Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-10-03

! Now suppose South CarOlln should become m
volved in war with the United States, or with
any other formidable Government, what would
be her condition and fate Reason would
point to the darkest picture in the book Of time
| for representation.
| TO be sovereign and Independent, Gov
crnment should have the ability TO protect and
defend herself And, that ability must rest,
either upon actual power, or moral and legal
/ intendment The sovereignty of the States as
they now exist. is not dependant upon their
power actual; but on The moral and legal in
tendment from their position in the Govern
ment, and under the Constitution. The power
: of the wh.le, which is the power actual, pro-
t tccts the parts, and hence the actual protection
TO their sovereignty. The States are sovereign
so far as the Government of the United States
is concerned; but in relation to Foreign Gov
ernments, it is their aggregate sovereignty,
which is regarded and felt And this aggre.
gate of sovereignty, gives them their power ac-
! tual Among the States themselves, they are
! Soverigns by compact.
| Now what would be the war force the &C.
tual power, to protect the sovereignty of South
! Carolina independent. The whole militia force
of South Carolina, according to the Army Re.
gister in 1916, was 54,705, while the whole
Militia force of the United States, was 1914,
l0l; deduct South Carolrua independent, and
| it would make her actual power to the United
States, stand as one to thirty four very nearly
A difference too great TO be overcome by the
most determined and resolute.
Dismissing the consideration Of the war
,hor, tho Tho
expenses of the new Government, would be
necessarily increased far beyond the present
requirement. New and additional officers of
Government would be required, and to give
them responsibility, they must be paid as the
officers of other Governments and for the
purpose Of protection and defence, an army
and navy establishment must be supported.
The State MIST be clothed with all the iabiIi-
ments of Sovereignty, and the dressing paid
for And here we are at a loss to make any
estimate, for we do not believe, that IN army
and navy adequate to give sovereignty, and to
afford protection, could be raised. But how
would the funds he obtained! BY lcvying an
impost duty! Consider! The whole Foreign
imports of South Carolina for the year lS4S,
was the sum OF 5 ,4S5,29 1t would take at
the least calculation, the whole of that sum-
The whole imports Of the State, to support the
Government. But il may be said, that the
exlur,s furnish the best evidence of the wealth
and true ability of the State. The exports, it
is true, ut the s;.l:Ir period, amounted to So,
0Sl, ,9I1. 1t must be- recOllccted. however, that
our productions are charge;,hlc with heavy
drawbacks, and that the enhanced price OF
Cotton, the chief article of production. has con-
trbuted largely Tor the last five years to swell
the value OF the productions. The State Of
South Carolina is Il planting State. She pro.
duces Cotton and Rice, and buys almost every
thing else, necessary to carry Oh the planting
interest; aud these things. not the subject OF
Foreign importation, such us Horses and Mules,
Hogs, Flour and many other articles Of do
meslic importation. These must he deducted
from the Experts, to exhibit the true balance
and ability Of the State. This principle is it,
lustrited inthe every days experience Of farm
ing. Farmers generally produce just so much
corn as is necessary to support the farm, and
the expenses are chargeable upon, and paid out
of the Cotton, which is sent of to market and
sold The balance of tn Cotton money, after
deducting all expenses, exhibits his true ability.
And every one knows that this balance de-
pends very much upon the price Of Cotton
South Carolina could only import so much as
her own people would need anu consume. For
her to impor! more, expecting the other States
TO buy from her, pre-supposes that the United
States would make Il treaty injurious to herself,
to accommodate South Carolina. The expe-
dieut must fail, and resort to direct taxation
become necessary. A heavy tax, people
emerging from revolution may pay for awhile,
from high sense of pride and patriotism; but
time will bring complaints, and with it dlscon.
tents and changes. The people will bear
heavy tax to carry on war Of their own, but
when the war is ended and peace established,
heavy taxes do not suit, and they will not be
borne willingly. Unpleasant as it may he, yet
it is our duty to examine, before hand, the con-
sequences Of Single State Secession. and not
to he taken by surprise when the State has Sc
ceded. For the want of time, some OF these
will be mentioned, without dwelling upon them.
! A money pressure will follow, whenever it
is known that South Carolina is going out
alone-Confidence will be lost; run will be
made OH the Banks, and gold and silver de-
manded Debts due abroad will be forced, aud
within the State there will be gathering up.
The transportation Of the mails will be
changed, and new provisions must be made to
meet the emergency. The Government Of the
United States will have her own mail arrange
ments, and South Carolina must make hers
ottprs and n,uurs Uoiup and coming from