The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-03-12
NUMBER 20.

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this agitation, before The great and final object at
which it ams-the abolition slavery in the States
is consummated! Is il, then, not certain, that il
something decisive is not now done to arrest it.,
the 8 nth will be forced 10 choose between abo-
lition AMI secession! Indeed as events are noty
moving, it will not require The South to secede TO
dissolve the Union. Agitation will OF itself effect
it, Of which its past history furnishes abundant
proof, as shall rexf proceed to show.
1t is great mistake to suppose that disunion
can be effected by single blow. The cords
which bDund these States together in one
common Union are far too numerous and power
fu for that. Disunion must be tile work of time.
it is only through long process, and in succession,
that the cords can be snapped, until the whole
fabric falls asunder. Already the agitation of The
slavery question has snapped some of the most
important, and has greatly weakened all the Others
as shall proceed TO show.
The cords that bind the States together are not
only many, but various in character. Some are
spiitu1l or ecclesiastical; some political; others
social Some appertain to the benefit conferred by
the Union, and others 10 the feeling of duty and
obligation.
The strongest of those of a spiritual and ecclesi-
astcal nature, consisted in the unity of the great
religious denominations; all of which originally
embraced the whole Onion. All these denomiDa.
tons, with the exception, perhaps, ofthe Catholics
were organized very much upon the principle of
our political institutions; beginning with smaller
meetings, corresponding with the political divisions
Of the country, their organization terminated in
one great central assemblage, corresponding very
much with the character Of Congress. AT these
meetings the principal clergymen and lay men,
bers Of the respective denominations from all parts
of the Union met, to transact business relating To-
their common concerns 1t was not confined to
u,ba N ;nl;,
The respective denominations, but extended 10
plans for disseminating the Bible, sending ont mis-
sonaries, distributing tracts, and establishing pres
ses for the publication of tracts, newspapers and
periodicals, with view of diffusng religious in
formation, and for the support of the doctrines and
creed ofthe denomination. All these combined,
contributed greaIy to strengthen the bonds of the
Union. The strong ties which held each denrmi.
nation together formed a strong cord to hold the
whole Union together; but, as powerful as they
were. they have not been able 10 resist the explo-
sive effect of the slavery agitation.
The 6rst OF these cords which snapped, under it's
explosive force, was that of the powerful Methodist
Episcopal Church. The numerous and strong ties
which held it together are all broke and ITS unity
gone. They now form separate churches; and, in
stead diof that feeling of attachment and devotion to
the interests of the whole Church which was for
merly felt, they are now arrayed into two hos
tile bodies, engaged in litigation about what was
formerly their common property.
The next cord that snapped was that of the Bap-
lists, one ofthe largest and most respectable Of the
denominations. That of the Presbyterian ls not
entirely snapped, but some of its stands have given
away. That OF the Episcopal Church is the only
one of the four great Protestant denominations
which remains unbroken and entire.
The strongest cord of political character, con-
of tho eli fioo hof bor hold
gethcr the two great parties which have, with
notifications, existed from the beginning OF the
Government. They both extended to every portion
of the Union and strongly contributed to hold all
its parts together. But this powerful cord has
Jared no better than the spiritual. 1t resisted for
long time the explosive tendency of the agitation,
but has finally snapped under its force-f not en-
tirely, in a great measure. Nor is there ore Of
the remaining cords which have not been greatly
weakened. TO this extcut the Union has already
been destroyed by agitation, in the only way it can
be, by swapping asunder and weakening The cords
which bind it together.
1.-THE agitation goes on, the some force, acting
with increased ntens ty, has been shown, it will
finally snap every cord, when nothing will be left
to hold the states together except force. But,
surely, that san with no propriety Of language be
called Uuinn, when the only means by which the
weaker is held connected with the stronger portion
is force. 1t may, indeed, keep them connected;
but the connection will partake much more OF
the character Of subjusation, on the part of the
weaker TO the stronger, than the union of free, in
dependent and sovereign states, in one Federal
Union as they stood in the early stages OF the Gov
ernment, and which only is worthy Of the sacred
name Of Union.
Having now, Senator's, explained what it is that
endanccrs the Union, and traced it to its cause, and
explained its nature and character, the question
again rccurs How can The Union be saved! To
this answer, there is but one way by which it can
be, aud that is, by adopting such measures as will
satisfy the States belonging to the Southern sec
ton that they can remain in the Union consistently
with their honor and their safety. There is again
only one way by which that can be effected, and
that is removing the cause BY which this belief has
been produced. DO that, and discomfort will cease,
harmony and kind feelings between the sections
be restored and every apprehension OF danger to
the Union be removed The question, then, is by
what can this be done! But before undertake
to answer this question, propose 10 show by what
the Union cannot be saved
It cannot, then, be saved by eueoges on the =
Union, however SPLENDID numerous. The crv
of "LTnion, Union-the glorious Union ~ can no
more prevent disunion than the cry OF "Hea1th,
health-glorous health" on the part of the p"ysi.
clan, cap save patient lying dangerously III. So
long az the Union, instead of being regarded az a
protector, is resardedas ole opposite character, by
not much less than majority of the States, it will