The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-06-13

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ry propaganda war, and opposed by her. How
would it be with the Souths Would they not
see that in the natural course Of events, Spain,
in despair, before she relinquished her grasp
upon Cuba, would decree emancipation, and
Cuba, according to the doctrines laid down by
the North, on the acquisition of territory from
Mexico, would have free statutes The same
ideas would render war with Mexico impos-
sibe; and the certain acquisition of the Cana.
das could not but make the South pause before
going into a war with England. So far as the
first great object of Govesnment is concerned,
defence against external wrong, melancholy as
is the confession, our Government is unable to
perform its functions. As regards the second
form of protection, protection against internal
wrong, our Government is even less able to dis
charge its great duty. What is the object Of
the anti slavery agitation but the eventual abo-
lition of slavery in the Statess The restriction
Of slavery in the Territories is only one of the
means Of accomplishing this purpose The alb
clifton of slavery in tie States implies war of
the races, causing the greatest eonvulsions and
disasters to the South. The strange spectacle
is, therefore, presented in our Government, of
the dominant section seeking steadily to turn
the action of the Government into direction
at war with the existence Of the weaker sec:
ton. Is not the Government then failing 10
perform its office OF protection against internal
aggression9 The Government has, therefore,
failed to verygreat extent to perform its most
vital functions. ~
The feeling of romance have alluded to as
one of the bonds Of the Union takes two forms
the memories Of the past, and the hopes of
the future. Those memories are grand and
sublime, and to recent period, comparatively
they all tended to strengthen the idea of union.
The fierce struggles Of our ancestors with the
Indians for a too,hold on this continent, their
colonial wars with thesFrench, their great con.
test for independence, the war of 1872, all H.
lusrate and magnify the idea of union. They
exhibit our foretathers standing side by side in
the camp and the council, and by their united
efforts bursting the barriers which man and ma
ture opposed to the trumphal progress Of the
country. But, in the latter periods of our his
tory, dark shadows of sectional arrogance aid
injustice have fallen upon our path, and We
of the South can no longer look back with the
same pride and pleasure we once did. Until
this slavery agitation disturbed the unsuspect.
ing confidence of the South our future was the
most glorious that ever dawned upon any. peo
pie. But this discordant fend of abolition has
marred the prospect; and instead fhope, great
ness peace and glory, we see before us disas-
ter, discord war and anarchy. The romance OF
the Union has been weakening more and
more every day. The slavery agaition has
and is loosening all the great bonds Of the
Union.
1t is evident, think, thatthis crusade against
slavery, if unchecked at. the North, will even.
tualIy overthrow the Government. In produ-
cling this result, the North will be entirely to
blame for the South ask for no rightbut what
is granted them under the Constitution, and in
difference Of opinion as to these rights they
have been willing to abide by the decision Of
the judiciary. In producing this result, the
North will, in my opinion, equal in madness
any folly in history. One thing, too, is clear
that whatever disasters this anti slavery agita.
tion may bring upon the country, the South
will not have n monopoly of them. The in
terests Of the two sections are so interviewer
that every blow. struck by the North at the
South reacts upon herself-she can only wound
the South in woundng herself. The two
principal sources of Northern prosperity, in
material point of view, consist in commerce
and manufactures; they both receive their prin-
cipal elements of strength from the South
AS the South prospers, they prosper; as the
South decays, they decay. Indeed, it is not
stating the case too strongly, to say that the
North have as much interest in the institution
of slavery as the South have; they have all the
advantages Of slavery, and none OF its disad
vantages. And yet the Eastern States, which
of all others derive the most benefit from the
institution, are the most bitter against it. g..
Should the present Government, Mr.. Chair.
man. be overthrown, will the Northern States
be able to reconstruct as good a one in its
stead The small states of the North should
remember, that one of the principal difficulties
in the formation Of the present Government
arose from an uuwillingness of the larger states
to admit the smaller to an equality in the, Sc
nate. Will they be able to enter Northern
Coufederacy in this era ofextreme Democracy
on equal terms in this respect with the Empire
States of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio2
1t is extremely doubtful whether they could.
These small States are peculiarly interested in
the preservation of the present form Of Govern.
rnent. Yet they are generally the most active
in pursuing policy at war with the continu-
ance Of the government. In the event of dis.
solution of the Union, there would not be two
contederacies formed, but at leas: three; for
the States on the Pacific would not have the
folly to mingle themselves up with the convul'
sions Of the Atlantic States; they would raise
the banner of independence, and pursue their
great career alone. The Northern States would
be hedged in by two hostile nations-England
on the North their natural rival in commerce
and manufactures, the slave States on the