Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-08-05

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Portugal 39, 900 Sardinia, %, $50; and Swift
erland, l7,2Os. England itself, which has gra
dually risen in magnitude, till she has become
at once the most wealthy and most powerful
nation on the globe, has an area of only 81, SOC
square miles; being less than either Georgia
or Florida. The above States not only achiev.
ed, but have maintained their independence
How Go the numberless little Principalities
Duchies and Kingdoms in Germany, many of
them not as large as Edgefeld District pre-
serve their sovereignty and independence among
the despotic family of European nations g
There are the free cities of Hamburg, Bremen,
Lubec, and Frankfort, only third rate towns,
that have existed as Independent soverelgnties
for centuries. True, they belong, at present,
to the Germanic confederation; but this is a
mere league of defence against external powers,
not interfering with the sovereignty and free
dom ofthese cities. Yes! these Republics, not
one Of them having an area over $50 square
miles, nor population above 100000, have
long upheld, and do now maintain their indi.
vidual sovereignties, enjoying the glorious
sweets of liberty, in the neighborhood of large
and powerful despotisms under the very eyes
Of tyrants who have their standing armies of
10000 and 100000 men, and who frown up.
on every semblanee of political freedom. Once
members of Confederacy, styled the Han
seattle League" which comprhed IS States or
Cities, and which, by its wealth and arms, ruled
nearly the whole of Northern Europe, these
little States have had the nerve to achieve their
independence, and to maintain it under all the
frowns and threats of despotism.
Yet the people OF Carolina, with quadruple
their wealth and military force, and more than
centuple their territory, are actually hesitating
whether or not they shalt give up their sover.
eighty, and become the mere tributary allies of
a Northern consolidated despotism. o, Tenn.
pora! o, Mores!
But in estimating the elements of success for
a separate State Government, it is not proper
to consider only our physical resources: The
true strength of nation rests as much, per.
haps, on the operation of moral causes, as on
the organization Of physical power. The Gov.
ernment, which, by its reckless administration
and lawless expressions, has sown the seeds
of discomfort and faction, need not expect to
exert the full measure Of its strength or great
ness. For this to be done, especially in free
countries, the moral energies of the people must
be awakened. Among = great and free peo-
pie, before the national mind can be urged to
exert its full power and will, plausible pretext
must offer itself-a prospect of gain, or at least,
of some seeming good. Factions among US
may combine for the accumulation of wealt
and power, but they will rarely unite to con.
sume wealth by extrayagant wars, unless driv.
en- to them in self.defence. The Federal Gov.
ernment, by arousing disafections in the minds
of the people, on the great sectional matters at
issue before the country, has derangeditssprings
of power, so as necessarily to cripple its ener.
gies, if not entirely to paralize them, in any
struggle it may wage relative to these sectional
issues. And while its power thus becomes
weakened, a common interest and safety must
inevitably urge US, sooner Or later, to that un-
ION of feeling and sentiment, that concert of
will and action, which the desire for selfpreser.
walton never fails to inspire, and which are the
chief sources of national strength.
But another moral element of grea. force
among civilized nations, and one which will
surely rebound to our advantage, is the power
of public opinion. Under the bonds of modern
commerce, and the refining influences of chris.
tian;ty, sort of International ethics have sprung
up, infusing into the minds of nations a more
liberal sense of justice; which, added to the
strong principle of self.preservation and self.
advantage, serves greatly to restrain the ag
gressive spirit of military, despotic nations
Despots know that, under the enlightened di.
plomacy of modern times, every community OF
States, for their mutual welfare and safety, will
use the utmost efforts to preserve balance OF
poper. They are beginning to learn, also,
that, in time Of high popular exc itement, stand.
ing armies, how we'll so-ever disciplined, are
not always to be relied on; and that the spark
of liberty, once kindled by the flash Of fire.
arms, is in danger ofsoon lighting up the whole
mass of the people, and extending to the sol.
dery ITSELF Hence the cautious timidity OF
the crowned heads of Europe, in the recent
outbreaks among their subjects, And nothing
but the dread of public opinion-ofa a general
Congress of Nations-of awakening sense OF
indignation throughout the European States
and the civilized world, prevents the more des'
potic powers from interfering to suppress the
liberal movements now going on i'll the smaller
continental States.
South Carolina may, with reason, count up
on this moral element. Allthe Southern slave
holding States know and feel, that, on the pro
per restraint ofNorthern power, absolutely de
pends their safety and welfare; and this, wheth
er the Union exists, or be dissolved. Withou
the most blinded prejudice and suicidal policy
they cannot allow the equilibrium betweel
Northern and Southern power to be destroyed
1t would be their certain destruction. The