The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-11-26
from the Nashville American, Nov. 19.


meut Prayer by Rev. DR.. Edgar.
Gen. Gordon, of Va, moved that the pre-
an,lle and resolutions be recommitted to the
ceMmittee.
Mr.. Mcdaniel, of Ga. called for the previous
question, which was put, and carried without
dissent
MIR. Gordon, of Va. gave notice to the COM
mittee on resolutions would hold its meeting
forthwith.
Mr.. Mcdaniel, of Ga. offered the following
resolutions, which were read and referred:
Whereas, combinations of citizens in the
non.slavehoiding States have assaied the rights
and plundered the property of the slaveholding
States, or most of the non-slaveholding States
of this Union have penal enactments interdic:ed
within their limits, the enjoyment and exercise
of liberties and rights guaranteed to the citizens
of slaveholdiug States by the Constitution OF
the United States. And, whereas, the Federal
Government has con6scated the rights OF the
citizens of the slaveholding States in the terri.
tories acquired from Mexico, and withdrawn its
protection from US; and instead of being shield
for onr rights, has become a sword for our de-
structon Be it therefore
Resoioed, That this Convention solemnly in.
vokes the sovereign States of which they are
citizens, to whom they owe allegiance and have
a right to claim protection, to supply means
deemed by them wisest and best, that protec-
ton for their rights of person and property,
denied and subverted by the Federal authority
and the .slaveholding States.
Resoloed, That this Convention respectfully
recommend to the slaveholding States to as
semblein Congress or Convention, at such time
and place as may be agreed upon among them
selves, in order to concoct and adopt measures
adequate and ample to secure to their citizens
the full exercise and enjoyment of all their rights
and liberties.
Mr.. Jones, of Ga, moved that the Conven
ton take recess of half an hour; which was
adopted.
On the re.assembling the Convention Gen.
Gordon, of Va, stated that he was instructed
BY the Committee on resolutions to report that
they had adopted the preamble as reported by
the Committee on Saturday, and had substitu-
ted in place of the resolution the following.
The preamble and resolutions were then read
as follows:
We, the Delegates assembled from portion
of the States of this Confederacy make this ex.
position of the causes which have brought US
together, and of the rights which the States we
represent are entitled to under the compact of
Union.
We have amongst us two races, marked by
such distinctions Of color and physical and NOR.
al qualities as forever forbid their living togeth.
er on terms of social and political equality.
The black race have been slaves from the
earliest settlement of our country, and our re
lations of master and slave have grown up
from that time. A. change in those relations
must end in convulsion, and the entire rnn OF
both races.
When the Constitution was adopted this re-
lation, of master and slave, as it exists, was
expressly recognized and guarded in that in.
strument 1t was great and vital interest, IN
volving our very existence as separate people
then as well as now.
The States of this Confederacy acceded to
that compact, each one for itself, and ratified it
as States-
If the non.slavebolding States, who are par
ties to that compact, disregard its provisions
and eudanger our peace and existence by uni
ted and Deliberate action, we have right, as
States, there being no common arbIter, to Sc
cede.
The object Of those who are urging on the
Federal Government in its aggressive policy
upon our domestic institutions is, beyond all
doubt, finally to overthrow them, and abolish
+b. ox;stino relation between the master and
slave. We feel authorized to assert this from
their own declarations, and from the history OF
events in this country for the last few years.
TO abolish slavery or the slave trade in the
District of Columbia-to regulate the sale and
transfer of slaves between the States--to ex.
clude shareholders with their property from the
Territories-to admit California under the cir.
cumstances of the case we hold 10 be all parts
of the same system ofmeasures and subordinate
to the end they have in view, which is openly
avowed to be, the total overthrow of the instl-
tuition.
We make no aggressive move. We stand
upon the defensive. We invoke the spirit of the
Constitution, and claim its guarantees. Our
rights-our independence--the peace and ex-
istence of our families depend upon the issue.
The Federal Government has within few
wears acquired, by treaty and by triumphant
war, vast territories. This has been done by
the councils and BY the arms Of all, and the
1ene6ts and rights belong alike to all the States
The Federal Government is but the common
agent Of the States united, and represents their
conioined sovereignty over subject matter gran.