Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-07-18

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every aspect of the ease-m momentous to me.
and to all mhom I hold dear, for ! believe; II
feel. that South Carolina holds in her hand tie
fate and destiny, the liberty or SLAVERY Of my
self, wife and children, and that in a fesc short
months, she will be compelled to decide that
destiny-either for "weal or woe !" Thus be.
evlng, and thus feeling, cannot, l viii not,
Idare not remain silent upon matter in which
as citizen, have so much involved Although
have not the vanity to suppose that any thing
! may or can say will weigh "as straw. in
the balance" ye. am determined to record
my "voice," that should she inAict upon me and
mine state of degraded servitude, those Of the
latter who survive Inc may appeal to your col.
umns, and kno~ that their projenitor not only
had no hand in forging for them their chains,
bat that he dill 1rhat he could to avert their
doom. IL may he, that, owing to many cir:
cumstances, take an enormous view OF, and
therefore attach too much consequence to the
present posture of affairs. Hoperer this may
be, the oPiuions | have formed, and the con.
clusion | have come to, have not been rashly
adopted or hastily reached; but are the result
Of the calmest reflection and most thorough in.
vestigation, my limited capacities would per.
nit my bestowing upon mattersef ,suchaiu.
trnsic importance. Then. TO Be plain, I
have come to the solemn deliberate conclusion,
that, if after a1lshat has passed the year (ls5s)
eighteen hundred and fftythree finds Souh Ca.
rolina in Ibis Union, our institutions, our rights
our liberties, and "tkough last not least" our
honor are gone-:torerer gone '---and naught
uM remain for US and ours, but the most abiect
state Of rossalage, wah uhich righteous God
has erer permitted any people to be Inflicted.
For aught know, could we look into the dark
arcana of the future, we might behold our doom
written in flaming capitals Of living 6re--"Somh
Carolina?-once the residence Of freemen, nov
The abode Of slaues r'
| hesitate not, to affirm, if, in despite of our
past history, and the faithful teachings and
warnings of our dead Calhoun, ue fail now 10
strike, t.. g advantages will render our de.
graduation not only just and merited, but
deep and damning in It's rery nature. - In
ailHion 10 paich, our oft repeated vows
will rise in judgement against US, sinking us, if
possible, lorer and yet still loper, into the very
depths OF a voluntary selfabasement; while q
gaping world, pointing at US the finger of scorn
and dersion, shall salute our ears with the
heart-sicssniag, sout,kaiing tanHi. "Ye base
descendants Of a worthy ancestry! ie kneu
your duty, but ye were too cowndly to perform
it,! Woe: ten thousand woes! unto
ttot man, be he who he aay-small or grea:,
high or low, rich or poor, who, by word or deed,
shall aid to the smallest e1iem in bringing upon
his State a ca;astrop:iy 50 loathsome. and hn.
mi:ming!! Better Tor him! aye! far better,
that he had never been born! The uarmesi,
sincerea pro,estaii"as CT patriotic devotion
will not shield his name from the udherinC
blasting curses of an enslaved and indignant
posterty!
These ,beins-a honestly believe-some Of
the Consequences necessarily at.endantupon our
taiIure to carry out our purpose, openly avow.
ed before "men and angels. no longer to sub.
nit to the onerous and tyrannical exactions Of
our hcar,leSs and soulless task-masters. | am
astounded at hearing so much said about taxes,
blockades, Charleston ruined, &C., &C., in the
event of the secession Of South Carolina.
Great God! And has 1t come to this ! p.
That in Il matter in which is involved the ques.
ton of Liberty or Slavery, Caroliuians, South
Carolinions will coaly euter upon an arithmeti-
Cal calculation of oss aud gain" in dollars and
cents! Deny it who may, disguise it who can,
this at last is the question-Lbery or Slavery
(9 You doubtless perceive, that consider
something more at issue than simply our pecu-
liar institution, important as that is. The real
question believe to be, is South Carolina
sovereign State, or is she the "fag.end" (excuse
the expression) OF a vast consolidated govern.
ment? Has she rights, or has.she none
For the sake of ourselves. our children, and all
posterity, let us decide this question, and decide
ii at once. We should lie thankful that we
have the power still left US. to force upon our