The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-08-09
From the Southern Press.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

We have had no disposition to discuss these
topics--and have abstained from them. we
thought it our duty as asSoutherners and rs Amer
leans to rely for the present on argument, TO
sustain the Constitution and the rights OF the
South. And we did not desire to introduce any
topics to excite the passions and disturb the
Judgment of the people North or South.
We replied therefore, to but one OF these ar,
ticles recently published in the Republic, and
waived response to the other two. But the
Northern papers seem fond of the subject, and
as they labor under great Authorizations that
NAV lead them to fatal conclusions, we must
again interpose.
We shall not now reply to the doctrines of
General Jackson's proclamation, revived by the
Republic, because many of them were explain
ed away and renounced by his own authority in
the Globe, even after that document appeared
and have been exploded. As for the notion
of the Republic, that "Ihe United States" or
the Government of the United States would re-
main in the sense those terms are now under
stood, after number of the States, or half the
States had renounced the Union. it is utterly tn-
tenable. A majority of the Senators of all the
existing States is necessary, under the Constl.
tuition, for quorum to transact business. II
half of them were to withdraw, there could be
no quorum.
In the failure Of the people to elect Presi-
dent by districts, the Constitution requires "a
majority of all the States to elect" If two
States were to withdraw, and the remaining
twenty eight were to be nearly equally divided.
there could be no election-and the Govern
nent would fall. That event might happen, in
deed, by an equal vote OF all the existing States
If one State should withdraw, there could be
neither Senate nor House of Representa-.
tives under the existing Constitution; for it de-
clares that the Senate shall be composed of two
Senators from each .Siaie and the House, Of
members chosen by the people Of the sereral
States. Nor could President be elected at all,
if one State withdrew; for the Constitution re-
ouires each State to appoint Presidential Elec-
tors, and majority is required to elect
The Albany Evening Atlas does-not trouble
itself with argument or Constitution, but relies
on power, in the following:
In case of the secession Of several States, or
| of half the States, we should like to know who
would be. 8, the. people. of ths. United States
Southern Press.
"This is question that will not take long in
the answering, should the disunionists make one
movement in their reasonable purpose. They
would sec and feel who the people Of the Uni
ted States are.
With all their respect for the sovereignty of
States, and their repugnance to the exercise ot
restraint, and loathing of war, above all, of a
war between kindred races, we do not believe
that the people of the Union would ever con.
sent to the existence OF an independent confed-
Grafton in the South. Such a confederation
could only maintain itself by foreign alliance
The principle enunciated by President Monroe
that no foreign government should be permitted
to establish dominion on this Continent, would
operste in this case of secession. The political
necessity, or the rule of policy, or the appetite
for dominion, which constituted the action of
the government in regard to Louisiana, Florida,
Texas and the recent acquisitions from Mexico,
would forbid the existence OF an alien State in
the heart of the Confederacy.
A confcderacy composed OF South Carolina,
Georgia, and perhaps two more States, could
have no internal strength, and no foreign all
ance except at the double cost of dependence
on distant power and Of irreconcilable enmities
here. If it were larger it would be still more
necessary to crush it, for its offence, being the
fact of its existence, would be aggravated in
proportion to its formidableness. This is plain
speaking, but if there is any one so infatuated
as to believe that the people living on the branch
es of the Mississippi, will ever consent that its
mouths shall be under foreign flag, such a one
requires plain talking to-
Does the Atlas forget that some three thou
sand Seminole warriors detied the power of the
States united, for seves yearsl Does he forget
that those Indians foiled the genius Of Gaines,
Scott, Taylor, and Jessup, ut the head of as
many troops as could employed against them!
that these were the Generals who have aston
ishcd the world by their victories? that Gener-
al Jackson was President--and that the war
cost us forty millions9 Does he suppose that
the people fany State in the Union have less
genius, courage and resources than the Semi
noles?
We have heard people talk of blockading
Southern ports Well if that could be done it
would inAct ten times the injury on the North
rs the South. Where would be the cotton mills
of the manufacturing North! Where their mar.
kets Where the markets for Western pro-
duce? But the thing could not be done. No
commerce so rich and so Indispensable to the
world as the Southern could be cut off. The
| u,nrooJar would dafcat NIL the nayies i'm the