Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-10-03

Here was n shifting of position. In conse.
quence Of this, and of the people not being IN
formed of the issue made, the vote poIied was
small one, and many voted for the separate
State Action Candidates without making the
proper distinction between separate resistance
and co operative resistance.
The people will do right provided they have
fine to consider. and to determine for them.
selves; but for the masses to be informed, and
the public opinion formed, requires time. IT
the election for delegates had been postponed
until October, and time thus given, the State
would not now have presented the false posi-
ton in which she seems to be placed, VIZ, 4
majority of the delegates elect in fa vor Of sin
gle State Secession, and n ma jority Of the peo-
pie opposedt TO it, or at least doubtful
Parties in this State may now bd regarded
as divided into resistance and non resistance.
The non.resstance party is small. The re.
sistance party on the other hand divide the
State: and is divided into Co-opetation aud
single State Secession.
The friends Of Cooperation urge this mea.
sure because they believe it to be mo Re respect
fu to the other States interested, ahd safer
and more effectual remedy for their grievances;
promising internal peace, and protection
against external violence They are opposed
to single State Secession because they believe
the measure to be rash, less safe and eflectual,
and not the policy of the State.
What will be the effect Of single Sta te action
and before considering tits, single reflection
will be sufficient, to show its ras ncss and
want of success. The State is now distracted
and divided upon the mode of redress: the
question is now assuming partizan fharacter
and every day but wdens the breach between
the paries. The State will be, therf ffore, too
much unhinged for an extremity. This dfficul-
ty can be avoided by falling back ON the Co.
operation platform, and preserving the resis
tance party entire.
The effects of single State action will be
manifested from the consequences resulting
from the act itself. 1t is the part of bravery to
contend where success is at all probable and
dependent upon the act-more than this is
as ness There are extremities, however, in
which rashness itself is commercial l,le; but
these should be extreme cases, and in the last
resort. If polio is allowable in war, much
more should it be, before war is determined
upon.
When South Carolina determines to secede
alone she should be prepared for ~ar and re-
rOlMiOn. 1t is true, the State may have the
right 20 srcede, and form an independent gov
ernmemt: but will the government OF the Uni
ted States recognize that right! What has
been the policy Of the United States! Her
policy has heen to extend her territory, and to
allow no foreign Government Il foot hold here.
Snch was the policy in the annexation oi lex.
as and the claim To the whole Of Oregon rested
more upon title OF policy, than legal one
Will not the establishment Of an independent
government hv South Carolina, cuntravene this
policy! Furthermore il secession be success
tuI, how long coald we expect peace, and a
freedom from those difficulties, which would
necessarily grow out Of onr con''nerca, and
domestic relations, aud Juxta and cotcrinlnous
position, with government whose connection
we had rended and between which the most
embittercd feelings would exist Might some
times ovcrrides right, and we should he prcpar
cd for it.
But il is said that one State "inust make the
ISSUE" aud that that will force Cooperation.
This is most certainly a mistake, and contrary
to all principles Of human action. The slave.
holding States are not ready for secession, and
Sou! Carolina has been warned of the fact,
and of their unwlingness to act TO assert
that South Carolina can force the other South.
crn States, will at once produce opposition on
their part You cannot force individuals to act
against their will without the requisite power,
neither can you force States, which are but
combination of individuals with like feelings,
and governed by the same principles. The ac-
ton of South Carolina will not force the other
Southern States, bnt the snbject of agitation
may, and it will do so. if allowed to have its
full force, and be not divcstcd by the prccIpi
tate action of this State. Whatever tends to
divide the South will be most fatal to our cause,
and to prevent this any sacrifice short of dis.
honor, should be made The time for action
is inauspicious the South will not come up
a rcvusion has taken place. Let us therefore
not be too restive, but await the moving OF the
waters. The same principles which prompt
us to act will operate upon them, and produce
the same effect.
Even if the State should succeed in secession
singly, and establish an independent govern.
ment, how is she to sustain herself from the
pressure within aud without! and this is the
gravest consideration of the whole Where is
her war forces and her money resources to
come tromg Where is her strength for any
emergency! She may have the resolution and
determination. but what will that avail against
an overwhelming power? We may be astoun-
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