The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-07-25
J Mr.. .sGaIlIoun,s REPLY.

the fnasseri y plIldi tion, oi, Mr.. CALHOUN
against the vilifcations of The assailants Of
the Southern Atldress Tie calm, wilher.
ing and anniIiila,ing weapons, history and
truth, which are used throughout the let
ter crush, beyond hope ofarestora.ion,
the assertions and mad theories Of Benton,
and, altho, the force Of FooTs is wanting,
yet, the whole tenor is quiet and imper-,
sonal, being directed more towards the
Senator. than the man. Copious indeed
were Gen. Foote'S authorities, but still
moro so are MI: Calhonn's, eyincing the,
immense research and labor attending
the publication Of letter fully equal to
take q position at the side Of his Southern
Address. Mr.. Calhoun'sreplyis Of some
length-so great a length that ii is with
regret we IRE unable 10 publish it entire,
for such, animportant appeal loo IS weight
on the public mind dosed out in weekly in.
stalmcnts. AS wo cannot publish all,
we haYe cndeavored to render correct
synopsis, as follows.
Mr.. c., states in the commencement
his entire indifference TO any Of Mr.. Ben.
ton personal attacks, us he has long re-
garded him in a different light than tha,
with which Mr.. B. has regarded him, in
conceiying Mr.. G. is continually engaged
in some scheme to put him down, whereas
he never for moment thought of raising
him 70 tho level of,u competitor; out his
attack was blow aimed equally at him
self and the Southern people, to aid his
abolition friends and paralize the efforts
of those true 10 the cause he has abandon
ed, such is the reason Of his reply. Mr..
G. quotes his resolutions Of 9th Februa-
ry le47, against which Benton opened
his battery by charging that they were
introduced for the purpose Of disunion,
and in few paragraphs he completely
refutes the charge, proving them 10 refer
only to the assertion Of fundamental pro-
positions which have not and cannot
be denied. The assumptions of Mr..
Benton that such was the motive, thai
they are the prototype Of the Missouri re.
solutions, that the difference between them
is only the disunion aim of Mr.. C's rcso-
lutions, Tint they are identical with the
Accommac resolutions, and Mr.. BIS.
own opposition 10 the only compromise,
(Mr. Clayton's BiIl) that had any chance
ofpassing Congress, are commented upon
with severity. His still more frivolous
and audacious assumption that Mr.. Cal
houn was the author OF the Prouiso, and
its identity with the Missouri compromise
are as easily set aside and proved un-
founded. Mr.. Benton's charge tha, Mr..
G.. while member of Mr.. MUNRoE's Cab.
met admitted the cons,itulionality Of the
compromise, salso fasied, Mr.. C. shows
the utter un-eliability of Mr.. Bcnton's
proofs. Mr.. c recapitulates the action of
Congress, and his own and Mr.. BIS course
respectively on the different questions tha.
have arisen in Congress involving the
rights of the slavcholding states, their res
pective positions on the Florida treaty and
Texas annexation and the Indian claims
and settlements. The Comet, Ecomium,
Enterprise and Creole cases are also ex
planned and Mr.. Benton's assertions dis.
proved by facts on record. After dispo.
sing Of Mr.. Bcn,on's fullacies, he then
assails him in his position of renegade in
style evincing the most consummate abi-
ity, and proves that his alliance is worth
as little as his opposition.
In conclusion Mr.. Calhoun exposes the
quasi patriotism Of those pretended low.
ers ofthe Union who are now endcavor.
ing 10 prevent the consolidation of the
South for Southern rights. He says in
reference to the attacks on the South,
that "the South has been on the defensive
throughout, and borne indignilies and en-
croachments on its rights and safety with
patience uneXampled, and yet she is
charged with disunion, and the North
lauded as its advocate. We must learn
to disregard such unfounded and unjust
charges, and manfully do our duty, TO
save both the Union and ourselves, if it
can be done consistently with our equal-
ty and our safety; and if not, TO save our
selves at all events. In doing so we
should but follow the example of our
Washington in the great struggle, which
severed the union between the colonies and
the mother country" A pregnant illus
tration which we trust will benefit both
friends and foes.