The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-06-07
politifal Department,
From the Montgomery (Ala.) Atlas,
WHAT is TO BE DONE{

past, we have taken some pains to ascertain the
opinions of the " sovereigns" on the slavery
question in general, and the proposed compro.
misc measure In particular We are proud to
say that we have not met with single individ.
ual who is not warmly--the most, enthusiastic
cally-in favor of resisting every approach to
encroachment upon Southern rights, la what.
ever shape or form it may present ITSELF There
are, it cannot be denied, occasionally found
such moral monstrosities as Southern men op-
posed to Southern interests, but they form the
exceptions to the general rule, that the people.
wherever the matter has been investigated and
Is correctly understood, are entirely sound on
the subject of the present difficulties between
the North and the South.
Why should they hesitate now? Has not
every new fact which has been brought to light
in reference to the wealth, resources and power
of the South. in the discussions of the slavery
question, for years past, gone directly into the
scale of evidence, proving that the North has
been, is now, and must continue to be, entirely
dependent upon the natural productions and
riches of the South for all the elements Of her
commercial importance and prosperity What
has the South to fear from q disruption of the
Union9 Has 1t not been made clear, that in
the event of such atastrophe-however much
it is to be deprecated-she has every thing to
gain and the North every thing to losea And
have Southerners become SO spiritless, so de-
generate, as for one moment to entertain the
idea of cringing and recoing before the AFRO
gance and buster of Northern cupidty and ia.
natcism, when all the right and all the real
power are with themselves Must the South
now be made to bow down and PROSTATE her.
self in the very dust before the feet of the North,
because she has heretofore had the magnanimi-
ty to be generous and forbearing to her ene-
mics? Must she consent to be outraged and
robbed now, because she has generously tor
given former wrongs and insults
Northerners. themselves, from Webster down
to Garrison-if such distance be within the
grasp of human Observation-Disclosures
that the South is contending for nothing which
she has not enjoyed since the revolution, years
before the government was founded. lhey 10
not pretend that she has ever encroached upon
the Constitution, or upon the rights OF the
North; vet because she demonstrates against
being deprived of her Constitutional rights
against being insulted, swindled, outraged and
| robbed-against the violent destruction OF those
institutions, which her enemies themselves
maintained until they were no longer profitable,
she is set upon by the whole vast horde OF
Northern fanatics and destructionists as almost
too vile to be decently tolerated within the pale
Of civilized society.
These cut.throats have recently made new
demand upon the patience of the South; they
now modestly ask the immediate emancipa-
ton of every slave" -,
What is to be done9 Must the South yield
to the North Must right yield to wrong!
How much must be yielded! Will not the
yielding of an inch provoke new demand for
an ell Does not experience prove thiss No;
the South has already conceded too much. The
more she gives the more she is asked to give,
and honor and safety alike require that she
shonld concede no more-not the millonth part
of 4 hairs breadth. Nor will she, unless she
has already consented to become the basest and
most degraded of tributaries and elected TO
wear the chains of her own slaves.
But may she not Compromise! Its main-
tained that she ought if thereby she can maln'
tain her "honor" which, it is said, is all she
can now hone for. We do not like, and do not
we'll understand this kind of phraseology.-
"We may lose all but our honor! In our
humble opinion, when we consent to lose any
thing rhalcver, of what is clearl y and constitu'
tionalIy our own, we have already lost our
"honor." Let us take care of our rights and
our "honor" will take care of itself.
We have been, and are now, in favor of
compromise" provided it be a just and fair
one But compromise which asks tke South
to give up her constitutional rights and yield to
the demands of insolcnt and tyranncal power,
would not only not be just and fair, but it would
be offering IN outrageous indgnty to propose
il. The South cannot compromise away
her rights; and we have no hesitation in say.
ing that the Southern man who would propose
it. Is in disposition traitor and at heart aaue-
The South may compromise with the North
in some such manner as this: she may agree
to remain in the Union herself, and allow Cali.
rornia to come in, provided the boundaries OF
the latter be properly contracted and the North
will throw herself back upon the constitution
and bind herself faithfully to carry out its pro-.
visions, How tho South can compromise "
on any other principles, with honor" is some
thing above or below our comprehension.
We hope, therefore, the Southern Senators
and Representatives in Congress will resist, by
evorv possible means that can be resorted to,
every compromise" scheme and every other