Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-09-19

whose oI 'niiS With to treat Win VII uue Tc
rect, has lately attempted to establish Il broad
i tilcton between evolution and secession; IN
other words, the right to resist, aud the right OF
rcli g out of reach of the necessity nf resort
ur to rcsi.toncp His position, if rightly
,mr,ehpnd lin, is. that though people or
Stat,, nav have "A right to resist by force in
re,tain contingencies, they have none to retire
! peacenhlv heyond the reach of injury and OPP
preston. Ii seems they have no alternative;
they mnst either peaceablv submit, or f"rcihly
resist, for they cannot get out of the way. Ii
foIows, that all radical changes in the political
relations of a State with confederation OF
States must necessarily be brought about hy
violence aud bloody contentious. Those who
cannot live together in peace, must not part in
peace; they must resort to the right OF the
strongest aud fgh it out
Thus the determination Of portion OF our
fellow creatures perhaps our countryinen, is An
dls; eI sable preliminary TO all great political
| changes; and hecatnGlbs must be offered mp on
/ the altar of Liberty, lefnre she can become a
| legitimate goddess. The establishment of this
rrii,ci,,lp conredi,g the right of revolution and
denyins that OF secession, wonld, in IFS aprlica.
lion 10 the case now under consideration, leave
| no resource To any member of this coaiedera.
iun. under the most int cral,lr oppression. hut
civil war, with all its aggravations. 1t leaves
open no appeal To tie great tribunal Of reason,
iustice, and humanity; the right OF the strong
| ct i the light divine; and dissensions among
Il confederation of Christian States. can o"ly
he adjusted like those of the forest, hy Il death
struggle | am aware that this has been the
aim st in,araLIe practice of mankind in every
ave au,! e"uutry; but never till now do recol.
! lrct seeing asserted, that it was the ouly jus.
til be mode ol settling controversies among
ST ties IN nations; aud it is with no little re-
cccr | see this d"ct ine sanctioned by one
whose oil lions are of such high authority
anuoug Il large po ton of the Amcrican people.
have dwelt more enlphatically Oil this topic,
because consider the right OF secessloa as by
lar the most important of all the Questions Iii.
volved ia tne present controversy; and the at
! .ck uu it as one of the IN st Is,sldious, us well
a dangerous, blows, ever iev.llcd at tile rights
o ;..e states, all OF whom are dec Interested
| l., lI.. ISSUE siuce those who are now the aS
sressurs, may one day be placed liza position
wh..e ii will be tilei' only refuge from the un-
cont.niled desintisIi ot Il majority.
Vita regard to the ex. .,ediency OF the State
OF south carolina exercising thls right of secrs-
! sion, either nnw or at any future period, II
would, | conceive, bt presumptuOns III one SO
lar removed from tue scc,ie, of action to offer
i,is opI.iDn, or intrude his advice. La such
crisis, South IuroIi i; must act Tor herself, and
rely ou herself alone. would only observe.
tnl i:l t,hing step So decisive rs that oi With
drawing from the Union, -unLninli:y amongst
1 rts-n s.i.lIt
it, sc>nrs Indispensable. 1t appears, huwever,i
ti,al mauy distinguished men among you, whose
! ci.u,ation is national, who.e "p:"io''s a'e entl
! ll,d to great Wei .ht, aiu vino have heretofore
take. tie lead ia "rpos Ig the conipr"il'Isc, b..
! .ve that the lIi,r Tor sccesslou Is not yet.
cuuie; t.Iat the c".OPeratio;i OF at least Il MA
urity of tiie SuutIier. States is absolutely ,n.-
cess,ry TO the successful issue of such niea-
sure; t,at it is best to wait for further il, u les,
or 4, least to Sc whether they will be atetnpt-
| ed, aud il SO, whether they will produce suc'I.
co nperatiou those whose views cnihcIie
witt he resolutions adopted by your assoria.,
,un, un the otner haud, believe that Immediate
srcessium, ar secession alter "waring reas"'i-
a i. tur" for tue cO.nprrattion pf other States,
is Indispensable to til. safety ard honor OF the
Stale ol South Caroll:,a. Which of these par.
ties " i'll eventually predominant rem .ins to be-
seen; and uuil that is decided, | shall content
myself with asserting the right of secession
leaving the eXltdiency ot its exercise to he de.
ciJe.i by the result Should It he found that Il
very considerable minority is not only opposed,
bat will resist resort Ia this remedy Tor their
grievances, cVnceivs its immediate adoption
! would he h ,zarduus in the rxtreme. But when
! great interests are at stake, much should be
riskrd l., their preservation. For myself, will
oul, SAY, that were Il citizen of South Caro-
! lima, or ,ny other Southern States; trust
should not he found auio Isst those. WIN, after
,,lacuy themselves in front of the battle. and
leading their followers itto Il position whence
they cnuli not retreat without disiinnor, retired
from tie !irll, nnly, it would seem, to See If the
enemy would pursue then
A few words more, gentlemen, in order that
! may mot be nisrcpresented and will no
longer trespass on your time or patience.
Ii know myself, and the innernost feclh G
Of my heart, an better friend to the unn,
than many o' those who, while loudly profess.
iIg their devotion, are steadily pursuing Il
course of policy that has already allenated Il
considerable porti", of its citizens, aud will
rs .I.rily b.ing ainnt its dissolution. 1t is uu.
de- the Influence of this ATTACHMENT, that have
lent my feeble i l., opposition to that pulley.
Nrit!l,r force nor coercion can preserve Il Um.
ion voluntarily formed on the basis of perfect
i I.I I,,r 4.