Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-08-04


Of actiou, would not bind the convention to alb.
stain from such a course. So if number Of
persons have imagined themselves to know be.
fore hand what the convention will do, and have
ventured to bring it under pledges to the world,
these individuals must not hold the convention
under obligations to save their sensibilites, how
ever patriotic, at every hazard, to the public in.
terest. Again, some have undertaken to assert
in the most confident manner what is to take
place with the Federal Government and with
other southern states, in the event OF separate
state action. But il, when the occasion shall be
at hand, the convention, with better opportunl.
ties of Judging, should see things in wholly
DETERRENT light, and there upon should deem 1t
proper for the State to become better assured
of the conditions of affairs within, these persons
must consent to stand convicted of want of po-
ltical forecast, and not claim as matter Of per-
sonal right, TO be condemned only upon actual
experiment, however disastrous the experiment
might prove to the end we all aim at Nor can
| supprse that any member OF the convention
will consider that any declaration OF purpose
made by him, beforehand while candidate,
under the competition, excitement and pressure
of an election, will rest upou him as para.
mount rule ofaction. should expect, OF course
that one placed in such situation would find
no difficulty in cousentng to bear the little per-
sonal Inconvenience and embarrassment which
thehighest ends Of patriotism mig Int require him
to bear.
We all profess to desire and to aim at coop
Grafton; most of US, advocate state action, when
no alternative is lett. Let the convention, then,
be lett free to conform its action to these prln-
ciples, and let US hope and believe that it will
exhibit that frmneSs and wisdom which belt
so digni6ed body, charged with an issue OF
such vast moment, both to ourselves, to our Sis
ter states, and to our common posterity through
generations to come.
In my opinion the sooner the convention is
called together the better. Let what is to be
done be done as soon as possible. We say we
are waiting for other States, and YET have held
and still hold convention in ierrorem over the
North, to restrain them from any incautious act
that might drive other States into cooperation.
aud strengthen the hands and embolden the
hearts of the friendsupon whom we re ey to bring
up other States. The people of Georgia re.
soued very differently. They dreaded new ag-
gressons, and, as consequence, cooperation.
| Their object was TO save tine Union. Their
convention, therefore, adopted the most strin-
gent and threatening resolutions as to tue fu.
ture They were alarmed to see rival parties
in the North, flushed with recent brilliant and
easy victory, about to be driven in their heed.
less competitions Into the most reckless course
of conduct Their friends North admonished
them of the dangerandhow topreventit. They
took the only sensible course the case admitted
OF, and with the more efficient aid of South Ca
rolna have thus far, been successful. 1t is use
less to deny the force of this reasoning. The
truth had betterobe seen and admitted, that. no
matter what was Intended, the policy and po.
stion otSouth Carolina are directly oppugnant
to co-operation; and if this be not the position
which the people of the State desire to occupy
1T it be our purpose to give full scope to the
policy Of co operation, while we hold in reserve
that of isolated secession, the convention can
alone bring into harmony and rec0ncilcment
these two things now so antagonlstic, so that
whether the convention is to ordain secession,
or to take measures with view to cooperation,
the sooner it meets and acts the better. Cor
sidered as existing and mol acting, the corven.
ton has been and is pure nuisance. True,
in despite OF the convention, aided by the mena-
ccs of Georgia, the next Congress may renew
the war upon US, but it will be much more like.
ly to do so otherwise; so that in any view you
may take the existence OF the convention,
cithom action, is positive evil.
| have now gentlemen, briefly expressed
what think the most important views and re.
flections relative to the present position and fu-
ture course Of the State. 1t is needless to dis
guise that have written under great elnbarrass-
ment. Y ou yourselves would feel it somewhat
hardship, perhaps,to be called upon to give
advice in matter where the principal steps
had already been taken, and taken contrary to
your own remonstrance; making the past diff
erent from what you had purposed, and laying
fresh foundation for future different from
the future which you had made your prepara
tons to meet What advice am able to give
give freely, but my difficulty is that do not
know what advice to give, and therefore claim
the indulgence which is conceded to the con.
yention itself, and which those who ask my adj
vice claim on their own behalf, to Judge what
the convention shall do when the convention
meets. ...4....
Very respectfully, your obedient servcut,
J. A. WOODWARD.
TO Messers Thos. Mckinstry, J. Bookman,
w. H Yrapp, w. F. Watt, c. o. Trapp, J. B.
Jenkins.
EARLY COTTON.
We have in our office specimens fopen cot.