Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-07-25

What great general ever feared to adopt that
policy, even on the theatre of actual war Did
Wellington! ,Assuredly not General Wash
ington. Yet, for that precise course of wisdom,
Hotspur was found to charge upon him the
rascally virtue of discretion. His vindicarion
he left to time and his own deeds, and by both
was he gloriousy vindicated.
am further told, however, that for US, the
PEOPLE of South Carolina, the point sdefinitive-
ly settled; that we are to assume separate
and independent station, as to all the rest of
mankind, or else eat our own solemn pledge,
and lie down thereafter in the torpor of humili-
alton and disgrace. Ihave not seen that pledge
Oh the part of this people. have never heard
it from their voices. never did, nor do l
now, know, that members of the Legislature,
elected last October, were authorized or in
structed, by those who elected them, even to
call Il Convention at all, much less to pledge
us to any specific measure. [ make bold to
say wish it never had been done, and presume
it would not have been. except for three causes:
l. Disappointment at the action Of Georgia 2.
TO advance the ends of Southern Congress
advised by the Nashville Convention. 3. 10
move, pari passu, with Mississippi. find no
such pledge on the statute book (allowing that
to be fit place for it) whether in the form of
act or resolution: have seen such a pledge
powherc except In the strong words we have
all used when threats were banded between
the different sections, when we were giving
vent to an indignation that would not now
repress, but orly bring under subsection to a
wise forecast; in occasional strong speeches by
tp,,i1no1c in nd ~ fho / ,,yi.t tntu N
various newspaper journals, and it may be in
the minutes of what are called Southern Rights
Associations. Whatever my respect for such
authority, as competent evidence to prove the
gallant temper of those who have spoken,
cannot be persuaded they keep the records Of
the people of this State, or have the right to
prescribe for them positions unto honor or dis
honor. If majority Of the members elect of
the Convention soon 10 assemble, as suppose,)
have pledged themselves to separate State Sc,
cession, or to any other specific measure, am
not aware of it, end shall deplore it if the fact
be otherwise. | believe, as | hope that they
have been more prudent than thus to have ham.
pered their judgement and discretion by any
obligations, express or implied, contracted
with the small and divided minority of the peo-
pie who voted at the polls. do, indeed re-
member, las beeve.) that one who, without
imputing arrogance, may be regarded as aspir-
ing to the leadership of the hottest elements in
the State, set forth the idea, that the most de-
sirable position of South. Carolina would be
solitary independence; thus presenting lap in
to which was to be emptied every cornucopia
from sea or land; and although have not seen
the conceit ropudiated, yet have not observed
the same to have been adopted as an emanaton
of wisdom. conclude, hence, that there is
no manner of obligation resting upon the peo
ple of South Carolina, and reinforced by sense
of honor and shame to give form and SEM
blancc to any measure, irrevocable, that shall
place their State in a position totally untried
and uncxanpled, plunging us, to say the least
into the dark mysteries of Il future, rs yet not
illumined by single ray Of light that has
reached my vision.
The rhetoric that rouscs impetuous passiop
that breaches the glories Of martyrdum, rpay
serve well its turn when administered to aIine
iii battle array, and ready for the chatgc; it
may serve to quicken tn" pace of rapid dra.
ma, when the curtain of revolutions IS onco
raiset but in the work to be done by our con.
vcntion, upon the question whether the scene
shall be enacted at all, while yet debate is in
order upon "this high argument" when the
people, in person have become interlocutnrs,
apprehcnd the majority Of the Convention, at
least for the philosophy of statesman; they
will prefer prose TO poetry, they will call for the
wrllconsidered lessons Of the past, tempered by
the prudence of present experience; they will
employ circumspectiop cool enough to sur.
vey the whole scene, and that may check i'm.
petuosty without retrogradiug itself Then,
trust, amid the din of many murmurs they will
hear one clarion voice, hig gh above the hoarse
shouts of multitude, loud enough to be heard
BY the whole South, the voice of great pilot,
the voice of Langdon Cheves, who summons
his countrymen to the pumps-who tells US,
"Dou't give up the ship" but admonishes US to
steer still by the nautical rules, by the helm
and compass. Is he i subnissionist-is he
craven! Not he; and though my household
maxim is:
"Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri,"
which, fully rendered, means, "pin your faith to
no mans sleeve" yet have listened to that
with thrill Of animation that would make
me wise ashamed to say to the Convention
ITSELF "Hearken to your Nestor!'
Thus, gentlemen, you have what you asked
for nv confession of faith. am not inspired
who is! If any. when his credentials are pro-
duced, follow him. don't argue to answer
Others seek not to propagate. would not
SOW one seed of discord; but am not in love
,,,;,l, ,l,. ,ort of no,cn which here uuon my,