Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-02-20
From the Edqcfcd A,lrrr'iser.
Oar 'aEslr EsosiET.

turc of our history. We Will be paiuOllcu IL,
among the rest We hazard few thoughts upon
this important subject.
The pco,c Of South Carolina, by an unmls-
takeable vote, have decided that, under present
circumstances, it is utterly ineXpcdent for us to
hoist the colors Of a separate lndrpcndency.-
With this decision in full view, our eyi>tant Con-
vcn,on will not, Of course, take any steps which
might lead us into an attitude so distinctly IT.
ludiatcd. To suppose them capable OF dong
ANYTHING of the sort, IS to attribute TO them the
Ec1ntious spirit of reckless revo!utioniSts. Pre-
sumptuous and unfounded must be the euspicion
which have been insinuatcd, i'll this point OF view,
against this honorable and honest body OF men.
Secession bv South Carolina alone, on the score
of wrongs heretofore endured, is numbered and
filed away in the archives Of the past. We deep
" renret the circumstances of division and dis
traction at home which have brought the State
to this position; for we ever had and have still,
firm confidence in the feasibility ard power Of
separate State action. But as we have sad, the
mandate of the sovereign people ofthis common
wealth has gone fortll-and, for the time being,
that remedy is not to be considered.
Nor do we think, with the present condition
of things in South Carolina. that any halfway
measures, such as We're Skctcilcd out 10y some OF
our politicians last year, should low be venturrd
urom Because, in the first llaca, those measures,
properly understood, are nothing less than III
G, lent steps towards the condemned policy OF
scpalatc action. And, in the second place, they
are too weak and inefficient TO command the con-
fdence and support Of either PARTY. It would,
therefore be both dangerous and useless to press
forward anv thing Of the Solt at this time.
Again. we cannot find any reasons to recon-
mend this thing OF South Carolina playing
Achilles in his tcnt''-drawing herself within
her shell, like boXtcrrapin, i'll suIlen obSunacy,
while every other Southern sister Is vide awake
and struggling. with commendable zeal, to make
the best Of :, hard case. 1t is neither philosoph
cal, nor is it in accordance with the spirit OF the
AGE to fall back thus upon an empty and una
vmline dignity. The days are gone by when
proud people could strike their orrrc>>o!S with
terror by Il lofty but qucscent indlgnaation-
The world has become eminently practical and
sinrularlv impcrvVus to those generous IMPULSES
Of honor and justice which, history says, have
heretofore influenced men and natlolS 10 noble
and disinterestcd concessions. Nothing now
can be expected from thu inter- .>it!on Of Il bar
rem right unaccompanicd by determination to
maintain it resolutcly or perish III the attcmpt-
nothing but the sneers and contempt OF far the
greater portion Of mankind. These remarks,
When apphcd to the case Of our long-boa>tcd
State, become more sadly truthful than any de-
voted son of hers is disposed to admit. Yes
she has at length become a by-word for enraged
impotcncy-and, since the woful termination OF
lust wears domestic STRIFE, she Is indeed looked
upou by a majority Of her cont'deratcs as being
little better than tratful community Of childish
Hotspurs, who live by the stimulus Of an occa-
sional quarrel, in which the tongue and pen are
the only weapons to be arprehended Had the
policy of the ScccssionistS prevailed by maJor-
tv sufficient to have rendered our action indls-
putably the action Of an almost united people,
far different would have been the estimation pla-
ced upon the character Of South Carolina. But,
as it is we much fear that her influence has been
vastly diminished, if not completely annulled. 1t
is in view Of this apprehension, that we speak OF
her as glaring illustration Of the utter stupidity
of States standing aloof in mood y apathy
while all the world around Is Ill a race for the
mastery, paying no more attention to the tu-
mines of little Carolina than eager travellers
would to the dull smoke Of a newly capSlzed
steam-engne Thi; may seem to be DEPRESSION,
merely for the purpose of venting little spleen
arainst those who defeated the energetic and
manly action, advised by the cocallcd Fire-cat-
ers of 81 Far from it. We have not the slight
est i-will towards any Individual for having act
ed thus. But we think all must now admit that
South Cardinals moral influence has suffered 4
declension since the certainty has gone forth to
her enemies that she is not to be feared, and to
her friends that she is not to be looked to as a
leader. If this be So how imperious the ncces-
sty which now calls upon her to leave her tent
of mbecity-to grid on her arInor, and step
forth Into the ring" where all the rest Of her as
sociates are actively striving for the advantages.
Unless she does this, there is other fate III store
for her than to be spoken Of by coming genera
tons, as an impracticable little State ever boast
inc Of rights which she never dared maintain,
and making an excuse of her Indignation to a.
void an equal participation in the cares and dis
quietudcs Of the American Republic
From the foregoing remarks it may be seen
that we are inclined to the opinion that, inas-
much as Carolina chvalry Is in shocking de-
cline at this particular time, we should make
Carolina shrewdncss felt, both i'll the af;tirs oi the
American Government and in the commerce Of
the world. We should bend all our energies to
the great work Of enhancing the wealth and &C.
neral happiness and prosperity. Of our State and
people. Seeing that it is scarcely possible for us
at present. to assume all attitude OF Independence