The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1855-12-04
Message of Gov. Winston, OF Ala
hA,na


bv the bigoted fanatic and schenIing puliti
clans to permit the enjoyment of no peace in
the Union, until aroused by the spirit Of free
men we will have them to know we have borne
with their aggressious until longer submission
to wrong and insult is no longer endurable.
The assailants oil the South have continued their
war upon US until the assumed right OF inter-
ference in our affairs has become with them Il
religious sentiment. At no period of Our his.
tory has this question presented more g oomy
aspect. At no time has there been less pros
pect of cessation Of the hostile policy adopt
ed towards Us. Their power in the States and
in Congress, is greater aud more formidable
than ever before; and they seem now actuated
by spirit OF mischief. The highest tribunal
of State has shown in its decisions ready
subserviency to popular fanaticiSrn; and State
Legislature has violated the spirit of the con-
sttutional compact Of the union, in order to
prevent the execution ofa law made TO enforce
the requirements Of the Constitution. What
was once considered the mad efforts Of crazy
enthusiasts, has now the control of the popular
mind at the North, and has become q mighty
power, only to be efFectually resisted by Il
united people in the defence of the Constitution
and efforts TO preserve continuation of the
Federal Union. 1t is the blindness of political
madness to shut our eyes longer TO the serious
nature Of our position Oh this subject. The
time has come when. as people united IN an
emergency, rising above all party considcra-
tious we should be prepared to assert and t"
maintain our constitutional and natural rights
no matter from what source the assaults may
come, vr the consequences which may follow
The nature or man, in its hest form, is agsreS
sive-mure 50 in communities and nations
All history teaches us that no people ever
maintained their nal ural or political rights bv
q course Of tempori>ins submission to- wrong.
Acouiesce in one case but nvi.cS another.
The compromises Cf the Constitution were
the first. and should have been the last, the
neople Of the South submitted IT,. Had the
aggressive course Of the North been met with
6rmuess at the commencement OF this war ON
our rights, we should long ago have had peace
and quiet, which we have been unable to attain
by compromises, often at war with the terms
of our peitical compact, and reple;c with III
iustice to u.s. When the calculating selfish
ness of those agitating. and permitting this
AGITATION, shall find the South agreed and uni
ted rs 10 the settlement OF this matter, ve shall
have neace aud no. until then. When they are
hropuht TO see what they are about to lose
tho trade of the South by WHICH they are the
chief benefciareS Of the labor OF Siase>, the
sboo.k .kcepcrs and manufacturers will see the
wickedness Of their conduct. They row very
properly conclude from the course OF some
Southern men. that we feel AS if we would
cease to exist without political connection
with and depeudcnce on, the non stareh"l'llng
States They have reason 10 believe that we
,-o nrpnared for continuation OF the political
comnact--knowu as the Union-bv Il base and
shameful acouicsceucc in whatever wrong they
NAV choose to inftict.
The union of these States is only to he pre-
sorveJ bv a faithful observance of the terms of
the compact, as agreed upon IN the Con>t'iu
ton; and the sooner the aggreSsor Is made TO
understand such 10 he our Gonclu>!"n, the more
likely is the Union to last. So long as tue
Union is calculated to effect the great objects
L was established to accomplish, it should be
sustained. But when the government, under
the control Of a reckless ma jority, ceases to
protect, and becomes an instrument OF oppreS
sion, it will have failed in the purpose of its
creation, and will no longer be d proper object
Of veneratlon. -.
AS party to the great political events which
seem fast coming to crisis, we have no power
of avoiding the issues presented. we have no
escape. unless, by firm and united course, we
show ourselves ready to maintain our rights
npder any circumstances. We have nothing
to hope from the sense justice in the minds
of great majority Of those in power i'll the
free States, The realization. of the fact that
we had come to the period in the history ol oar
wrongs, when we will dare to assert our poIlt,-
cal equality in the government at any hazard,
might cause them to pause. They might ne
aware Of the deluslon under which they lie III
eunnosiuc the people of the slavehoIding State
SO dependent upon political connection WITH
them for prosperity or happiness. The slave
holding States, and those inevitably bound to
rs by locality and interest, cover an extent OF
country whose gcniality Of climate, and pro-
duc,iyeness of soil, combine to make us people
more independent Of other than any other part
of the world. Producing all the necessarles.
MANY Of the luxurics OF life, and the great
staples that command the commerce ct The
world. we are rs independent, when we shall he
driven to independence, Of the product or man
ufsctcries of those who feel such Degradation
in the alliance. as ifan impassabc ocean rolled
between us.
With people brave, intelligent, energetic
and, when aroused, as patriotic as any Una,
have ever lived, Isee none of these causes o'
apprehension and alarm at the contemplation
of wrongs long continued, which will 'nevlta'
bly drive US to dissolve the political ties which
have heretofore existed between us and our
assailants.
Freed from the commercial restrictions by
which we have been fettered for the benefit and