The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-03-01
Drfrrrro Artifles.
Correspondence of the Camden Journal. !.
, WASHINGTON, FEB. 20, 1850

WASHINGTON, FEB. 20, 1850.
Dear Sirs:-I have read an account somewhere
of an individual who was placed above an open
keg of powder, near which flaming torch was
continually burning. The poor man. entirely ig-
norant of the important fact when the powder
would explode indeed not being positively satisfied
that it ever would ignite but still fearing that it
would, heing thus acted upon by so many power
full excitenents, lost his wits, and with his wits,
went his life, .Now-we poor, DISTINGUISHED people
of this District of Columbia, are half way-mind
YOU, only half way-like that man. Congress is
our powder keg, in whose bowels there is deadly
hostility to our dearest rights. There are men i'll
that Congress who would strip us Of our property,
and trampc upon all that either the South or our
selves hold sacred. All kinds Of men are in Con-
gress, and of course schemes of every description
are hatched and brought forward, and the District
comes in for goody share of the attention Of the
representatives of the Nation. We would rather
not receive these civilities, but the gentlemen will
force them upon us. They say slavery must be
abolished here. Well, let them do it. we will not
lose our wits in consequence thereof. Such law
as that we know, is unconstitutional. We have
placed ourselves under the protection Of the South
and if she will be faithful to her pledges we will
stand erect before the eye of God and man, and
invoking the shades of our. fathers who fell at
Camden, we will meet undaunted any and every
peril that may present itself Men shall forget the
race of Badensburg, and only recolect that we
are the children of glorious and ustrous ahces-
try of revolutionary renown Whilst speaking OF
the District of Columbia, allow me to correct an
erroneous impression that has gone abroad. tits
thought that many of our citizens, if not MAORI
ty. are abolitionsts or freesoilers. Now | know
that two-thirds Of our people are as firm and as
true adherents 10 Southern interests and nstitu-
tons, as can be found anywhere This was fully
demonstrated some few weeks ago. number Of
our respectable citizens called meeting through
the newspapers Of their fellow citizens, for the pur-
pose of petitioning to Congress to give us Terri
torial Government. and to take generally into COLI
sderaton the defects in our laws. The whole
thing, however, was too transparent. 1t was sus-
pectcd that some Of the principal gentry in this
movc were anxious for seat in Congress. (Just
imagine "the honorable gentlemen from the Dis
trct OF Columbia has the floor" This certainly is
enough to stimulate these gentlemen to get up an
other such farce 1t certainly is comic for "lear-
ed gentlemen to contend that Congress has the
power to give us Territorial Govermem) 1t
was also believed that flle abeitonists had hand
in this sbusness; that they were anxious by this
move TO give Congress all excuse for attacking
our rights and freeing our slaves for every Ohe
must see that should Congress, al our invitation,
undertake thorough revision of our laws, that
the first and most prominent institution TO be at
tackled would be that Of domestic slavery, and
that if this attack should fall it would nevertheless
be a lirc-brand in Congress-a source OF mischief
and agitation TO the entire country We therefore,
! by an overwhelming majority, voted the whole
scheme 10 bo incxpedcnt.
Last Monday was great day in Congress-
Seine aholt0niSt moved that the Committee OIL
Territories he instructed 10 report a hll! admitting
California into the Union with her present Wllmot
ProviSo constitution. The South were then III tho
minority. 1t WAS evident that if the question were
put, that it must pass So the true friends OF the
Union and the Constitution, determined TO defeat
their opponents by a system Of parliamentary tao
tics. Accordingly, direct vote Oh the proposition
was cvadrd, and the House WAS kept voting Oh
motions 10 adjourn, motions 10 excuse members
from voting. &c, until midnight; at which time
the Speaker decided that the parliamentary day
had endcd and the House had to adjourn. This
matter cannot under the rules of thy House, be
again considered until two weeks have elapsed,
dating from last Monday. May the voice Ola wis"
spirit be heard in the IIal!of Representative when
this matter shall again be agila.cd. :.... .-}..
Yours, CECIL.
49, ..a