The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-12-25

ever OF luIluc1Cc, l uuIo I'VSScSS, Suu'
be honestly devoted to the maintenance
Of our State institutions in their integ..
ri,y.
The most important discretionary
power which is entrusted to The eXecu.
tive, is that Of "grantng reprieves and
pardons." Although it is proper that
this power should be placed in his hands
that "lhe laws may hc executed in
mercy" yet it is ono so liable to
abuse, and in some instances has been
so entirely snbversive Of the very ends
ofjustice, that the question has gravcly
suggested itselfto the minds of many,
whether more good or evil has resulted
from its exercise. Nor do think this
abuse has ever arisen from deliberate
design 10 pcrvcrt tho power or TO per-.
pe,uate an evil, but from n weak,
though sometimes irresistible yielding,
to The purcs, and Iolics, sympa,hics Of
our nature. do no, profess 10 be above
The traiIlics Of human nalurc-certain-
ly not above lis sympn,hies; but it will
be INV honest cndcnvor To forget the
| feeling Of the man in The discharge Of
the duties Of the officer, md 10 gram,
partons in no instance. where the peace
or good order Of society would suffer
| by it, or " here tho majesty of the law
Nigh, be violated or slishonnrcd.
IN contemplating our federal rcln-
lions, | wish could sec the same cause
for satisfaction that | could see in our
own State Institutions. The federal
| Union Is now nj peace with nll the
| world. It's power and influence nrc
every acknowledged, its commerce viii.
tens every sea; yet with all these en-
lernaI signs Of sp'cnlor md prosperity,
within there is discord, dissatisfaction
and discomfort.
Two great parties arc nrraycd in
deadly hostility against each other, and
wha, is the cause Of this hostility. 1t
results on the part Of the South from
knowledge Of the fou' injustice which
has been practiccd against it-irom The
insults and injuries which has been
henpcd upon it by IL government, which
was Instituted for It's protection, ein! to
the spppor, Of which il has ever con.
,ribuied moro than its just proport!an;.
| from tho Indignation which every true
| Southern hear, must feel, that we are
called upon to share in all The dangers,
expenses and privaions of lis conqncsls.
aud arc permitted To enjoy none OF their
benefits. The dissatisfaction and dis.
content of our people with their govern.
mcnl is Just and natural. One Of the
principal cndS Of government is the So
curily cF property, yet ou' property IS
danger from no other power upon the
face Of the earth, than from that which
was instituted for lis protection. |
doubt il there ever was n government
purely constitutional in lis charter.
which has made such rapid strides in
breaking down every constitutional bar
ricr, and IN The pro>tra!lon OF the rights
and liberties of it's citizens 10 prove
The truth OF this assertion, need bu,
pon, YOU to the acts Of congress for the
last few years. He must be willlullv
| blind who does not sec in them settled
determination on the part of congress
| to break down the institution OF slavery
is indclbly stamped upon the cons,i,u-
tion--an institution, with which all our
feelings, all our associations, all our in.
,crcs,s, nay, all our hopes are so com.
plctcly blended that lis destruction
must carry with it in It's dreadful crash
the ruin and downfall of our beloved
country. This determination is shown
in the manifest disregard Of the rights
Of slave. holders under the constitution
lit is shown in the acts which deprive
him Of any participation in The terrific
rics won upon battle i.cl!s where every
sod is sprinkled by Southern blood, and
where every silent mound witt, burning
cloQuencc, tells that i, contains the
corpse Of Southern hero, still green
md fostering with The wounds received
while fighting the battles OF our com,
mon country, and III winning that very
soil--il is shown in The lIidcccn, haste
with which new States are admitted,
that the equilibrium Of The sections may
be destroyed, and power given II to car
ry cut It's unjust purpose against us
it is shown in the open declaration OF
the nboli,ionis,s, whose wild fannticiSm
has inspired them viii, bolJncsS to Tell
the trulh--in the conduct Of that class
politicians who, contrary 10 their con.
victions OF righ; and Justice, and in di.
rect violation of their solemn oa,hs to
protect and defend the constitution, are
swept a'ong before the current Of pub
lie opinion Of their sections. like chan
before the whirlwnh--l is shown in the
undivided public sentiment Of The North,
public sentiment whose mighty waves
for the last ten years have been moving
higher and higher, dashing their foam.
ing crests against our very capitol, but
heretofore breaking at its feet. Those
stormy waves, warmed by no genial
sunbeam Of humanity, arc fast becom.
ing frozen into solid mass, and soon
must come, like mighty avalanche
torn by The storm from its Alpine hills
to crush and bury us beneath their
weight.
| Who can contemplate without q shud.
der the cDnScpncnrpc DC jho oholitiop