-
ty will hang down their heads and weep.
Louisiana Courier.
THE POSITION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
The friends of the South are most anxiousy
watching The movements Of the South Carolina
Legislature, and lightly asthey speak and affect
to think other, the conservalors o the glorious
Union, are so.icitous spectators of The position
which the gallant State is assuming in thscris
Since the days of notification South Carolina
has been the object of the bite eres, hatred anu
the fercesl opposition ofiederalism. Her name
has been ieered at, and envy. but half concealed
in the parb of devotion to The Union, has altemp.
led to point the finger Of contempt at the grca,
men who have lived and battled and died in
her cause. From the iederalis, in the Senate
Chamber TO the meanest sycophant OF power
who prates ON politics from the stump. South
Carolina has been abused, uspcrsed and mis-.
represented; and all for the sin of being repub
lican, all for daring to maintain her rights. 1t
has been said, and most truly that there are hut
two parties in this government; the one stand
upon Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts. the 9th
er upon the soil of South Carolina. From the
earliest dawn OF this republic till now federal
ism and State Rights have been The Two conflc.
ting elements in the Union. and upon these two
opposing ideas have been built all the political
distinctions which have, from that day to this,
divided the country. While he lived, Mr. Cal.
houn was The great embodmenl of republican.
ism in this country, and though he no longer
lives to counsel, South Carolina yet stands The
firm, unyislding champion of the cause to which
his lie was devoted. oher, il is no newthIng
to be arrayed against the usurpa'i"n OF power
by the General Government She has dared to
asser, her rights before; she will not prove for
ge,(ul of what is due 10 her now.
Whether she will determine to take her cause
into her own hands, or will await the co.opcra.
ton of her sister States of the South, has not
y., been fully indicated. One 'hingis certain
she will not con,en, herself with empty resolu.
,ions against future wrongs The past is full Of
outrage, and she will neither close her eyes to
the fact, nor ngraciously purchase peace tor the
future by submitting to the wrongs which have
been already inflicted. Resistance in some
form will he determined upon, and this whether
the South acts with her, or she stands alone.
As to the mode or measure OF that resistance,
we know nolhing;we only know that some mode
will be adopted. and that it will be measured
alone Ivy the wrong which has been imposed.
The question is frequently asked II South
Carolina seccdes. will any bthrr State unite
with her! Mississippi probably might, hut we
do not believe she would. That Georgia would
not, is certain; and it is scarcely doubtful that
neither Florida nor Alabama would. These are
unwelcoune truths. hut we believe they are uev.
erlheless truths. Our own recent election has
taught US that there is a spell in party, charm
in good prices for cotton, and n power IN the
cry of Union" too strong tor the love "f right
or devotion to principal. The lesson is llu all.
ia,ing, but We do not despond under il, for we
know lha, though the South slnmbers now, she
will not sleep always. Sooner or later she
must awake and act. Let South Carolina then
sccpdc, alone ifneed be, and The day is not dis.
"a nj whom she will farm the nucleus of Con.