Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-03-21

cral Quiman last his term of office us Govern.
or Of Mississippi would ayeexpired before his
trial. Now, all that the Governor asked was
that the process against him should be waived,
and when the Government was ready to pro.
ceed with his case, he gave his pledge Of honor
that he would be on tsespot to meet the charge.
His reason for making this request was. that
!, did not believe it compatible with the SOW
ereignty of the State which he represented, to-
be detained as prisoner OF another authority.
Right or wrong, these were transformations;
they are the convictions, too, of large class Of
our people, and of some of the most distin.
guished constitutional lawyers in the country.
Such opinions were entitled to some respect.
1t was evident, in this view of his duty, Gov.
ernor Qmitnan had but two alternatives. The
one was to resist the process of the Federal
court - the other to resign his post rs Govern.
or of Mississippi. Dne notice was given of the
attitude assumed by him. The question then
a,iscs-did the nature of the charge against
General Quitman. or Of the proofs in the pos.
session of the officers of the Federal Govern.
ment, justify the government in forcing him to
one or the other of these alternatives The
result Of the trials gives Il satisfactory negative
to this query But further, if the charge and
proofs were more serious than they are, was
not the well asrertained fact, that the other
cases could not be got through with in time to
reach Gov Quitman's, before the expiration Of
his term of office, an ample and satisfactory
reason for the acceptance of the Governors
proposition
There can be no hesitation, in auy properly
organized mind, in answering this question:.
Had the Government been influenced by any
respect for the rights Of the States Of this con-
iederacy- by any OF that comfy which exist:
even between foreign and independent nations
lit would have said: 1--WE will not, even to
accommodate our dear friends of Spain unne.
cessary force the Governor of Mississippi into
open war with us, or into a resignation of his
oie. We viii not enlbarrass the affairs of
one of the confederacy SO unnecessarily. We
will wait until we are ready to proceed with
the Governors trial" Such would have been
the dictate ofmagnanimity. of respectfor State
sover ignty. Such a course, too. would have
saved the State of Mississippi from great ucon-
venience, and the federal officers in this city;
from the reproaches which are now thickly
.heaped upon them, for the lame and impotent
cohe!usioh 10 WHICH their iapors nave come.
Fbe government has been ANONYMOUSLY foiled
and defeated. Gen. Quitman has not been
forced into position OF resistance 10 the Fed
eral authority, SO as to afford grounds for an
indictment for high treason, as was expected.
And as TO the triumph in his resignation, it is
but barren one. The gallant people Of Mis-
siss,ppi will regard it their sacred dutyto re.
store him to, the executive post from which he
was so indeeorously, unjnstIy, and improperly
dragged, to dance attendance oil proceedings
gotup, Z is now avowed, wholly to satisfy the
nrde of q Eoreirn desnntisln. n O. DeLtn