The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1868-05-28
K, FOR THE Z, CAMDEN JOURNAL. MAI.

Z. 4.
- FOR THE CAMDEN JOURNAL. .;..5.as
Nh. EpIToR: Clubs have undonbt-
edly been trumps, in imperial Camden
for the past two or three years. For
instance, we have had Croquet Clubs,
instituted to allow the young ladies
opportunity to display grace and beau
ty; Base Ball Clubs organized, ills
supposed, to dislocate limbs, etc. |; Rad
ical Clubs to destroy the peace and
harmony Of the country, and Democ-
cratic lubs to suppress tyranny.
But the Clubs sawhich we would call
the attention Of the younger male por-
tions of our community, is a time hon
ored association, known as the Camden
Debating Club. This Society was Or
ganized in the summer Of 1857 by
a few young gentlemen who sassidut
onsly endeayored 10 cultivate the
powers Of debate, and thereby oapacir
| tate themselves for sustaining with
fuency and eloquence, the rights and
privileges which have been ruthlessly
(, torn from them, and ,also for dsnoun-
-eing the nefarious designs set on foot
by men whose rames viii go down to
| posterity blackened with deep dyed
infamy. Such were ourI purposes and
expectations, but we have, been disap-
pointed. Very soon--from some unac-
scountable reason-there was amanifsst
spirit of Indifference ON the part Of
some of its members, and after q short
. but bright career, the Camden Deba-
ting Club went 'glimmering like the
baseless fabric ofa vision" ..;..
Through the, medium OF your, COL
umns Mr.. Editor, allow an appeal to
go. forth to the young gentlemen Of the
town to renew isimportant instution,j
and enforce upon. them the necessity Of
SO odoing. - - ~ s''''t - ~ g e.
The late war has torn asunder the
ligaments which bound together the
Republic, and the South now sits desc
late. Her sword is sheathed, her ham
ners farled, her nationality denied, and
like Rachel weeping for her children,
she ,mourns and refuses to be comforted.
To whom shallhe look for relief and
succorsnow, if not to her sons Of the
rising ganeration9 IA ,Ii.i,
.. The appeal to arms was decided
against her, but we have one: resource
left us, the freedom ofspeeeh. We can
still wage war of words, and does not
history sustain;us when we aver that
in the past, the tongue has been a.;
mighty engine in bringing about great
and glorious results. Young men Of
Camden, come manfully forward, re-or-
ganize your Debating Society and pre-.
pare for the work; you will reap both
profit and pleasure from being thus
associated friendships will he oemen-
ted, errors corrected, and sound princi-
pies adopted and established.
Let those who have any desire for
improvement, those who have one,
latent spark of ambition glowing in
their breast, any hope for the future,
assemble yourselves on Friday night,
the 29th inst, at the old academy by
the Presbyterian Church, to re-organize
the Debating Society, and prepare them
selves to exhibit grace and ability in
the shifting drama, being now, and
which will continue to be enacted on
American soil. Ass. ~ ss@s52 'E
E-7TheNashville Union and Dispatch
of the 18th says that cavalcade, of
one hundred and fifty Ku Klux are
said to have surrounded small par
ty of regulars near Columbia, night
or two since, but neither party show,
ed any disposition to quarrel.