The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-12-17
REMARKS
Of Col. Jarnes Chesnut, jr, delivered in the
House of Representatives, on the 9th inst.

Mr.. Chesnut having obtained the floor; gave
his views ut considerable length He said:
Mr. Chairman, it seems to me we have been
at sea in the discussion, with an occasional
calm. We have been enveoped in storm,
with now and then an intermission of its fury,
sufficient to catch a gleam of sound thought
He would not attempt to follow the lead Of elo-
quence brought to the discussion, but would
confne himself to words of truth and soberness
as best suited to himself and the grave subject
now under deliberation.
The subject to which he should address him
self is-what will the State do in the present
posture Of federal aud State affairs! The feder-
al wrongs we have had depicted in vivid and
energetic thought and language. I have no
desire to awaken the passions of gentlemen III
this assembly, in order to warp their judgements
when pho,ophic thought and calm statesman
ship are so indispensable to the crisis.
Much has been said Of the outrage rerpetra
ted on the South by the measures Of the late
Congress. Gentlemen who found their ijust-
fication on the measures take but a superficial
view of the question. The Government has
been swerved from the purpose of its formation.
We are no longer under constitutional gov
ernment We are under power--a power
selfish. fanatical, and capricious; and therefore
tyrannical. A government constant only in
aiming to destroy our institutions. There are
antagonsms. The North are one people, re-
quiring political organization and laws not suit
ed to the people of the South, and therefore the
antagonisln must ever exist. We must sepa-
rate This is inevitable from the nature of the
contest, and hence we need exhibit no impa-
tence for precipitate and hasty action. There
are other States whose aid and counsel we re.
quire
We are in a Union with other States of simi-
lar institutions with our own, and if we act, and
assume to fight the common battle OF the South
and fail, we must be involved in common fate.
With the South everything is at stake. We
stand isolated and Southern civilization, as III.
volved in our peculiar institution, depends on
the cautious and concerted action Of the South.
The questic is whether we will assume This
position alone, or whether We shall wait and
exhaust every means Of uniting the South before
we adopt the mad policy Of separate action.
We are not alone. The opposition OF Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi and Florida need not
alarm gentlemen. True, they have not come
up to the position of South Carolina nor are
they where strong and determined minority.
of their own people would place them. But
Georgia aud Mississippi will be with US, The
issue has been distinctly made in the former,
and only 10000 majority appears against US
out OF population of600,O00. We have gain
ed something. Six months ago, on the ques-
ton Of union or disunion, Instead of having
ten counties in our favor venture to assert we
would not have found ten men.
After rapid survey Of the advances of the
Southern States to the position they now oceu-
py in defence of the common rights OF all Mr..
g., said we had no right to believe til 1t we
shoald be alone in defending ourselves against
the aggression of the North or its government,
if Carolina only acts her part with propricty.-
In avoiding hasty action we are pursuing Il
course commended to us by that great man for
whom our hall now mourns. in that cele rated
address of Mr.. Calhoun's to the Southern peo-
pie, his last words were-"BE UNITED. Such
was the language of the speech OF llr. Cheves,
at Nashville; and all our wiscst and safest pull.
lie men unite in the same counsel.
In regard to the proposed Southern Congress
he. supposed it would be proper to inquire
! whether we should be represented. 1t has been
said that that body could do nothing but pass
resolutions ofnonintcrcourse. He had no idea
that such would be its action. Certainly that
would not be thought of as IL remedy for our
wrongs. He should suppose it would take an
other form, and result in the construction OF IA
constitution for Southern Couederacy, with
wise and just provisons--one suited for u
home. ogencous people. But even if that body
did nothing; in what would tie position of our
State be changed, except in the wise delay !
She has yet her right to fall back on her inalien'
able sovereignty. That position remains to
her unimpaired, and she could secede alone.
South Carolina, il his judg gmeut, should be
there
Mr.. C. then proceeded to state three modes
in which delegates might be appointed, viz: l;
Tie Legislature may appoint, ,. The Con-
ventiou the State might appoint; or the peo.
pie, by the issuing of writs of election, could
choose them in the same mode the members Of
tie Legislature are. He preferred the latter,
and gave his reason length for the preference.
1t had been said that the State must act, and
act promptly, or we would be stigmatized with
submission, and our people would let them
selves down from their present position,
lfthe issue now before us were separate State
action or submission, he would djourn the dis
cussion to the field, were cannon would be our
Lane re II ~