Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1852-01-16
THE BENTON PLATFORM.

We referred some time siure to the action
of tie i'enton Democracy OF Missouri, in noni-
mating Wm 0. Butler for the Presidency, aud
Thomas H. Benton for Congress. The letter
of Mr.. Benton, in response to that meeting, has
reached US, and will be inserted tomorrow. 1t
is not only highly characteristic, but also i'm
portant, because it distinctly lays down the
programme of the position of tic trces"il par
ty of the North in the coming campaign. In
that letter Mr.. Benton denounces the "nulIifiers
and disunonists' as roundly as the onion news
papes; and insists on reading out of the Demo.
cratic party those whom it thus denomnates,
to make way for the genuine "Unicn Demo-
crats'' of the stamp of himself and the Van
Burens Like the Union, also, he swears by
the name of Gen. Jackson, SCOTS at States
Rights as qualification" gives i'll his adhesion
to the Baltimore Platform of 1913, and abuses
the Nashville Convention with equal zest and
relish.
This coincidence Of sentiment between the
organ and Mr.. Benton, must be highly graft
flying to both, though rather unexpected to the
latter. Mr.. Benton's letter is as aipPantly
abusive Of the treason of the advocates of
States Rights doctrines, and of the "trators'
who stood up for the rights Of their section, as
the Union ever was when countenancing and
supporting the war made upon the Southern
States Rights Democrats by Messrs. Cobb,
Foote, and Co.-or more recently in exposi-
sitions Of the binding force and efficacy Of the
Proclamation and Force bill on all the Democ-
racy. As, in another instance, SOLITARY and
alone" Benton set his ball in motion against
tie Southern Rights Democracy; but, like a
snow ball, it has gathered as it rolled; until 1t
has become an avalanche, impending over the
heads of all who dare still to cling to the old
faith Of Jefferson Madison, and Randolph
With the progressive policy Of the Jackson
Democratic Association, under the head Of r.
P. Blair, to entangle our foreign relations, and
the Benton and Union programme Of the pre-
scription of all States Rights men and States
Rights doctrines, to consolidate power in the
hands of the North, the Southern Democracy
are exposed to fire in the front and in the
rear.
Mr. Benton's endorsement of the Baltimore
platform of lS4S, is accompanied by an expla-
nation of what he considers as "thc Democrat
ic ground in relation to slavery" We give his
own words:
Fou'hly, Adhesion to the Baltimore platform
Of 1913 is another point OH which hold you
to be right, and the Nullifers wrong. That
platform contains the Democratic ground in
relation to slavery. The Nulliiers wish to en-.
graft upon it new dogma which was express
ly, and almost unanimously rejected by the
Convention which framed it, namely, that Con-
gress has no right to legislate upon slavery in
the Territories. This dogma, like all the doc
trnes of The school to which it belongs, is of
modern invention, and only invented for the
purpose of multiplying chances to find pretexts
to resist the laws Of Congress, and for flying
off into that new confederacy which is to con-
sist wholly Of slave States, and TO he christen-
ed "The United States South The Demo-
cracy take the Baltimore platform as it was
agreed to-nct as it was not agreed to-stil
less as reiected-and above all as attempted
to be iuterpolated by the dregs of the party
which made the effort, an. so miscrably failed
n it at Baltimore.
The language is too plain to be msunder-
stood and the object is obvious. In view OF
such coalitions and combinations, well may the
South keep a watchful and distrustiul eye on
proceedings and movements, so full of peril, not
alone to the rights of the separate States, but
to the safety and even the existence Of por
tion of them.
Far from being dead, political AbolitiQnism
rears its head higher at this moment than ever
BEFORE and from present indications threatens
to control both the old parties, in case of their
re- organization on their former basis No man
can doubt this who observes and Judges for
himself. Rendered careless and reckless through
confidence, the old wre-pullers of the Albany
and of the Seward school, with their organs
and satellites, have shown their hands too
plainly to be mistaken. The tone Of Southern
presses Of late proves that some at least OF its
conductors have been awakened to the danger.
Others soon will catch the ALARM and the real
character of the individuals game now playing,
will he exposed.
The plotters against Southern rights ard
Southern sgfety may exult for time-but let
them look for the recol Of their own Internal
engines of Frecsoil and consolidation. Under
that black banner no truc.souled Southern, and
many Northern men. will not march, but rally
to the rescue of tho Constitution the rights of
the States and the safety of millions of our
people, -.Somhern Press.
PATENT PnYsIc--We feel it our duty to
put the public on its guard against a patient
preparation, by which we have been poisoned