The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1855-11-27

| annunc ciatiOn OF abstract truth, as IN the an
nunciation of so much truth as may be adapted
to the circumstances of the times. Our con-
stitutional rights, with the alternative of inde-
pendence, is platform upon which every true
Southern nun must be willing to stand. The
conservative portion of The North can act with
us on this platform, and would gladly receive
| their aid and cherish them in return. BY this
course we will stand the best chance of obtain
ing our rights while the Union lasts, and in the
event of its dissolution we would be in the best
condition to make the experiment of separate
Government; for We would have so acted as to
have produced the greatest degree Of harmony
in Southern sentiment and by our prudent
course would have conciliatcd the sound por-
ton of the Northern people-a desirable object,
even in the event Of separation. BY this course
too, the Union will be preserved, if its preser.
vaton he possible; aud if it fails, the oppro.
brium will not rest upon US, but upon those
miscreants who have devoted us to perdition.
regret exceedingly to see that move has
recently been made to take South Carolina into
the National Democratic Convention. | think
this a suicidal policy. 1t is not merely
proposition to 90 iuto convention, but the nee
essary result OF such step, as understand it,
would be the merging of South Carolina in the
National Democracy. To 8" into the conven
tion, is to 60 as part of the Democratic party,
which necessarily implies IN abandonment Of
our separate organization. The question then
| is, shall we 90 into fusion with the Democrat
ic party! | say most emphatically, we should
| not.
My first objection 10 our ANAL gamation with
the great Democracy, is that it is change OF
| our settled and almost traditional policy
States no more than individuals, should lightly
change their action. To do SO is to subject
themselves to the charge Of 6ckleness. Our
past policy has, as conceive, accomplished
everything that was possible within the sphere
of our limited power. To test the question
has not South Carolina had an influence in the
Contederacy commensurate with her ratio OF
political power! Undoubtedly she has, and
more too South Carolina has hitherto main
tancd. not only respectable, but IN exalted
position among her sister States. TO what
is this attributable! Something is certainly
due to the great men she has produced, whose
genius shed ustrc OH the State. But much
more is attributable to her political action. The
| independence of Sonlh Carolina, her freedom
from party slackles, her devotion TO principle,
her abnegaton Of Federal power, her cxemp.
tun from the wild hunt after Office 50 charac
leriStic and so disgracetul to the tmes-thc>e.
tlen. are at the same time the fruits of her
policy and the symbols of her glory. 1t is this
policy which has made South Carolina what
she is, and which nrakcs'u us proud, and justly
too that We are her children. Shall we rcpr.
diate policy which has done so much for US
Shall we turn Our backs upon the past, and
strike out a new direction, following the deceit.
full flashes of the Northern lights South
Carolina on a pilgrimage to Cincinnati, the
present Mecca Of the great Democracy, to
expiatc her past hrreses aud he confirmed in
| the true faith Shades of Calhoun and Nc
Dufic, will your spirits rest quiet in their graves,
or rather will they not burst the ccrements OF
the omh, to protest against this great enormI'y!
The more We consider this proposition Of
amaIgamation with the Democratic party, the
more we are repelIed by its unavoidable con
srqdenees The immediate effect will be TO
destroy the unity of South Carolina. Hitherto
We have been one peoplc c; party divisions have
been comparatively unknown. We have been
enabled 10 act not merely as victorious party,
but as State. This has been one great cause
of our political influence But ANA gamation
with the democracy changes this. The moment
you have party Ior anal gamation, you have
divided tEc State, for there will be Il patty op.
pcscd to it. But the division will not stop
here once establish distinctly one National
party in the State, and you generate another.
If you have National Democratic party, you
| h,,,,n annl
or some other form of National party; for the
distribution Of the spois among the National
Democrats in the State will show how good al
| investment it will be TO have another National
| organization in the State, su that they will get
their share Of plunGer when tie Democracy
are defeated.
Hook upon the destruction Of the unity of
South Carolina, and her breaking up into
spoils. parties, as great misfortune not merely
to our own State, but the whole South. The
time is rapidly approaching when it may be Of
the most vital importance to have at least one
State at the South ready with united councils
to urge a great policy on the South. The only
State that could fulfil this requisite is South
Carolina, and it would he matter to be deeply
regretted if she should be in such distracted
condition Us not to be able to fulfil this mission.
Another i'll effect which would follow the
Democratic amalgamation, would be the wound
to the independence Of the State. Our State
has hitherto been free from the trammes OF
party; she has always felt at liberty to sustain
such measures as she approved, and oppose
those which she did not. But if VIC suffer
absorption by great National party, We shall
soon loose our freedom Of volition, and allie.
glance to party will become the rule Of action.
Again, the natural consequence of an afia.