The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1859-07-26
COMMUNICATIONS.
The Federal Constitution Incapable
of Preserving the Union.

1nc DeMocratlc party was The only party
ever developed in our country that has been
strictly constitutional in its tendencies. But,
q, has ceased to guard it, and, in its alterations
and dissensions, must inevitably (as it is doing)
decay. And whilst VIC acknowledge sounder
tone in the southern wing, yet we must re-
member that it is but minority. Where is
the voice OF our consttution-the ample pleni-
tude of power, or the restraining exercise of its
majesty Gone! And mn observation or two
upon the case will draw the picture of dissolu-
ton more clearly.
The only instrument capable Of governing
the South because no other could better en-
body her rights; if it is dead, and might be-
comes the criterion of sway, Southern courage
will resist Northern aggression, and dissolution
: must be the result The questions then, what
swas the idea in framing The constitution. and
what it is-the support itmust have fer
tenance, and isstlv when it has ceased to have
influence and support, the absurdity of appeal
inc 70 it. are of great interest.
~ The idea of our constitution was to embody
definitely the power of the govcrnment-rules
for direction, and the rights and immunities to
be upheld and supported by it-what policies
are lawful; topreserve the country from factions,
oligarchies' or mobocracies, and to establish
npon a firm basis, the principles of a confede-
rated republic. Such ideas could alone have
emanated from pure hearts and sterling intel
lccts. acknowledges 1t slavery; is free trade in
prineiple; is state rights and anti-consolidated,
with a healthy equilibrium in the chief depart
meut of power; it has no semblancc to tyranny,
but straightforward, and admitting Of but one
interpretation; is too pure for such men as
Doug LAS and party.
The disregard paid to its agency i'll govern
ing, and the disavowa of it by the North, prove
conclusivek that the ideas of its formation and
the glory of its principles are futile in obtain
ing anv weight The whole spirit Of the con-
stitution is southern-it is all we could desire.
Though the eloquence of Henry, or the active
honesty of Rawlins Lowndes opposed its adop-
ton, vet, take it in its wisdom, scope Of idea,
freedom from complication, together with its
true views of selfgovcrnment, and the consti-
tuition stands a glorious heritage.
The support necessary to sustain 1t is firm
President, the Democratic party, true states
men. the press, and reliance on It's efficacy by
a common country. But the history of the
day shows that these ideas are too sublimatcd
It is trampled under foot, and none of these
supports can be brought to bear. 1t lacks the
first great prcservative of a constitntion-a
common social system among the people it was
intended to govern. Isit supported! Let the
din of huckstering demagogue<, or the bed
lamite clamor of Office aspirants answer; let
/ Black Republican impudencc' disobeying and
contemning and sqnatter sovereignty seeking &c
da6c its purity and override its sacred pre-
cepts, answer; let Buchanan and his protective
tariff, or pandcrng northern press, answer.
If then its principles are disrcgarded, and
there is no support, how absurd to call upon it
j. or expect aught of it. 1t has lost It's vitality
and is but paper-the nobility Of itsspirit being
dead, and the energy of its existence crushed
Senator Hammond recognized the fact in 1850
He saws in his orstion upon Mr.. Calhoun
aPor more than twenty years the Federal con
stitution has been dead lctter-it has for that
length of time had no material infincncC
in maintaining the union of these States,
and, in speaking Of that statesmsns attempt tt
preserve its purity during the last years of hi
fife. he SAYS :-"Consecrated in vain for, al
F. ready the disease has passed fatal crisis, ant
there is no longer a remedy that can scavc"-
Yet how paradox is his course now with such
sentiments "a wonderful power must have re
stored his vision. Cromwell, l charge thee
boware CT ambition''
We cannot depend upon this constitution
Solon survived to see his dead letter; Lycur
bus was banished for the iron code; no Frencl
Instrument ever lasted over five years W
have lived to sec ours nullity. There is
Fatality attendantupon simple paperdocuments
there must be the proper substratum.
A constitutional Union is impossible tn