Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-08-05
overcomes
By force, hath overcome but half his 70,

By force, hath overcome but half his foe"
Nor do numbers always constitute the
strength of State. A Territory of moderate
size, with warlike population, affords ample
bulwarks for protection and defence. Small
States, by prompt concentration of their pow.
er, can always exert force greater in proper.
ton than large States, and hence usually de-
fend themselves beyond all expectation against
large forces sent against them. at is known" "
says great Statesman,t "that it takes much
less force, in proportion, to subject large
country with numerous population, than a
small territory with an inconsiderable popula-
ton" Apply these principles to our case
South Carolina is strong in arms, and rich in
soil She has territory of 81, 900 square
miles; wealth to the amount of $250, ,000, 600:
aud military iorce Of $4,000 men, who may
be constantly employed in active service, with
out subtracting very largely from the agricul.
tural industry Of the State. And she will have
"good soldiers" Are not our men of "mili
tary racew Are they not warlike both by
"origin and disposition Let our past histO-
ry answer. We certainly have the "sinews of
war;" and from the nature of our population
and territory, we could keep in check at least
100000 men that might be sent. to invade us.t
This would, at once, render US formidable
power on our own soil, and the invader would
hesitate long before undertaking to enter our
borders. 1t is idle to say, that the State would
not be able to maintain its independence.
But on a subject like this. an ounce of expe.
rience is worth pound of speculation. Let US
look to history. Many of the most thriving
and powerful nations Of antiquity, and Of mod
crn times, have been less in extent of territory
than South Carolina. Take, for instance, the
Republics of ATHENS, SPARTA and ROME. The
territory of Attica, including the Islands, of
which Athens was the Capitol, contained only
S74 square miles; l35,000 citizens and alien
residents; and 365, 900 slaves (white, with an
aggregate wealth of about $40, 100000. Spar
ia had a small area, with only $50 900 citizens,
and 23O,O 900 slaves. Its wealth, in the palmy
days Of the State, was very inconsiderable.-
Yet the combined army of these little States,
not larger than the military force of South Ca.
rona, repulsed 800, 900 Persians in pitched
battles and drove back from their borders, the
Persian invader with his million of soldiers.
The resolution itself to meet this armed multi
tude must excite our highest admiration, and
teach US an example worthy of imitation.
The power of Rome arose in single city
and a smell adjacent territory; aud when this
great State was at its highest degree of strength
and power, it embraced only the principal pro-
vinces of Italy, not exceeding, perhaps, in ex-
tent, $4,000 square miles. 1t was in the
meanwhile poor and without trade. Nothing
but its warlike sons could have given it so CON-
pete an ascendency.
In coming down to the period Of the middle
ages, we find, among the most prosperous and
powerful States, the little Italian Republics OF
Venice, Genoa and Florence, with territories
not larger, perhaps, than Edgefeld District
There, too, was the small Republic of Sar
Marine, which exists at this day, with an area
of only 81 square miles, and population o
7.6OO-one Of the most remarkable examples
on record of the capacity of small States to pre-
serve their independence and liberties. Fo
centuries, it has stood amid the most dreadful
political convulsions, and though invaded per
petually by the formidable powers of the Pope
which surround it. grew, as the historian tell
US, "populous, happy and illustrious Thi
arose, we learn, from the honest simplicity ane
virtuous manners of its inhabitants. May w
not aspire to the noble career of this gallan
little Statea
Look, also, to the present nations Of Europe
On the map we discover some As States, les
in extent Of territory than South Carolina
Kingdoms and Republics, that only enjoy tn
blessings Of liberty in a higher degree tina
most of the States around them' but maintai
high responsibility among the nations OF o, tn
earth. The reader will recognize among thes
Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Holland, Portuga
*Lord Bacon and MachaveliI.
tJohn G. Calhoun.
TIVE might say t" all invaders-"co'ne unto