The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-02-19

| Benton-to whom he gave assurances OF his most
distinguished consideraon-and fooled to the top
of his bent with fulsome adulation. lie took oc-
casion to declare his opposition to the Southern
Address, and paraded his refusal to sign it as a
patriotic desire to propate our Northern friends
and attempted also 10 assail the Southern Con-
vention, but was promptly choked off by Messrs.
Foote and Davis, of Mississippi, and Mr. Buter,of
| South Carolina. He then attempted to read a lee
ture to Mr. Clemens, Of Alabama, upon the impro-
prety of dealing so harshy with friends al the
North, as that Senator had done, but short and
sharp rejoinder from that plain and strong-spoken
representative Of real Southern feeling, drove him
off discomhtted-and lie took refuge i'll declaring
in the most guarded terms his entire opposition III
sentiment to MIR. Calhoun, whose absence and
sickness he depored in good set Terms and doubt
less in great sincerity-tllere being so much love
lost between them, since Mr.. Calhoun openly de-
nounced him last spring
He was placed indeed in most perlous and at
the same time most Iudicrous position. -Wiliins
to wound and yet afraid to strlke"-he was dr.t.i
TO explain away BY plceenlea every llisl'lua'ioli
which he threw out against the motives or se az
ton of Southern Senators or Southern Stales.-
Mr.. Foote most blandy compelled the retraclion ot
ilmendos relative to the course OF Alssissippl-hr
Jefferson Davis repeatedly and sternly Pi.ed him
down to explanations which explained away all
meaning wha,ever-and finally denounced What
he designated "the injurious detractions" Of lle
Senator from Texas conveyed by muendos, ay ~
the possible influence that South Carolina u,igM
have had in originating the Alssis sipPi call tor
Southern Convention. air. Butler also seized the
occasion to correct common error i'll reterence to
the origin of the meeting that led to the adoption
of the Southern Address, and gave The real liisiory
of the first steps that led to that important ove-
ment So far from its having originated with Ar.
Calhoun, or having been suggested by hini-he
was not made acquainted with The proposed meet
ing until the preliminary proceedings had been ar
ranged-the first suggestion OH the subject having
been made by Messrs. Hunter, OF Va; Foote, OF
Miss; and Turney OF Tenn. They consulted Mr.,
Butler and others as to the eXpedency and propri-
ETY. Of such meeting Of Southern members; a list
was carried round for signatures to ascertain who
were in favor the propusition-and as il seeIiied
generally acceptable Alr. Calhoun also was notified,
and the meeting took pace-he not having any
greater agency i'll its inception, as above stated.
The drift OF Houstons muendos was to tasien
on Mr., Calhoun the paternity OF all these Southern
measures, s, and 10 decry the Convention as proceed.
ing from the same sUurce-n which he was sig.
naly defeated by the production OF the facts OF tie
case-and when pinned down was forced to evade
distinct allegation OF what he evidently intended
to infer,
The good temper and the unruffled patience
with which he bore the Interruptions, lie cross
questions, and the cross-tires poured upon him
were very striking proving his possession OF that
"discretion" which Falstatf terms the better part
of vaor"
The finale ofthe speech was flourish over what
he had done tor the South" wrestling spoil from
captive princes from conquered provinces
-enlarging the National domaml-winding up
with particular request addressed to posterily, or
the ladies' in the Gallery-that the relics OF this
Republic should be piled up as monument over
hiulselt and the Houston family in general-ence
he never could, would or should survive this
Union. .I.
He seemed much relieved after throwing otr 70
much gas-and 80 were the audience, who ap-
piauded The conclusion the only part they did al-
plaud And the present writer trusts ihe next
| speech MIR. Houston delivers, he may not suffer
under the inficton, In the course OF his speech,
he made the broad assertion, that for his part, he
recognised 10 North and no South-he acknowl.
edged or regarded no sectional divisions. He look.
ed OH this as A great Nat,on-as an Union Que
and induisibls, with no factions or divided inter-
ests-and tor his part, he went for The Union. and
| The ertreme Union-nothing less.
If this be not consolidation in its strctest seuse
an utter denial of State Sovereignty and declar.
alton of submission to the will OF majority, then
words have lost their meaning, aud Mr.. Houston
is reliable in this crisis ofSouthern affairs to which
he obstinately and Ostrich-like shuts his eyes.
| But have said more Of this effort than had in
tended at present. and will conclude BY remarking,
that if the Texan is great man, then the article
must have deprecated wonderfully; and if he is
true Que to the South his own professions and his
practice will have to differ very widely indeed.
In the House, the war Of words OH the Revenue,
goes OH. ID.
FIRE.-About half past 8 o'clock yesterday
morning our citizens were startled by the cry of
"fre" and the rafting of bells. A general rush
was made in the direction indicated, where the
roof of the two story residence of DR.. A. Nal.
10y, was found to be on fire. By the exertions
of those first on the spot the fire was soon extn-
guished without much damage to the building.
Fortunately thereof Was quite damp whichmuch
retarded the progress of the fire or the building
would huve been consumcd-Cheraw Gazette.
GREAT CoTroN SpEcULArIoH-It is stated
that greater speculation is at this time raging
in cotton than has been known since the great
speculating year of 1925. The New Workers,
in particular, have the fever in its most violent
form. The article has risen, in that market two
Al