The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-07-18
For the Camden Journal.
The Fourth at Marion.

For the Camden Journal.
The Fourth at Marion.
Mr.. Eaitor:-The fourth Of July" was
celebrated here by the Sons of Temperance,
in manner that must have been gratifying to
every friend OF law and order. Indeed. it was
to our little band interesting and d..
lIghlful occasiou-ar a>iun lcms to be fond.
ly rmembered. CaI would have been our
hearts had we failed to draw il lervid inspra
,ion from its imposing events. 1t reminded
me most forcibly that, just sevent, -right years
ago. our brave old furcEnther> assembled in
Philadelphia, t" declare against the gross out
RACES of King George, under whose govern
menl they were suffering much.
At an early hour in the forenoon, the Division
assembled for the purpose of initiating num-
Der of candidates who were anxious to take
part in our exercises; after which, .slhss daprs
~ 3; c :.iss .Sfd5a m -
Ere ing the multitude began to pour in, AMI,
Notwithstanding every accommodation hal hee'
made, many were unable to get Seats Su'h
crow d has never before been seen within the
walls OF our beautiful hall, nor has it ever been
my good fortune to see in this village such "A
large number of fair ones rs were in that hall.
Marion done her best. We had expected
large company, hut had no idea that our entire
population would turn out in the present warm
state of the weather.
At about twelve o'clock the services com
menced, BY the singing OF an appropriate tenn
perauce ode, prayer, then the reading OF th''
declaration Of Independence, by Rev. BIO. &.
D. Ruwell. The reading of this great docu
me,,t was characterized by much force and
energy. The Brother entered into the spri,
Of the matter, and performed his part with
considerable ability.
Then the Orator of the day, Rev. Robert
Napier, arose, amid the most p'oound atten
ton. The speaker commenced by saying he
regretted that he appeared before such a large
aid intelligent auditory, with 81 little prepara
tion, but he would endeav"r t" discharge his
duty to the best "f his ability. He then alIn
ded in appropriate terms to the present stat of
public opinion in this country; said there was
Il southern feeling aud il northern feeling on
the slavery question; went into n narrative of
the origin of the slave traffic, which, he said,
was begun, by the very nation that now j.
waging such an unrrlenting warfare ngains it
The English found The trade to be proftnb;r,
and therefore sent ships to the conquered pro
vinces Of Africa, for the purpose OF procuring
cargnes Of the Africans, in order TO sell them
for large amounts The system first com
menced III this country in the New England
States, and it was then carried Oh extensivel, !;
but the climate being too cold and severe for
the blacks, they were sent south, and their de
,,.p6,ntc ot 10, hnn,l,,rn Ia h,,liuyoi
they were far better of, more contented and
happy, better clothed and fed now. than the.
would he were they free, and while it was ad
mitted that many had cruel masters, No onr
could imagine the cruelty they would inflirt
upon each other if left to themselves They
welcomed the missionary with glad hearts and
,yfu counensnces, and received the Gospel
with eagernrss. Slavery was sanctioned hy
the Bible, and was no sin.
He paid beautiful tribute to our own Dis
trict. Marion, aluding most appropriated! to
her means of communication and transporta-
tun. The two Pee Dees run through her ter
ri'ories, as does Lynches Creek, and through
her very bosom, lies. like chain Of wealth the
w. 4 NJ. X. Road; that our people we're now
possessing every facility for lec''rniiIg peculi
! aIiy wealthy, having soil well adapted t" the
| cultivation If corn aud cotton, ana climate
rare . visited by any death. dealing disease
IL 1888, just tuenty.sx years ago, at Gapway
Church, nine miles east OF Marion village, was
formed the first temperance society in the Dis
trict; aud he predicted that our section would
ber"me one Of the most important sections III
the Palmetto State.
The speaker then reviewed some of the OBJ
jcctions urged against the Sons of Temperance.
This he executed in forcble and convincing
manner using many no doubt t" vince like
Il" CALLED OK" under the inhictI,n OF his lash.
With this portion of Bro. Napiers address
was more than pleased Calm, cool and de.
termined. he laid bare every objection, showed
their Stiffness, proved their absurdity, and LEFT
the miserable, narrnw-minded, flint.hearted Oh.
jjsc,s without even sandy foundation to stand
npon. This cuts to the bone. The Church
is sufficient is the cry of many. Temperance
is an essential element of christianity. and he
was ye, to find the man who c"nd not tell
temperance from religion. He severely re.
buked the members OF churches VII" stood
alo"f with folded arms from this great work,
and wAike he Das speaking on this point wossd