The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-12-08

reserve 10 ltSell all the powers OF lCTlSla-
ton for the new States, or so 10 letter it with
restrictions, as to leave to them the mere
ShawoW.
The impracicahiIty Of enforcing such
restriction in opposition TO the interest and
wishes oI the citizens, is Il strong, if not IL
conclusive argument against the soundnCSS
anal correctness Of the principle. If Indi-
ana, OF any other ofthc States on Which the
restriction has been imposed, determined to
throw it of and Introduce slavery, by what
means woull the Government enforce it
An army would find nothing to war against,
and :, law in violation to the constitutional
rights OF the people and opposed TO their
wishes and interest, would be, and must
necessarily prove wholly imperative.
The question is one of interest to us
mainly us it affects the balance of power in
the Government Of the United States, that
is even now against us and the slavcholding
States owe it to themselves and to posterilv
20 rc>S! its increase by any possible means,
us an open, undisguiscd and unconstitution-
i'll oppression on the States hereafter to be
admitted into the Union, and us destructive
oi',ha, balance ofpoitical power so necessa
" in IL country like this to the heallhtul
operations Of the government.
The Missouri Question agtatcd this
Union throughout its whole extent, and it
was hoped that the principle on which it
was compromised had put it to rest forever.
But the n-slavc-holdng States as if impa
tirnl fer the strife, and eager for the contest
regardless Of their constitutional obligations
and The compromise solcmnly entered into,
again revive it in the form of The Wilmot
ProviSo. But it has again been quictcd by
lhc rejection of the proviso by the Senate Of
The United States. It furnishes prcgnent
evidence, however, that they will never
suffer any occasion to escape which will
afford m opportunity of lighting up this
ivc-brand.
The Interests and sympathies of the
savc-hohling States arc in unison, and they
require no,hlng but firmness, concert of
nca*i'rc*, and unity Of action, to command
respect fer their rights 1t requires no
spiri, Of prophecy to forcteI that sooner or
later We shall have TO meet and finally de-
eide this question, and we ought to prepare
for it.
| earnestly recommend to your considc-
ration the principles Of the resolutions of the
Legislature of Virginia. as correct exposi-
lion Of our rights, and as pointing out the
proper VI dCllON.
Connected with this subject, is another
oit'ecp interest to the slave holding States,
particularly the border Siatcs-but the evil
is felt throughout them all. | mean the
protection given TO our fugitive slaves in
some places, rs in Pennsylvania, under the
color OF law; and almost every where in tho
mons slave holding States by thoughllcss,
reckless fanaticism, which wields power
greater even than the law-and is extended
also to those that have been scduccd or
stolen from us, and to the scduccr and thief.
| am not aware OF any means by which we
can protect the individual rights Of our citi-
zcns against the lawlcss combination of the
citizens Of another State but our Statues
makes il felony to nvciglc, steal and car
rv away any slave from his owner, and if
one offend against these laws and ny to
another State, we have under the Constitu-
tion of the United States, right to demand Of
the Executive of the State in which he has
taken refuge, his arrest and delivery. The
right has been denied in some instances,
and in others the culprits have been even
more securely protected by the power 10
which [ have before referred. The laws
arc impo.ent and direct force is prohibited
by the Constitution. Is there no remedy?
1t may be Intellectual, but submit to your
consideration, whether Il liberal increase Of
the contingent iun-l TO be disbursed by the
Executive in such Il way as he thinks fit to
bring these offenders TO justice, would not
be advisable
transmit, herewith, at the request Of the
Legislature Of Missouri, certain Resolutions
ofthat body, by which their Senators and
Representatives in Congress are requested
10 use their best excrtions to procure a mo-
d'Iication ofthc laws and regulations Of the
Army, by which the officers and soldiers
may be put on footing of equality.
submit also herewith, a communication
from Count Schoisuel, the Consul of France
for South Carolina, &C., on the subject of
the claims the Legionaries of Luxcmburg
against the State, for services rendered du-
ring the war of the Revolution, which has
for its object, with view 10 the settlement
of that long standing claim, the payment of
the money TO the French Government on