The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-02-15
Correspondence of the Charleston Courier.

Correspondence ofthe Charleston Courier
WAsnISGToH, Feb. 10.
The Representatives from the State of Cali
fornia are here. had the pleasure to meet DR..
Gwin, Senator elect, this morning. The Rep
resentatives elect, Mr.. Wright and Mr.. Gilbert,
are here. Col. Fremont is un!appily detained
ut Panama, by the illness of his wife, and re-
grct to learn that she was thoug lit to BE- in dam
ger. The Representatives from California have
had a long road to travel to this seat of govern.
ment; but they will have longer road and Il
roughcr one, fear to travel before they get teir
seats.
am bound to state facts, however disagree
able they may be to the narrator The propo.
sitions and discussions on the subject of slavery
here tend not to Cancellation, but TO exaspcra-
tion. | know Of no compromise which has
been suggested, that will heal the wounds al
ready inflicted-nonc that will not aggravatc
them. The prospect is, that the Southern men,
or rather, a majority of them, will resist appro-
priatons, after the revenue and census bills, un-
til the whole ubject in controversy be settled.
have stated this before. But lest YOU should
deem it mere suggestion, elected from the heat
of excited discussion, | may state that Mr..
Clingman, Yesterday, announced to his friends,
among whom was the writer of this, that the
propositions made in his speech would be car
ricd out-that he was certain that he had for
tv-fve members to go with him. If, said he,
we have collision. we do not mean to have
the whole army and navy against us.
Mr.. Clngnlau is, by some of his Southern
friends, considered as rash and extrlvagant ;
but, must say, that, in view Of his whole course
and object, he is right. His object is to show
to the Northern men that the South is in earn
est; and know that he has brought Northern
men to a stand He takes the only course
which can preserve the Union, rather the l,ar-
mony of the Union; for dissolution, other than
theoretical, cannot take place, ut least, without
civil war.
am happy to turn from this view to another,
which shows that the North is awakening to n
proper sense of the danger and difficulties of the
crisis. A Northern Senator Showed to me, to.
day, number of his letters from various parts
ofthe country-all ofwhich deprecated the VIII
mot Proviso, or any kindred measures.
read one very able letter from Il Western
Judge, an old FederaliSt, which was as sound as
it was lucid, in exposition of constitutional prn.
ciples, on this subject; and going far ahead of
Mr. Clay, he shows that the abolition of slavery
in the District of Columbia is unconstitutional.
read letters, too, from prominent Wings, which
nre fraught with just sentiments. notice, how
ever, that there is leaning on the part of the
northern Wings towards Gen. Taylor's policy
One letter is from a source which | respect, and
give the following sentence from it, to wit
".is hopeful as you are, always, of the prcva-
lence of the better impulses of men, YOU will
scarcely anticipate so thorough determination
of all the well disposed among us, to take a more
truly national position on questions connected
with slavery" This is from Il Wing, and to Il
Wig. A Pennsylvania Democratic member
offered to show me, to-day, numbers of letters.
The Northern men with whom converse, all
say that they are urged to go against the vii.
mot Proviso, and not one letter have they rccciv-
ed in favor of it. Iexcept, ofcourse, the small
faction of .Abolitionists, of whom know moth
ing, other than the rumor, in the papers, that
they are getting up convention, to meet in
June.
Be ASSURED that no Wilmot Proviso can pass
the House, to say nothing of the Senate
But, to turn again to Southern views. Ihavc
heard of letter, and do not feel at liberty to
say any thing of the parties to it, which cxhib-
its, in definite manner, the views and intcn-
tons of the South.
This morning, some of Mr.. Calhoun's friends
called upon him, for the purpose of saying that
the Senate would cheerfully assign to him any
time that he would designate for the purpose of
speaking. Mr.. Calhounreplied that he felt able
to speak now, but he thought it better to defer
it fora few days. He did not wish, he said, to
reply to any one. He desired to express his
ow,hvcws. He remarked that he was now sat
isfcd that the people "f the South were ahead
Of their leaders in movements on this subject.
The Senators indicated by Mr. Butler, i'll his
speech, as those who ,ignated the Southern
Address, last winter, wc;c Mr. Hunter, Mr. Da-
vR, and Mr.. Turney.
The Revenue Collection Bill has been fruit
ful source of debate in the House. Mr.. Holmes,
of So. Ca, has taken II prominent part in it, and
in support OF the commercial interests. The
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