The Camden Journal

The Committee of Thirteen.

This committee, as we have previously seen, has been appointed, consisting of Clay as chairman, Messrs. Cass, of Michigan, Dickinson, of N. York, Phelps, of Vermont, Bright, of Indiana. Webster, of Massachusetts, and Cooper of Pennsylvania—North; Mason, of Virginia, Mangum, of North Carolina, Berrien of Georgia, Bell, of Tennessee, King, of Alabama, and Dodge, of Louisiana—South. The features of the committee will be seen at a glance. The North are all men, with one or two exceptions, that would be called moderate; but all with the exception of Dickinson, have declared by word and act that they are against the South on the important question. Every act of that committee will write the ruin of the South, and draw us further still into the vortex from which we find it already so hard to escape. The committee was first moved by a Southern man—has been voted for by the South, and opposed by the North. The Committee has been appointed: we will not say the South has been successful in that act, unless we say she has hurried her own destruction. There is no doubt but what that committee will recommend all that the North have asked. The admission of California,—it makes no earthly difference whether there be territorial bills attached or not,—the admission of California, embracing the entire Pacific coast, with the non-slavery constitution, will be enough to doom the South: and that this must be the case, so far as the Senate is concerned, there can be no doubt. When the recommendations of that committee come back to the Senate, with its Websterism and Clayism—with a shadow for the South, but matter for the North—the North will, with one of their "liberal concessions" agree to abide by the decision of the committee; and if the South shows any disposition to disagree, the North will cry out, "What! your own committee, and not abide by its decisions?" Its proposer and many who voted for it, will be obliged to concede; and thus weaken the already weak forces of the South. We have not, nor have had any liking for the committee. When compromises are all on one side, there is little equality.

Since writing the above, the correspondence of the Baltimore Sun, which appears in another column, has come to hand, and proves our remarks correct. Though this is not a formal report from the Committee, yet there is no doubt it will be.