Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-03-07
COURSE OF TIE STATE.

(Icn JOhn Ducnan:ll, tue ktb"tpt i'""h
Fairfield, and one Of the State action nominees
for the Convention, has given his views of the
intent and spirit Of the Legislature. in an inter-
estns and ably written letter in the Register
We cannot occupy space better than by remb-
fishing the most inporttht portion, which we
recommend to attention:
One purpose Of the Legislature is clear, that
it intended to encourage aud sustain the South
ern States in united action, by providing for
Southern Congress Another object is equal
ly manifest That it intended our State to
wait ON these States n reasonable time, in Or
dcfto obtain their assistance and cooperation
It's not probable that a Southern Congress
@ih assemble before the first months OF 1907.
~Odr delegates arc elected i'll October next, the
mississippi Convention sits in November follow
linz and that Convention must provide for the
y representation Of Mississippi in the Southern
Conafess, il she join in that measure, which is
probable, inasnnch as she was represented III
both meetings of the Nashville Convention, was
the origin and prime mover OF that Conven-
ton and would incline to sustain its recon-
mendations The delegates from Misslss'pl',
cannot be elected in 'time to meet before Jaua-
ary,, 1852. and the time is therefore given the
other States interested to prepare and join in
this Congress. Our act expressed desire,
: that the I'd Monday of January, 1852. should
.ssbe Che day Of meeting, but leavesit to our Gov
ernor, Jointly with the Governors of other
}. States, moving, to fix the day; and later
. month than January may be selected, should
the position and wants of any State make
that course expedient. The Southern Con-
7gress, if it does assemble, will meet early IN
1852, but, if ascertained that farther time is re-
quired to bring together such Congress, that
time is given through the exercise of awlse and
sound discretion; running into the year 1857
and until it is we'll known whether cooperation
.acan be obtained, or ought not to he expected.
The Legislature viewed it as necessary to re-
deem pledges already given, and as dictated by
prudence and wisdom, to call a Southern Con:
.gress but that the Legislature expected our
,Couventiou to take Interior and definite action,
,hefore it was finally dissolved, whether afSonth-
ert' Gongress'had met and acted or not | have
never doubted. The fifth section Of the Act. is
in1these words: .aiBe it enacted by the authori-
-ty aforesaid, that Convention of the Stategot
South Carolina is hereby ordained to be assem-
sbledsin the town Of Columbia. as hereinafter
provided, for the purpose in the first place, OF
taking into considerations the proceeding and
Recommendations Of Congress of the slave
holding States, if the same shall meet and be
held; and for the further purpose OF taking IN
to consideration the general melfarc Of this
State in view of her. relations to the laws and
Government of the United States, and therenp.
on to take care that the LCommOnweatll OF
South Carolina shall.suffer detrinent"
1.-Two objects are distinctly stated: One is
for the Convention to consider, and act on the
proceedings of Southern Congress i one had
met: the other and most importdnl purpose is
to consider the general rel fare of this State, as
Influenced by thei1aus and government Of the
United States, and on that matter TO take care
that the Commonwealth Of South Carolina
shall suffer no detriment The Southern Con
gress might meet or not, and still the Conven-
ton was to see that South Caroli,ia was pla.
ced on foundation of security against harm
present or prospective No remedy had been
discussed in. South Carolina, rs we all well
know. or was believed adequate to redress her
wrongs, but secession. Thissmust, therefore,
haye been the only remedy present to the mind
of the Legislature when it defined the purposes
intended by the call of the Convention The
Legislature did not expect that the Convention
would or could force the General Government
to retrace its steps-to resclnd I'LL lis proscril-
five and ruinouS legislation towards the slave.
holding States, and restore them 10 their lost
right and Constitutional guarantees, with indem-
nity for the past, and security for the FUTURE
No one hopes or expects that the General Gov
ernn,ent would under any circumstances re-
duce California from a State'toa Territory,
with any part thereof open TO slavery. ard
Would run the Missouri compromise line to the
Pacific Ocean, guaranteeing. the security Of
slaves;as property,:South OF that line, and fur
ther, that slavery hereafter should form no OBJ
lection to the admission Of any State; would
recall the ten:million bribe given to the State
of Texas, and restore to her that exclusive slave
Territory, now surrendered to the use of the
Nor.hernfree, soiler would repeal that insIu-
ous and fatal Aet. abolishing the slave trade in
tie would enforce ef-
fectually the fugitive slave4aw, now useless Or
worse than useless to the South, which she is
under solemn obligations rs a Government to
enforce, being based on one of the GUARANTEES
for the Constitution especially designed for the
benefit of the South, and paid for ut the time,
by an equivalent benefit conceded to the North,
or would by an amendment OF the Federal Con-
stitution raise slavery above the power of any
subsequent amendment, and thereby establish
it's permauency This amendment is growing
yearly more essential to the existence of slave
ry at the South, from The rapidly increasing