The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-07-25
lroR THE BANNER.]
BrsnoPv1LLE 9th July, l649.

Editor Banner ~.
After the conclusion Of the Anniversary
celebration at Piedmont Church near Bish-
opville on5the 4th instant, meeting. was
forthwith called, for the purpose Of taking in
to consideration, the subject of Northern in
reference with the institution slavery, and
other matters connected herewith. The
meeting which was large and highly respec-
table, was organized by calling DR.. JOHN e.
DENNIS to the Chair, and appointing VIM
Rogers Secretary. The Chairman then ex-
planned more fully the object of the meeting
by stating, that it was called to take into con-
sideration the cause OF the northern people,
touching the institution Of slavery, more es-
pecally, in regard to the efforts being made
to abolish slavery in the District Of Columbia
and to prohibit its further extension into the
Territories of the United States; and also, the
course that has been pursued south, as re-
CARDS southern rights and interests. A mo-
tion was made and carried, to appoint com :
mittee Of 20, to draft preamble and resolutions
expressive of the sense Of this meeting. Wher-
uponthe following gentlemen were appoint
ed the committee, viz, Capt. JAS Rembert,
TIM. Muldrow, John 0. Dnrant, NJ. Dubose,
J,W. Stuckey, R. NJ. Engiishssc Z. Mud-
row, Rev. II. r. English, Geo. NlcCutcheon,
Alfred Scarborough, Esq. l.. L. Fraser. VIM.
Shaw, Hardy Stuckey, Adison Stuckey, Jas.
Witherspoon, a. Alexander, r. B. Fraser,
Esq. Geo. Higgins, E. Keils, and J. a.
Carnes.
The committee thereupon retired to the
Church, and upon their return made the fol-
lowing report,
REPORT,
Your Committee, in approaching this sub.
ject, have felt that it was environed with
difficulties of a very serious nature, which,
had not sense of duty and interest forbid
den, would have stopped them in the very
outset of their undertaking. These difficult
ties arise, in part, from the very freedom
which we enjoy, and particularly the free
dom of speech, and Of the Press. Under the
broad egis of the Constitution these arc en-
joyed by every man, subject only to those
limitations, which common sense and expert
ence have, found to be necessary to the exist
ence ofsociety, and the interest of it's melr .
bers. No action on our part can effect or d.
minsh this freedom.
Again, your Committee have felt that, to
some extent, complaint and remonstrancc
against rabld abolltonsts, and all others who
sympathlse with them for transmitting
through the public mail their pamphlets and
papers 70 the people of the South, are undig-
nifed, as we'll as useless. Knowing our
rights under the Constitution of the United
States, we should cntrench ourselves behind
this rampant, and wait until those rights were
openly assailed, and until this bond of Union
was rent assunder by violence, and trampled
under foot. To complain and demonstrate
will only lend our aid to effect diversion
from the true merits of the controversy be-
tween the free and slave states Of this Union.
1t tis course also which, in all probability,
will now, and for time to come, as we'll as in
times past be attended with no advantage to
the South.
Your Committee might also mention as
another difficulty which has pressed upon
them in considering this subject, the state of
public opinions and feeling upon the same. The
South, in regard to this matter, may be dvi-
ded into two classes The first OF these ap-
pretended no danger from any measures
which aboltionists have hitherto employed,
or are now employing, to bring about their
aims. 3 Even the powerful arm of the Press
welded against us in the dissemination Of
abIse-rlay of the most insurrectiopary and
incendary publications which they can issue,
they regard as comparatively harmless "Gal-
lo--lke they care for none of these things"
The second, are carried away by rage and
madness against the authors of such .nefari-
GUS schemes; and as usual with men under
the excitement Of strong passions, they nei-
ther do, nor are they capable of wisely plan
ming how to defend their rights Ofthe first
of these classes, or!those who fear nothing
upon this subject, your Committee would on
" say, that they evince neither wisdom nor
knowledge Of human nature. Nor can your
Committee discover any improvement which