The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1860-04-24
sively, vet so succinctly and clearly, that will

necessarily be very aequal among people, according
to their different conditions. For just in proportion
people are ignorant stupid, debased corrupt exposed
to violence within and danger from Without the powor
necessary for Government to possess in order to pre-
serve society against anarchy and destruction becomes
greater and greater, and individual liberty less and
less uutA the lowest condition is reached-when
absolute and dcspotic power becomes necessary tho
part Of the Government and individual liberty extinct
So on the contrary Just as people rise in the scale
OF intelligence, virtue and patriotism. and the more
perfectly they become acquainted with the nature Of
Government. the ends for which it was ordered, and
how it ought to be administered and the less the ten
dency to violence and disorder within and danger
from abroad-the power necessary for Government
becomes less and less and individual liberty greater
and greater. Instead, then of all mon having the
same right to liberty and equality ms is claimed by
those who hold that they all born free and e-ua,
liberty is the noble and highest reward bcstoIxd ON
mental and moral development combined with iavora-
ble circumstances Instead hei ofiberty and equai-
ty being born with men, instead of all men and all
classes and descriptions being equally entitled to them
they are high prizes to be wo and are in their most
perfect state not only the highest reward that be
bestowed race, but the most difficult to be won
and when won, the most difficult to be preserved"
Mr.. Chesnut Here, Mr.. President, is q
theory ofgovernmept comprehensive and just
the only theory upon which any free Govern.
ment that ever maintained liberty permanently
rested. 1t is the basis of that system of free
dom which prevails in these States. 1t is the
same policy which makes England . great and
free country; it is the system or which the
| British Constitution rests, and no other system
can ever be permanent exist where it will.
But, again : when gentlemen affirm right
to the pursuit of happiness as an original en-
lowlnent, which cannot be alienated or right
fully. taken away, what do they mean Do.
they mean to assert that every man may, at
his will, pursue his notion of happiness with
out restraint of human law, or regard to the
we-being of society If So where will it cad3
Men differ often in their ideas of happiness.
The happiness Of many, it is true, consists in
pursuit Of noble, useful and innocent employ
ments. Such have right to pursue them.
But the happiness Of some men consists in
turbulence and brutality; some in carnage;
others love theft; some rejoice in arson, while
others seek happiness in the bold walks of
highway plunder: while some, agair, reveli in
revenge, treason, and murder. Ay, pursue.
your happiness gentlemen all, without, res
trairt of human law.-You but exercise God
given right. Suggestive theory Glorious and
inciting doctrine for the race of Browns with
pike, and torch, and flaming hate!
But, gentlemen, you do not mean this You
cannot. You are compelled to take these
rights with our Interpretation, with the imita-
tions and restraints which the good of society
and human law impose. But if You do this,
Won are honestly bound to cease to produce
them in proof and reproof against US.
Mr.. President, notable experiment of these
principles of unqualified "liberty, fraternity and
equality" has been tried in the world. We
have seen constitution and government impro-'
yised by philosophy, but fssthc constitution
would not walk Philosophers copld not
make the men t. live gedss i; yaa hRsiSsa
necessities and adapted to their peculiar wants
and capacities. So they trampled on the pearl
of philosophy and soon turned TO rend the
philosophers. Thus will it cverbc. The Coy
ernment must grow and be suited to the peo-
pie. With these wild ideas the men of France,
no doubt thought themselves very happy for
a little while. All barriers, all nationali!ies,a all
restrictions were broken down-thc world was
one. lie genrie humain was the only bond
and le gcmric humain OF all races, colors, class
cs and costumes, showed themselves very JOY
ous-almost incontinent-at q feast OF pixies
They were all brothers, led on by Anacllarcls
Clootz Notable Anacharcis! Glorious Clootz.
type of man Which is to be seen in America.
Happy men! for they were all free and equal,
and iraternzed- but how long did this last
Again we see them, and this time mixed with
women in long queues, swinging to and 1ro
from the doors Of all the BARRIERS shops in the
city, crxing "Bread or blood !" WAS snch
cry ever heard in an American city Low
oninous.
Liberty and equality cannot always feast on
pixies and fraternity. Henceforth fraternity
disappears; but, happy men, they are still free
and equal; free at least to drink each others
blood and equal in liabolical strocity. And
is this all that liberty, fraternity, and equality
can accomplish Have they, then, no better
hone. Where row is the heavcn-born guide
and chastcner Of mans savage heart, pure re-
ligion! Cannot these new born principles do'
something for that! Yes do wenot sec them
bring the painted courtezan-symbol OF DIVINE
rcason-which they parade and hopefully, wor-
ship Happy men Arc they not still tree
and coral9 All, but they have not witnessed
the new typc-symbol Of the anti-slavery, God,
emblem Of murder and treason-the gallows,>
now higher and hoer than the cross.
The truth must not be blinked-llkc causes
will produce like effects Are not these same
IDEAS of unrcstrained liberty, fraternity and
EQUALITY. communism aerarianisn and nhdeli-
Is. sown scduot,sly aud thick throughout the
literature and teachings and preachings of tho
anti.slaycrv party of the North You may
depend upon it, gentlemen, these seeds Will
sprng mp and bear bitter fruit for you.
cannot erase from my mind the impress
sions made Ly events and the condition of
thinos around inc. l believe that the active,
characteristic principles of the Republican, par
tv of this day in America are identical with the
Red RepuJlicansm Of Franco. Here it has
changed its complexion. at has BACKED Its
face" that is all. # these ideas of which We
have been speaking are pressed into action
nav more, if they be not speedily arrested and
made TO succumb, civil liberty dies when they
triumph, and our system of governments end
Then. gentlemen, too late will come your Ia
meptations-as come they surely will. You
will be held as "falsc thrcnodists of false l,ber-
tv-hollow chanters over the ashes OF dead
Rcpublic," destroyed BY yourself.
In such an event will feel some consola-
t;on arisiuc from the belief that we have done
our Iutv and from deep conviction that tho
South under wise counsel and firm action, can
hold these princi pies at bay, that she WIFE
weather the storm and be able to reconstruct
the t.mplc of her safety on affirm and enduring
basis.