Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-10-10
TBy REQUEST.
SPEECH OF EX-GOV. JOHNSON, Az
THE SPARTANBURG MEET ING.

THE SPARTANBURG MEET ING.
Fe7low Citizens:
Having been unexpectedly called tP preside
over this vast assembly, it is, ofcoursd expec-
ted that should attempt to explain the object
of our meeting here, and, although it has der.
anged in some degree, the course viii Fh had
prescribed for myself, it is, perhaps, as well
that should say now what had pro posed II
left to follow out my own plans.
On an occasion, not long past, which l sup.
pose, will be remembered by some, avowed
my intention of retiring forever from the ,ur-
mois of public life, conten. to spend thd remain
der of my time here in the quetude of my own
freside, and in the interchange Of kindly Offices
with nv friends and neighbors; my age, my
infrmities, and inclination, all consp!rf to ren-
der this desirable but had notthen Foreseen
that, in so short time, we should he hnvolved
in controversy with our sister STATES, and
indeed amongst ourselves, presenting Questions
of as great delicacy and magnitude as ever a
! neonle W re called On to decide, And However,
consciously incapable of riding upon ahd direc.
ting the storm should feel myself u hworthy
the claims of citizen, and degraded as a man,
/ if should shrink from sharing with you the
responsibilities that are involved in tlte issue
If had but a day to live, that is due to South
Carolina. 49,
No one has ever yet questioned that in the
frame and substance of the Federal eonstitu-
ton, its authors had in view perfect equality
amongst the States and individual citizens
equality of burthens and responsibilities equal
ity of rights, privileges and immunities, and
until within the last four years, we (Ies, we
ourselves) supposed it the work of holy insPi-
ration, aud regarded it as the palladium of our
lberries. Now, it is denounced as a scourge
and a curse. How is this! Holy witt itself
is OF secure against the assaults Of RerVersr
and wicked men. Some deny its autheuticitv,
others periert its meaning SO as TO make il
subservent to the vilest purposes. So it has
Jared with the coasti ution-some hold that
there is law paramount to it, and under color
fit, would fire our dwellings and butcher our
wives and children others admitting its au-
thority, use it as pretext for plundering us of
our wealth. In this spirit the Congress Of the
United States, governed of necessity By ma
! iori'y, has levied contributions on us in the
form Of impost duties to construct public works
ut immense expense, proEessedly national. bat
in truth merely local, and in which the South
~ hn;l,I nn md nrotoct the m,nufac,ories OF
tho non. sI,veboIdinr States The ripbt o!
nroocrtv in our slaves. which is rendered irdis
/ nensabip 70 ms bv orr .cIimute our productions
aud .our us,yns ,rn ruoran,oad hv tho express
,,ror;.;o,,s of ,bo .oHs,;.,,;o, and those have
IT,, ,,,i,u.,;,nJ T., ,,o .,,;.;, or I,r.,;.;c,n
and diseasaJ bnn,m;,, ,bnv h,yo hern mr..
Io;n.d from ns and arn encour,ycd 70 escaue
from ns TLp tLiar and the fu%tive find nro.
tec,;,n il fh, :,eca,lav,s ef semc Of the States
rod !, otborc mora not.,., socu,itv in = wild
o,J c,,,,;,.l nrII;o o,;r;,, 'IT,s ,nght br
Los,n r. ,,., r.o, 80 ,;,,t,. o,..alras w..
"~.t.,;aJ t ,,,', -, nJ;.b wn
"n,lt - w. To, ,,In"s ra na,, :L,Lo nr ;ts
,Saa'',aI D., ,,,;. :. 49,, -, Iy'o Coyorn
,s,;,, ,,, ,,;II Ilow rntbo
'''e' I's'1' '','S u " I u'''' '..' e. s,,or
soi' ''aAo''s"s W :. w." er =. = ,rao,i,. III
a..l Iso va. ,'.n,S o..ont ~, Fen Sor,h
"o',',, , -" %o..,'.a,osu tnnaJos;". I'D b,r.s
''' N ,. III
,a"J ~ 49, G,1r 81 Ma.;ao Si.,.o,.. ;s or,p.
'I''I I =" .'1 Cn: r",. W. 'At"'' o M ~ 81
|,I ~ r'o 0'''J,'I"' r. "a" y .;sai ,,.,n
I:'o' "'I' ":'S.'' ""' u' az, '" w. "',.,'os
,,ae.. ,'". :. vas Nv. oc"I ~ 'ro" S,,aet to
sI;"lI 49, oL;,,", .,J nosnons;y,;I;
-, "e 81 ;u'orI;st;". ' e N"m % ucx"o ~ s destined
- " ''..'u..s ''' 11,I 1,I" "'o ~" ,iJost and
Ial;"r mn ,o,. .,d ",os. oams;Iors,, ,,oi,i.
r;ans of tho ~, sIarohnld;no S,,,os insist on
tho nocoss;, ,,roo,Gn;n, sI.7,..r,. - ;s nr.so,,