The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1851-01-14
Correspondents: of the Charleston Mercury.>1.


which it is 1as ~ correspondent, to give
you ag>Sffain, and some glimpses of the real
hihenA of motion in this centre of tratticins
In mensand parties.
You have doubtless noticed the attempt OF
.Afr. Julian Of H. to get a petition referred to
the-Judiciary Committee, with instructions to
report a bin repeating the Fugitive Slave Law.
The motion to suspend the rules for this pur-
pose, onM onday, resulted, ayes 6s; noes, ll9-
some forty being absent or refusing to vote
Yesterday he revived the subject by an attempt
to correct the journal, so as to make it appa'
rent that the Northern men who voted against
him had been recreant to their anti.slayery
pledges. Again he was voted down, buta mo.
ton for reconsideration, with view to test the
matter, is still to be disposed Of
This action of the House suppose will be
trumpeted as triumphant proof Of the deter.
mination of that body to sustain the rights OF
the South in this particular. Nothing could
be less true than such an inference. The OPP
position to slavery is as bitter as ever, but 1t is
polite just now to veil it in Congress. There
are two motivessfor this course lst the sub
missionists of the South, Foote, Cobb, Toon,bs,
&c. insist upon their position being respected,
and that if the slavery question is agitated at
this session, they will be overwhelmed at home,
and be compelled to Join the resistance party
of the South. But the second is the great and
controlling argument forkeepmg quiet on this
matter for the present The Tarif-that pas.
ssenger in the Omnibus whom Benton averred
to be slowed away under the drivers seat, and
said that MIR. Ritchie and all the Compromises
knew him to be there,-is to be dragged out of
his hole and installed in the first inside.
Having plundered the South of all the terri
tories having abolished the slave trade in the
District and virtually annulled the Fugitive
Act in the free States, they feel that they have
done enough for one year in that direction
They are now intent on plundering the slave
holders of their revenue, by All increased pro-
tective tariff. This project of spoliation is too
precious to be jeopsrded by formal repeal OF
the Fugitive act. Their Southern allies, such
as Mr. Badger, in the Senate. and Mr.. Toombs,
in the House, might refuse to aid them in the
robbery. Hence polite mask of forbearance
is to be worn during this session. The next
Congress, with greatly increased abolition
strength from Massachusetts, New York, Ohio,
&c. can do the work safely.
Besides these reasons for keeping quiet, there
is still another, which, though have heard it
spoken of with affected levity, has u strong Sc
cret influence. They are afraid of South
Carolina. Your calling Convention to be
elected in February, is serious fact They
do not fear Mississippi, because Foote assures
them that If they will only remain quiet this
session. Mississippi will submit. But South
.Carolina,-who will give them pledges that
South Carolina will succumb3 And If she
seeedes next winter, while Congressis in session,
what will Congress dos They must determine
the matter. They must vote the supplies to
carry on war against her, or they must suffer
her to go peaceably out Of the Union. They
say, that n that state Of things there is but one
course they can pursue,-let her 60 quietly.
For, to press vote for supplies to coerce her,
swould empty Congress of the Southern Dele
cation, and precipitate Immediately Southern
Confederacy. :" Let her go, then" you hear
them say, "she will soon beg to come back
again into the Union" This, assure you, is
the general talk. That they have to let you go
out of the Union, If you determine to 60, lhave
little doubt. That you will desire to come
back again, does not strike me as at all certain.
With the power of regulating your commercial
relations with all the world, on the most liberal
principles, it seems much more probable that
the North, rather than South Carolina, will en-
treat the restoration of the Union; and you
will be able to dictate the terms of your renew
ed association with them.
n T