Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-08-22
SEPARATE STATE. SECESSION
pRA CTICALLY DISCUSSED IN A
s'z'f SERIES OF ARTICLES.
-ublishsd Originally Id The Edgeflsld Advertiser,
BY RuTLHDGH.
NO. VII.

. ,.'r ' NO. VII.
Effects of Separate Secession on our Foreign
.''' 49, Rclakions Generally =. T..
Much has been said of" outward, pressure
destroying the commerce, and endangering the
slave institution of South Carolina in case OF
her Independence The question has been ap.
preached with too little regard to its. practicai!
bearing. How will our commerce be effected
except by open. war! Suppose the General
Government should shut up all the United
States ports against us-cut Oft ourtinternal
trade with the States and, in Legislative, bouu-
ties discriminate in favor of the Sea-Port Towns
of our neighborng States: would all this serl-
ously injure our commerce, while European
ports shall be open to US? Could we not ca
silly dispose of all our exports, and receive eve
ry commodity we may desire, III the Towns
and Cities of Europe, or at places under the
control of European powers? England, France,
Holland, the West and East Indies, will sup
ply US with everything we may wish. aud the
three former would be anxious to enlist large
portion or even the whole of our carrying trade
Would United States ships of war dare disturb
the vessels of these countries in passing to and
from our harbors! This would arouse the i'll
dignation of the civilized world. 1t twould unite
half of Europe in war against the Federal
Union. Let US expect no snch folly. The
practical wisdom OF the day will be more con-
siderate. Nothing Of the sort could take place
unless in state of war. Should any nation,
in the mere wartonness of power, insult or dis.
turb US Ia thing little likely to occur we should
have ample guaranty of protection in our own
strength, ard in the ALLIANCE we could at any
time form with friendly powers, interested In
preserving peace and comfy between nations.
But to what does this argument tends Does
it not practically deny the ability Of small
States to exist without being perpetually har.
rassed and devoured by the larger nations OF
the world? According to this notion, the rule
of civilized would be that of savage nations.
"the strongest arm of the strongest man" would
be the controlling clement Of power 1t wo> i
place small nations completely at the mercy OF
large ones, as the small fish of the sea are at
the mercy of the large fish. This is TO argue
against the moral opinion of the world, IL
practically denies an overruling God, who con-
trolls the destinies of nations. 1t is the heart
less creed of the infdel, who pretends to think
everything governed by blind senseless tate.
II is seldom in the moral economy OF the world,
that Injustice so monstrous IS, for any length Of
time, allowed to predominate. In a clVllizea
age such state Of things ismorally impossible
Small nations have rights as well as large ones
and, under a kind Providence, can always
maintain them while they pursue tho paths OF
duty and honor.
While exclusion, therefore, from the trade oi
the United States would not injure our com
merce, European nations would never allow the
Federal Government in time OF peace, TO I'm,
pose restrictions on our trade with the OLD
world. As to any pressure upon our commerce ?a1
by any European nation, we have, evidently
nothing to fear. The products OF our state
will always gain for US favorable reception
at any port in Europe. =,
Itis equally difficult to see how the lnstltu-
ton of slavery will be endangered by any for
eign influence, when South Carolina has es.
tablished her independence.
From what source is danger to Gomez GER
tainly not from the States that Immediately
surround us; for they are ss deeply interested
would rather serve as thick wall to guard
and defenau Would European powers dis.
turbuss OF all future events, this is tho mos