Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-09-23
81 For the Camden Journal.
Lane .sTER G. H., Sept. Is, 1855

not been returned) meeting of those opposed
to the separate secession of the State of South
Carolina, and in favor Of resisting the .oppres-
sive measures Of the Federal Government by
cooperation with the States aggrieyed, was
held this day at the Court House, for the pur.
pose of organizing and making arrangements
for public meeting on the lst of October
On motion, Capt. w. Reed was called to the
Chair, and the undersigned solicited to act as
Secretaries. George Witherspoon, Esq, brief:
ly stated the object of the meeting to such as
had not seen the call. He said that it was ne
cessary to ascertain the true position of South
Carolina, and whether or not her people were
prepared for the measure Of separate State Sc.
cession, before the meeting of the Convention,
ordered By the Legislature at its last session
and in order to test the sentiments of the citi.
zens Of Lancaster strict, he moved. that
committee he appointed to draft resolutions ex.
pressive of the opinions of this meeting, and
furthermore, to prepare an address to the peo.
pie Of the District The motion was adopted,
and the following gentlemen appointed on the
conimittee:- George Witherspoon, Esq, Thos
Small, Sen'r, Capt. Ben. Sykes Massey, Jacob
Funderburke, Esq. aud Col IT. w. Huey.-
The committee retired and after a short absence,
submitted an address, showing the iaefficiency
of the measure, proposed by the esecession.party
of the State, rs remedy for our wrongs-the
fatal results which might, low anything like
preciritate and premature action in matter so
grave and important; retarding rather than
progressing the great cause of Southern Rights;
maintaining that South Carolina occupies no
other position before the world, than such as
she has been placed in by the acts Of her Leg.
islature, that she is in honor bound to no course
of policy, save that Of cooperating with the
other slave States in any measure Of redress,
WHICH they together may adopt Together
with the address, the committee submitted the
following resolutions: -. fi5;s & 81.
Resolred lst, That we believe cooperation
to br the only reasonable, practicable. and ef-
fectual remedy for our grievances s-tfe. only
true nleans of safety to thetSonth, and way Of
escape frun, the dangers which threaten Us
from the nnhallowed interference Of Northern
abolionism. "a
Rpsolrrd End, That the great question in
agitation, is not one peculiar to the State of
South Carolina alone. hut to the whole South,
and we have every confidence in community
of interest, and sense OF common danger ul-
timately producing cooperation, and that to
provide at Ills time in advance for a contingent
failure, would be unwise and impoliiic. and a
reflection upon the character aud intelligence
of the Southern States, 4sszs.a<
Resolrcd 3d, That the single secession o:
South Carolina at this time. wonldhe unwiss
and inrxpedent, and that at dny tims, it is =
measure desperate and uncertain, to be re.
sorted to only in the last extremity, and as a
lorlorn hope. .., - - g
Rrsolred 4th, That in view of the apparent
20 linn of parties in South Carolina growing
out of the hasty election of delegates to the
State Convention, it becomes necessary for the
people to express their sentiments through the
ballot hox, in the Snuthern Congressional elec-
ton, now pending, in order that the true senti-
ments of The State may be fairly and re'tai'Ily
ascertained. And that the friends of cn-opera.
ton and Southern Rights in this District will
pledge themselves to the support of Col. Jas.
Chesnut and tol. Jno. s. Preston, the candi-
dates of the cooperation party.
Major Clinton seconded, the resolutions. and
so far rs they opposed the separate secession
of the State, he concnrred in them, hut farther,
he presumed, he differed with this meeting.
He was of opinion that our wrongs could he
riyhted in the Union, and if 50, the Con-titu.
ton, faithfully administered, was our best, safe
guari. Martin Crawford also advocated the
address and the resolutions. hut differed from
The preceding speaker. He believed our only
safety Law in q Confederacy. He had been IN
primary meetings of the people. he had beef,
in the Nashville and Charleston Conventions,
and he was convinced that the position OF the
State had been misrepresented by politicians
and partisan presses. The Southern address, the
formation of Southern Rights Associations, the
Nashville Convention, all looked to co.oPera.
ton and the State is hound faithfully to carry
out that policy George Witherspoon also
the meeting. He wished the major.
ity of the people to say what course the State
should pursue, and let the minority, on whatev,
er side it should appear, checrfully acquesce,
and support the State in any position in which
she should be fairly and consttutionally placed.
The question was then put and the address
and resolutions were unanimously adopted,
The Committee of correspondence, presented
letters from Senator Butler, and from Coils,
Chestnut and Preston. encouraging the organ.
ization of Il cooperation party in this district.
Col. Huey moved, therefore, that a public
meeting he held at Lancasterville, on the first
day of October next, that our Senator and 9th.
er prominent gentlemen Of the cooperation
party, in the State, be invited to attend and ad-
dress the meeting, that the ladies be respectful.