The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-04-19
From Tie Colmiia Banaer.

history of the proposal Of, South Carolina to
Georgia, Which We have before alluded 10. We
have the.oriyiuals Of the communication from
W. II. Drav ton ana John Smith, the South
Caroiina Commissioners, TO the convention OF
the people of Georgia, and an invitation from
\. ". }ones, speaker, to them to appear be.
fore that body; together with the address Of
VII. Draytol,, and his notes of the speech OF
B.Gwnnett, alluded to hf his letter, and the
resolution rejecting the profered union by
South Carolna. The papers will probably be
given in volume of Documentary History
which we propose TO publish,- when We get
through oar present series relaing>to to later
period Of the revelation.
5,>ss4s Snow Hill, S. c., June 8, TIT.
eSif in compliance with your request, DO
myself the pleasure of committing to paper
some of the principal circumstances and argu-
ments relative to the late proposition OF an
union between. South Carolina and Georgia.
By our General Assembly, which is pref.
ty numerous body, it was unanimously reSolv.
eG, that a union between the two States would
tend efectually to promote their strength,
wealth and dignity, and TO secure their liberty
Independence and safety. Commissioners were
semitic Savannah to treat OF an unos, ana
was honored by being sent upon this business:
Immediately after arrived in Savannah,
found that.e gentleman in public office,
withW / conyersed, was strongly against
an union. However, I had the pleasure to find
some gentlemen of foctnne, though mol an o.
fcesor convention, who heartily approved the
measnre The convention was adjourned when
I,arTived, the beginning of January last, but
uponsthcir meeting, notified that had impor-
tants smattersst lay before them as commission
er from South Carolina. then was assured,
aud gave full credit to it, that should fail in
myapplica,ion, but proceeded III the discharge
ofIny ydaty. -.
= Being admitted to an audience in convention:
: after short introduction of what had to say,
.sIsstated, that chance had originally placed the
present: districts ofSouth Carolina and Georgia
under one government at Charles Town; and
although these districts, then forming but one,
had-been separated and placed under two gov
erninents, vet nature pointed out that the two
should again form but one; for their climate,
soil, productions and interests werc the same.
That if they continued two States, we had on
ly TO recollect the history of mankind, and the
nature of things to foresee that fromsuch causes
their counsels and conduct would clash; and
of course jealousies and rivalship would daily
) increase between them, to the natural prejudice
of their internal Improvement common produc
ton and foreign commerce. That there might
be dangerous disputes about boundaries and
the property of Savannah river since on these
subjects many people in Carolina and Georgia
Thought very differently; a natural and great
obstruction to the rise of the value of property.
But that on the other hand, by an union, all
such iealousies, rivalship, prejudice, danger and
obstruction would beremoved. Improvements
ofevery kind, especially in agriculture, inland
navigation and foreign commerce would be stu
died and advanced with rapidity. The ex
penses of government would be lcssened, to
ihe. great ease of the people, because only one
establishment of civil officers would be paid in
the room of two The public defence would
be more powerful and at less expense under
one government, than under two, which might
be Jealous of and therefore often desirous to
,thwart each other, and at any rate certainly Ii.
able undesignedly to defeat each others plans
to the ruin of the people concerned. And thus,
sir. Won see many important advantages that
would be common to the two States by an
union. But there are others which would be-
peculiar to Georgia.
By an union, the land in Georgia would rise
in value because the Carolina planters would
be encouraged to extend their Improvements
into Georgia, and the merchants carry that
trade Immediately to Georgia, which otherwise
must continue to be carried on as it always has
been and especially Of late, through Carolina.
~ - i,Eo
rior value to that of Carolina, something more
than 90 per ct,) would be put upon an equal
footing with that of South Carolina. The town
of Savannah in particular, and the adjacent
lands, would be of much more Importance and
value, because Savannah river would be immc-
diately cleared, measure that would encour-
age and occasion an immense increase Of agri-
culture upon all the land within reach of its
navigation, and hence an amazing increase of
produce and river navigation, al! Of which
would centre in Savannah. Thus in state of
separation from South Carolina, Savannah could
reasonably expect, and that but by slow de-
!. srees and at distant day, only the one half of
the produce of well improved cultivation Of
the lands on that river, but by an union, she
would in very short time receive the whole
of that improved cultivation and trade; and
her own commerce would be increased almost
beyond imagination, although she would lose
the seat of government. Fi:ally, | IHay add.
that in a state of separation in all probability
Savannah will be ruined, because, it will be our
interest to preserve our trade to our own peo
plc. A town will rise on the Carolina side Of
Savannah river, which will be sure to preserve
our half the trade of that river, and by being
wisely supported it may draw to it the other
half also; and let it not be said, we cannot find
a situation for town, becansc it ought to be
remembered, that history is full Of instances of