Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-07-18

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of separation from the British crown
In all these we doubtless recognise the 70.
miliar and identical objections OF our own day,
and surely we can point you to no higher evi.
dence than the past to realize or to controvert
them.
Even under the far better auspices, the mucl,
higher incentives, and the nober aspiration ths.
their example has presented for our imitation,
we feel and we know full well the chilling in.
Auence of timid and distracting counsels like
these in repelling INJURIES and averting aggres.
sions of tenfold the magnitude and outrage Of
theirs. What, then, must have been the stern
virtue of those men-contending with foes
within, a host without. few, prosecuted, divi.
ded, and proscribed-against remonstrances,
menaces, rabble fears, and croakng counsels,
who, for principle, ian abstract principle, only
to evade an Insignificant tax, stirred up all the
elements Of national strife, invoked the storms
of war, and stood unscathed, unterrlfed, and
undismayed amidst its rage and its desolation
Posterity would do but imperfect justice to their
motves-we should render but miserable
homage to the heroism of those who achieved
our national independence were we to sup.
pose that it was the result of unanimous coun.
sells Of popular deliberation, or of harmony and
concert Of action: No; it was the few, the
wise and noble few, who were in the van of
the contest then, like South Carolina now
Those Ike our Calhoun's, our McDuffie's, and
our Eimores, leading, instead Of being led by
popular enthusiasm. Nay, when the battle of
Lexington was fought, Georgia was not there
AS she is not here now. Even South Caro-.
lima was then reposing in prosperous peace.-a
cherished and a iostered favorite, nursed in the
lap of a fond and indulgent parent country =
When aroused from her slumbers by the reyer-
berations of the battles arit-was net Is de:
liberate, but to act; IT was not to purchase by
'submissiona selfish exclusion from the horrors
of war, but to rush in the full tide Of her Ameri.
can sympathies to share in the dangers Of the
contest. Nor was she, too, without her own
domestic dsscnsions While she was battling
villa foreign foe at Fort Moultrie, Eutaw, and
Camden, and winning laurels from Europe's
bravest soldiers, her Richardson's, her Sumters,
and her Marions were alike contending for
hard-earned victories over the bloody royalists
of the district of SO and the indomitable loyal.
ty of the interior
Much may be said to excuse the reasonable
opposition of those who felt no wrong. who
saw no principle involved in the contest, who
knew no allegiance save that of loyalty. who
had experienced the lavors, the mildncss, and
hene6cence of the British government-who
had grown prosperous and rich under its liberal
patronage and efficient protection, and whom
religion itself, as we'll as prejudice and educa-
ton, had taught to love, to revere, and to ven-
crate as mother. But when, at time and
occasion like this, all have writhed under the
oppression-whena all have seen and acknowl.
edged the aggression and the danger; when
the most blind have seen, the most patient have
exclaimed, the most hopeful have despaired,
and the most forbearing have grown restless;
when this government, which we have done so
much to establish, which we have made so ma.
ny sacrifices to preserve, has become section.
al despotism, tanatical monster, threatening
our rights, plundering our property, and up.
roofing our institutions-yes, when those in.
stitutions are even now tottering 10 their fall,
may we not expect of South Carolina, and
even of the South, unanimity of counsel, an
energy OF action, a vigor Of preparation, such
as no people ever before manifested in degree
so terrible-and no cause could more justly de-
mand!
But if the history Of that age affords US val.
liable lessons of the motives and inducements
to defend rights and principles in the very ini-
tiative of their violation, it gives no less il.
listri ,us examples of the heroic endurance with
which they may be triumphantly maintained.
4 tentess army; an unarmed, uncothed, un.
shod, and unfed soldiery; empty Golfers and
IN impoverished people; officers without expe.
rience or renown; treason within, traitors with
out, aud invasion around the household no
protection, neutrality refuge, the farm de-
serted and devasted, and the security of the
camp to he purchased only by privation. har.
rassneuts, wearisome marches, and bloody
suffering = he had something more precious
than gold who possessed salt for his food; be
slept upon bed nf roses when some tempo.
rary success of Sumter or of Marion enabled
him for moment to suspend his vigs or his
fears of some marauding enemy. In battle al,
ways beaten, but never conquered; in strategy
often foiled, but nevertheless victorious. live
assaulted, it was, perhaps, to be repelled; and
yet seldom without tho object to be obtained.
Ii we marched forward it was but to retreat
again with precipitation, perhaps; but without
lnss rg ' :honor, and often to occupy las if by
fort; a. u accident) still more eligible posi-
tion Ii short, il was the tactics of Fabius,
with .euiold the endurance and the difficulties.
without Came to accelerate his triumph,-
Nor less, too, was it the bold energy Of Mar
cellus, with more blood, and toll, and suffering.
but with Infinitely more limited means and in.