Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-07-15
For the Camden Journal.
SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE PEOPLE.

When this Union was formed, many of our
wise men of the Revolution were opposed to the
adoption of the present Constitution for various
reasons: one of which was, that it put the
mower of taxation ton much out of our own
hands, allowing others to impose taxes upon
u.s. in way we could not check them. The
taxes are laid by the same power that passes
all laws, that is-the minority in Congress.
This majority over the -slaveholding States,
and they, knowing that their own people would
never consent to be heavily taxed, the plan was
adopted to raise money for the government
by taxes on imports, that is goods brought into
this country from foreigniaatious. and thus
revenue was raised, and the people taxed in
way they could mot exactly understand they
know that goods were often high, but they did
not see the cause of it;-thnt the government
taxed the foreign goods they used, instead Of
directly taxing them. Now was it not wise in
these men who opposed the adoption OF the
Constitution on this ground, and because they
saw that other wrongs would be perPetrated
by that same majority. Now only think how
many millions the South has paid since the
formation OF this government, at least two thirds
of the revenue for sixty years what an immense
sum! and most Of it spent at the North; IS It
any wonder that they flourish, when they have
in this and various other ways, made the South
| tributary to them? Is it not wonder that we
are no worse off after all this drain the reason
that we are not is, because God has blest us
with immense sources of wealth ; had the North
been taxed as we have, it would have been i'm
poverished. The Union then, has been OF this
much service to US, it has permitted US to en1ch
others, and not quite ruin ourselves. :,
This great annual tribute that we have paid
to the North is one of the Items that it has cost
us to maintain this Glorious Union! Truly
the glory is all we have got, and with that, it
appears that we have been content, while our
enemies have chuckled over the profits. This
SAME aggressive spirit, this same determination
to control the wealth Of the South for their own
aggrandsement, is shewn in all the acts OF
Congress that can by any possibility be used
to this end; noted, or glaring, dam'nins IN.
stance is that, which robbed US Of every foot OF
the public lands! Foreigners-convcts-
ons, the offscourings of the earth might bene.
fit by our public domain, but we should
not! Here is another benefit we have derived
from the Union I'VE have had the privilege OF
waesting from Mexico, mt n great expense OF
blood and treasure, an immense extent OF coun.
try that our enemies might possess it; we have
the glory of having fought nobly, that those our
enemies rho pould not fgh. might get all the
advantages arising from our exertions. Verify
we are a noble race, 80 freely to shed our blood,
| and spend our treasure, and then yield up all,
| to those who say we are unrorihy to enjoy any
of the acquisitions.
Thus have our enemies after fastening upon
| us. through tariff acts, and other laws, an or
ganizcd system of robbery, now taken from US,
(and make merit ofi) every foot of the public
lands to which we were equally entitled with
themselves. Well might Patrick Henry and
others, in their far seeing wisdom, oppose the
adoption of the Constitution. Written Con-
stitutions," said Anacharsis to Solon, care but
spiders webs, which only mold the poor and
weak, while the rich and powerful easily break
throug H." "a sectional majority remote, arro-
CANT, and fatally bent on maintaining its su'
premacy, and promoting its peculiar interests,
never listens to warning or to reason, and the
minority, if it has not the courage to tender an
issue Of force, is soon corrupted, divided, and
necessarily enslaved."
Having noticed our condition as to the tariff
and the public domain, we come now to the
consideration of third subject, that of Aboli-
ton. We have seen that the Constitution has
failed to secure our rights on the two subjects
already noticed, let us see how we stand in re-
gard to the other.
"At the period Of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, African Slavery was established in
every Colony, and as late as the formation Of
the Constitution, slaves were still held in every
State. But it was decaying institution eve.
ry where save in the Plantation States, and
great apprehensions existed among the South
ern members of the Conventon" formed
the Constitution-"t "that the other States would
combine to emancipate all the slaves immedi.
ately, or gradually. They therefore refused
absolutely to enter into any union with them
without a distinct agreement on this essential
matter. One great object in so constituting
the Federal Government that it should have no
powers not clearly conferred upon it. resevng
all others to the States, was to prevent legisla.
ton on this subject. But beyond, this, the
Southern Delegates required Constitutional
obligation from all the other States, to assist
them in maintaining their authority over their
slaves, in case of necessity by restoring fug.
tives and aiding to put down insurrections.--
They also demanded recognition of slaves as
permanent element of political power and a
fixed caste, by assigning them representation,
though restricted one, in Congress" Sub.
mitting to the Missouri Compromise was the