The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1861-01-29
CAMDEN. UTHoARoIINA TUESDAY MORNING. JANUARY 1861

this enlightened spirited people, 1t is not re-
pealing this or that act of parliament; not the
humiliation of few shreds of parchment that
can restore America to yonr bosom. You
muSl repeal her fears and rescatn,ents, and You
may then hope for her love and gratitude, y
The advice of this great man was unhcedcd
and whilst, to use the language of Burke, "the
western horizon yet blazed with his descend
ing glory" ships and armies were sent to sub
jugate the colonies, Just as is now proposed to
lie done in the case of South Carolina and
other seeding States.
South Carolina is now mcnaccd by mill
tary force in her harbor,s and rash men clamor
for its immediate and large increase, apparent
ly regardless Of the disastrous consequences
which must inevitably follow such proceed
ing.
What was the language of that modern Sol
onion and pure patriot Benjamin Franklin,
when asked bv Lord Howe as to the proprie-
ty OF keeping military force in the presence
OF Boston during the period of her discomfort ?
| ask you to ponder it well. "The army at
Boston," said Franklin, who-saw the iinluinent
hazard of blood-shcd, "cannot possibly ans@er
any good purpose, and mag Je nsixchierons.-
No accommodation can be properly entered
into hy the Americans while the bayoret is at
their breast. tn hare an agreement binding,
all force &koah be with!rnWa."
The case of Charleston now is almost identi
cal in its circumstances with that Of Boston in
l774. a ministry, bloated with pride and ar
rogancc of power, turned deaf ear to his
counsel Of wisdom; and, l much fear, unless
persons of influence like yourself cudcavor to
prevent it our federal authorities will follow
the bad example set them by that hcadstrong
and unwi<c government. Nothing but the
stern reality convinced The British ministry
that the feeble, and, as they iool:slrly suppos
cd, cowardly people Of the colonies, could sue
ccssfully resist the colossal power Of Eng land.
Indeed. even among tho colousts were to bc
found those whose trals subdued their juds-
lncnts and cooled the ardor of their patriotism.
1t was asked with an air of confidence by some
of thcnl-"Are We ready for war; Arc we
a military people! Where are our stores, our
soldiers, our generals, oar money + We are
detenccIcss; yet VIC talk OF war against one Of
tic most formidable nations in the world. 1t
will be time enough to resort TO measures Of
despair when every wcIl-:ol"tcd hope his
VANISHED"
1t was for thai king among men, Patrick
Henry, to answer questions like these, and he
did answer them as became the pcrils Of the
occasion, and the inspiration Of his own great
nature. "rhdy tells us: = said he, "that We are
weak but shall we gather strength by ilrcso-
luton We a;9 not weak. Three millions of
people, armed in the holy cause ofliberty, and
i~such country, are invincible lbysany force
Which our enemy can send against ns. We
Shall not fight alone. A just Sod prcsidcs
over the destinics Of nations, and will raise up
friends for us. The battle is not to the stroug
alone; it is to the vigilant the active, the
brave" What.was tile result? A Just God
did raise mp armies for them. Then bat three
millions were in the whole country, while now
more than:tlrce times that number. are il, the.
.Sn!il ftltes d,e,nnrG tl;;ia1<5 -