Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-07-29

uiU'eWehL YHl quicken llelTS. Dy seCtSSioii.
we shall become entirely foreign. There exist
now, in those States, snllen aud overwhelming
nmjorties against us, our cause and our South
ern rights friends BY our position as ftreign.
ers, is it not most probable that the consequence
and power Of these mapri:ies will be increased
in their influence against u participation in our
cause! Our friends in those States would, for
some time, encounter the disadvantage of the
imputed attitude of parties acting against their
country. Many of them would be appalled,,
and all Of them thrown back, for few Georg-
ans would stand against the constituted au-
, thorities of Georgia, which, of course, would
be, at the outset, in the hands of our enemies.
So with the other States. They must all be
thrown back; the battle must begin anew
among themselves, and on issues raised by
themselves And when they triumph after lonG
aud fierce conflicts, can any man say it will be
| in time to meet our wants? For be it remeln-
bered, that during all this while, we shall have
been trying the experiment of distinct nation
ality. In that experiment, under all the circum.
stances, Isuppose no one believes it would take
US long to work ont the result. At all events,
it woald he ali experiment full Of hazard, and
hazard incurred without necessity.
1t seems to- IHe, therefore, that our best policy
and surest hope, will still be found in concert
among the Southern States. TO procure this,
we must keep Try tbeir side for Il long time yet,
and leave them only when honor and duty
compel. Delay may be vexatious, but the
! objects in view are well worth the trouble and
patience. I.see no reason to despair. Alrea-
dy tile common cause has made cheering ad.
vance. The other Southern States ought to | e
allowed to be as spirited and intelligent as we
can claim to be- They have been retarded by
the operation of causes not existing here, but
the nature Of which we very we'll understand.
These causes, we are informed, are daily. di.
minishing before the light and pow"r.oft truth,
reason and right. From the irstI have never
despaired of Georgia, or the other States 1t
is more than probable that she will be the very
first toarouse in them mightuess Of her strength,
aud join US in common deliverance.
TO obtain and secure this concert,I would
be reconciled to any platform looking to re-
sistance-which our Southern rights friends in
other States might see fit to adopt. lfnecessa
ry, would use towards them the language Of
the Southern rights associ tions of this State,
employed in their address to similar associa-
tons in, other, Southern States: "And now,
strongly its we have expressed cur belief that
there is no hope for the South in the existing
Union, we are prepared to give trial, fairly
aud in good faith, to any efectual plan which
may be proposed by any, sister State OF ths
South, for obtaining redress for the past and
security for the future, without dissolution OF
the existing Union, if there be Il possibility Of
such consun,mation II impossibility shall
be made apparent by the lailure of II common
effort. suppose that Southern Coniedsracy
'n.ust be inevitable
| If it had been left to my self, gentlemen,
should not have to trouble you with my views,
nor through you have obtruded them OIL the.
public. But | have not felt at liberty to dsre-
gard your.respectfu request. Il snot incon-
sistent with the duty OF any citizen, (perhaps it
is his bouaden duty,) on proper occasions, to
give free and candid expressions to his views
on questions Of public policy. Such express
sions should be curbsd rs little by moral as by
physical restraint Tor that kind of freedom con-
I! stitutes one of the most important te.guards
of the public liberty and well.being. But there
are questions, from the very nature Of which,
great dangeris is justly TO be feared. In the free
OiSCuSSINH vi suCi, phh'S W.
taken, to keep the discussion within the bounds
Of cool argument and decorous language. As
much, gentlemen, as am opposed TO the seces.
sion of this State except under the contingent
cies have mentioned as much as apprehend
| from niudicious and premature action, if l
could deliberately choose, would prefer to en-
counter the attendant hazards OF secession than
to light the torch Of civil dscord in our land,
to destroy our power aud consume our pros.
pcrty. II is better that the common enemy
should do his own work. From the. existing
character Of the questions at issue, and from the
deep interest involved in the decision, think
the State has much to dread While we
in conscience aud honor bound to express our
opinions with manly independence, still, think
| it becomes usto subject our differences to the
only test worthy of sensible men and patriots
to the test of cool argument and sound logic
resolving to stand by the State, let the verdict
be what it may.
10 returning my. thanks to you, gentlemen,
for your kind invitation, will ask leave to pre-.
sent to my fellow-citizens of Greenvlle; through
YOU. the following sentiment:
The demon of ciru strife: Let us strangleit,
that the work Of our enemy may not be done
by ourselves. s"er ,ts,s'- r.
With great respect, -
have the honor to be sr
Your fellow.citizen,
JAMES CnEsNUr, Jr.
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