The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-11-10

ioni 'He 'oc"S VI ioflnalOn, and locate in
the peaceful fruitful plains Of our republic
will not the tendency OF their influence be
to inlusc their spirit into those with whom
they are associated? We have not other
wise learned social influence. Thus the
whole community will be decidedly partial
to war the law Of violence. And our nation
at petty insults, and insufficient grounds,
will DC ready to take up arms against
neighboring kingdoms and sister republics;
and thus our government, may be perpetual
ly embroilcd in war-the great test national
curse that ever bctel a confcdcracy. And
when neighboring republics do not incur
our martial displeasure, the sword Of ambi-
tion will be turned in upon ourselves, and
the country will be cmbroilcd in civil dis
censlon and internal instructions Vcto-
rlorS generals, with their inviucible myrmi-
dams, as our distinguished Senator so graph
ically deIineated last year in Congress, will
march from the Northwest, the Northeast,
and the Southwest to the Capitol to take
possession of the se|la curuHS by violence
and blood. Thus our government, instead
OF being representative republican, will
become military despo'ism. The PalIa-
dium of our civil liberties has more TO fear
from the dangers of military dcspoti>m,
than any other opposing principle. Our
nation, by nature, is too warllie; and it is
the height Of inpolicy to cultivate aud de-
velope an organ already too prominent.
Intelligence and virtue arc the two state
ly pillars on which rests the mighty super
structure of our social compact But these
pillars cannot be reared and improved
amidst the confusion and excitement of war.
War IS the corroding cankcr that is ever Sc
cretly undermining the foundation Of the
supports of our confcderacy. l, is an ire
concilable enemy Of intellectual improve
ment-a moral gangrcne ,ha, dlf1uses its
noxious and delcterious humors throughout
every member and organ of the political
body. Peace is the hand-maid-lhc nur-
sing mother Of intelligence and virtue.
And in the worlds history single case
cannot be ins1anced, in which the govern
mcnt has been injured by cu!tivatng peace.
ul habits But the faithful chroniclcr Of
passing events Is compelled to crowd and
blacken the historic page with specifications
of the dcleterious consequences of cherish
ing bclligercnt principles. l feel the grca-
ter ireedoni Ill expressing my sentiments on
this subject to you, as our own beloved Ca
roIina is now cherishing in her own bosom
two of these deadly vipers, whose migrate
full and envenomed pangs may one day
pierce her breast, and send the mortal poi
son TO her core. You must not understand
me as declaring war Of determination a.
gainst the existence of war Of any kind !;
for this would be highly impoli,ic in the
present state Of society. My idea is, to
transact all our national affairs pcaccably if
we can; and forcibIy if we must 1t is 10
check and restrain, rather than strengthen
and encourage a dangerous disposition al
ready too formidable:
A military education does not inspire an
individual with spirit of brovery to en-
counter accumuIating dangers, nor torlitude
to Withstand impending perils; but imparts
an ambition TO wear in clustering profusion
the blood bought laurels Of the battle field.
Ii, then, it does not make man mare cour-
ageous in fighting the battles of his country,
it is not needed for the private, who fights in
the rank as common soldier. We may
safely and composedy rely on the pntu,or-
ed, but tried yeomanry, who proved SO eff.
cient at Bunker Hill and Brandywine.
Then, the only plea that can be urged for a
military education, is to furnish the army
with competent officers This, then, can
be done at the shortest notice, and in the
nea,est and most fashionable style at the