Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-10-15
SPEECH OF HON. JAS. CHESTNUT,
SENATOR IL CONGRESS FROM S. CAROLINA
Delivered in Camden, Sent, %. 1850

tics, and future of the South, hcsn are
themes of great magnitude and interest -
De compass them wisely will require larg
III experience and a sagacity bordering
moro closely on prophecy than | have at
ta'ncd, 1SM, sou have bccn pleased to ask
for my ofdniUns, and will proceed to am.
noancc them, / will ncs speak to please.
but, trust, from the higher motive of
common Interest, Involved in the welfare
of the State. Differences of opinion.
Know, will exist among MS, but, to wha ev-
or extent thcy Nay be developed, let them
hc held ia snhjoction TO fair aud calm de-
llhcrat'on. that We may, in this grave con
lcct"rc, place ourselves above tho inhucn
ccs of party and the warping vantics of
scif,--that we may review and master our
prcjuliccs, Gf any we havoc and yield t.cm
as sacriliciai offerings on tile altar of n
common good. Atall events you arc en-
titled to candor at my hands / will try To
reflect the Impressions made ON my own
nind by the current of events, and speak
to you III the spirit of truth and sobcrncss
confess that feel deep concern that
cannot perceive those bright tints with
with which many gild the future Of the
South do not believe that we arc sail
ing OIL summers sea, with not a ripple on
the waters, save that which d shcs from
the prov, as VIC press onward with swelling
sails in the track Of safe and prosperous
voyage. ] would that it were so for, with
glad heart and trumpet tongue, would
sound the tidings. To my eve the SIGNS
are not so cheering. Though we may be
sitting IN the sunlight of tranquil moment,
there arc visible III the combinations around,
the portcnts of a coming storm-a storm
whose raging power mny prove sufficient to
crack every rib in the good old slip, to dash
1t in pieces, and drive tic di$jccta mcn,j.n
to exhibit new affinitics and assume new
forms. At such Il time, the prudent mari
nqr will not close his eyes nor ignore the
danger; he will be up and rcldy-strue
Cling to avoid it, but, if it must come, to
weather it if he can.
To understand correctly the condition
of the South, and its true Significance. VIC
must look back to see what was done, bv
whom aud with what result To this end
you will bear with me while l touch on top
les so well known and trite to most of you.
The lingering struggle which left the
States independent, left them also weak,
and, IN some measure, despised by tic
greater powers of the world Foreign rela-
tons, political and COMMERCIAL as well as
the internal intercourse between the States
became so pressing in their necessities rs
to compel the union.
The objects of the union being obvious,
the terms and limitations Of the bond were
specific and plain. All rested frmly ON
the basis of equality. The power and re-
spectability of tho whole being thus incrca.
sed--the parts secured against external
dangers, internal collisions and general
usurpaton-thcy lave at length In their
alcapacity, assumed high position
among the first class powers of tho earth.
The -boundless resources, the immeasu-
rablc capacity, that p,astnoss of extent
which comprises the icy regions of Maine
and the gold hills of California in short.
the grandeur of the Federal Republic has
ceased, from the acknowledged truth of ii,
to be mere themeiof silly defamation on
the lips OF vainglorious people All this
IL true, and it is also true that it is one of
tho results of the Union. The South is
not inscnsiblc to it. We have been elo-.
qucntly told that, let the future bring what
1T may, our record ip the past of our coun-
try's history is secure. The contemplation
OF the picture of its power and prosperity,
however grand in proportion and rich in
coloring, can bring no shame, no regret 20
any Southern man. 1t is the voucher in
part of his own intelligence, patriotism and
success He may regret, however, indeed
he must regret, that q fabric so great---a
government so adequate to its ends must
fail beneath blind rage for polf and power,
or by tho sapping and mining process of
ignoblc faction, stimulated by foreign pol
icy "'t q
1t is an old trick of cunning politicians
to oimputo to the South an early and deep
dsaffection---as iftoa Constitutional Union;
aud to impest 20 its nobest struggles against
usurpations and injustice, the hue of trea
son. History proves them alike untrue.
IL will prove that, while the South contrib
utcd much to the formation of the Union,
i has, sacrificed no less to its preservation.
Ii will show such contributions and sacri,
fees as manifest ,munifcence and devotion
bat which 10 tho end may prove the most
calanlitous weakness. N h HHt1
While che pressure from witRost forced
tho States to assume tie external appear
anee Of q firm and enduring unity, they
were not, hagmoniops within. In the Con.
gross of the confederation disputes and
jealousies wero manifested bctweon the
Northern and Southern colonies. Bdtitiis
worthy of rotnirk that these disputes arose
from the dreaded accumulation of,power bv
s0mesQf the Southern Stbtes.~-and MA 80