The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1860-09-18
The s.OVcrt Acl.n

We have heard so much of late about waiting for
the overt act, in case LINCOLN is elected President
that we feel great anxiety to know what is meant by
this exceedingly accommodating and ambiguous term.
DO the advocates of submission mean to say that fter
the Republican party is installed into power cctan-
ell, as 1T will be. by one whose avowcd purpose is
as enunciatcd in the rrrepressibe conflict fa of Mr.
SEwARD-aH Slave or all tee-that we must patiently
await, with folded arms, the approach of flame and
pike, before the decisive blow is struck which can
alone save our wives and little ones from fate worse
than death? Do the 'watc,crs and walters" mean to
say that Mr.. LINCOLN would send his cohorts boldly
down upon us 10 kill and destroy and that then and
not until then, we must meet our common enemy in
this irreprcssible con!ct?' Ifsuch is their policy
| and advice, we should like to know it. What man
can be found with the sccoud thought in his head
who cntcrtains for moment the absurd idea that Mr.
LINCOLN would commit any ''ovsrt act" by which the
South would be at aroused to action and sst
ance? Not tho remotest hope Of such thing. When
tile Government falls into srea hands, the slow and
gradual mining and sapping process, as Mr. ORR has
orcibly suggested will be adopted aud so nsidously
will the work 60 on, that the whole programme of
ers Of the South waiting for The ';ovcrt actr which
is to arouse all insucd and degraded people to action
they will awake from their stupidity to fiud every
available for successful resistance out of their
power, and the enemy strongly fortified WITHIN our
rightfu domain pushing his victories even beyond the
gates of the City. The first grand act in this black
drama, will be to get possession of the Executive
Chair; this will likely be done by the election of LIN
colin in November next. Then must necessarily fol- !
low the remodeing OF the Judiciary. and our last and
only hope in the Union, the Supreme Court, will be
overwhelmed by an influx OF new Judges to be ap |
pointed by sectional President, with opinions and
purposes coincden with the ruling partv-an old de-
vice Of dcspotism" The abolition of slavery in tlc
District of Columbia, Forts &c. will follow in tic reg
uar course Of cause and effect And by the time the
Of the trade in slaves between the States
is accomplished shall have learned so well to wear
our chains and bear the ills We have rs to he quite
unwilling to fly to those we know not Of This all
comes OF waiting for the covert act
What greater cause for dissolution can be presented
hah the election Of candidate pledged to carry out
SCENARIOS murderous programme? IF such acts MS we
iare here stated be consEtutionaly enacted-as Mr..
LINCOLN is likely to be elected President Constitutional
y-the same cry of wait for the covert act" will ring
our ears, until our fate is hopelcssly sealed and
uin and dshonor ours, and our children's heritage
Was the raid Of JOHN BRowN in Virginia. and the
movements in Texas and the Southern
tates carried on noU at very doors by Abolition
mssaries not sufficiently 'overt' in their character
to action? Must we wait until our hands
tied hard and fast and have no power to resist?
TE MUST WAIT NO LONGER! We appeal to the peo.
e. and ask them to decide between unconditional IN
omission and dishonor, and bold, manly and nde- 1t
,nlcnt RESISTANCE.