The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-09-25

uay or Hghtim Their taDailcal pursuit of
our destruction, as if1his were Tie sole do
light of their existence and The only rea-
son Of their connection with lis. Every
energy Of the mind and&oul is braughi in
To active operation against lie South
The press, the pulpit, the colleges and
schools, and indeed, all he institutions of
the North are niade 10 mitigate to this
great malignant end, and are continually
sending forth their stygean streams Of fnIFe-
hood, yituperation and SANDER. Even The
women and children are$iaustt In their
daily prayors TO invoke, Will, tile spirit of
a Puritan, and the detention of a pf,arjsee.
the maledict;on of Heaven upon our heads.
so thatathis onion, which was intended 10
be asliIeld and bu!wark To every SECTION
which was expected to make OF the States
a political Pleiadcs. shining tosethcr5in
harmonious brotherhood, has now assumed
the aspectand character Of a ferocionS con
federation Of malignant powers for our ut
ter ruin and desnlation.
Nor is the South exempt from iusideous
foes in the bosom OF her " society.-
licr arch enemies have their agents and
eihissaries everywhere scattered through
the country, whose duty it is to preach The
virtues OF submission and 10 depot the hor-
rors of resistance, IN heir estimation the
greatest patriotism is a patient resignation
to injury and the highest Of all possible
ct'ormltrcs is self-prntection. The better
TO secure our confidence and 10 practice
upon our credrlity, they unite with lis in
our denunciation of '',hc A~boIitionistsn and
say That we have many Just causes Of COM
plant against Northern States; but as o
MS the slightest a~llusion is made3sto the
necessity OF some action on the part OF tho
Aon'i The cry OF disnrion is rased; and
without proposing any remedy themselves,
tor acknowledged grievances, they oppose
every measure suggested hv others. II in
defiance OF their %clainors the fai,htu! paatri-
OF shall stall persist in demanding redress,
he 10 at once denounced for a d,sunionist
ana marked FOR prescription. No wonder
then, under these circutnsia Hces, that the
cause OF the South should lang uisli within
her own Boundaries, and that .napy Of her
sons should be found in The ranks of her
Toes; Tor IN those ranks, there is not only
safety but also fortune and promotion.
gold l"r the bastard and n station for the
traitor. Domestic ESaus,! they sell their
pIrlh right Tor a mess OF I,u,;age.
This is certainly a lcplnrable condition
for a free people. 1t is wcl' calculated 10
try The souls OF men. Ii all hope have not
i~orsakcn The South, il is because her reli-
nnce IS in the justice ola righteous Proyi-
dcncr, and N The integrity of her princi-
pies and purposes. Il, is 10 he hopcds;h
she ifas too lnurit virtue 10 despair. But
where lies the path OF safety! Shall we
appeal Ia The grcnt written cIaf;er of
American freedom THIS she has already
done, ard found it a waste papcr-but the
ghos, OF a dead Constitution. Shall she
appeal to The lthnor, humanity and Justice Of
her pe]rsecu;orsi This, too, she has al.
ready done, and was spurned fronsiheir
presence with inligniiv and sturn. Thesa
but moclicl mt her calamity, and r@cioiSSee5sffs
at The prospec, of her speedy destructinn.
deadsIest of all 5oes-;he ilell-lpunds of
a,atie,spss aud iiafeies oEfactioa--the
tit;essletssnatata5l g ]arisas, white her thest
sa,nfsse y " Pilrst!e3 ~ so great ai extremity.
fihis, gentlemen. ] presume is lilo chef
question propqsed TO be discussed at your
mass meeting. 1t is one certainly OF great
anh eycitins intoFesi-whese magnitude
canharl!y he perceived, involving its de-
.cision the etcrnal Jestinies ofsthe whole
continent; and all vito seek To have any III
tiuchre in lis determination, should never
lose sight Of The high responsibilities they
assume, nor the vast consequences which
are to flow from their decision. Above al!
things they should avoid those angry Iiss-
sions which obscure the intellect aud per-
.vcrtthe moral sense. ! eau, hardly suppose
that The opinions o! an humble citizen Ike
myself Can be Of much Importance TO the
public; nor would ! low think it necessary
10 ayow them. il | were not invited 10 do
so by those in whose intentions and sound
discretion have every confidence. Such
az they are, you arc welcome 10 i,iem; and
should they mt correspond with your own
AS | fear they will not-you must re-
member that nothing hut a profound sense
of duty could induce nc 10 place myself in
q position where ! have everything 10 peril
and nothing TO gain. :
The course then. gentlemen, which /
would advise the South 10 pursue in the
present crisis is plainly Ihis-shc should
say 10 her Northern brethren .ytuur contin-
ued aggrcss!nns upon our rights, peace, and
safely, can 10 long"- be boruc-thc iustitu-
ton Of slavery which you seek To destroy is
identified with our existence; il is to Us a
matter OF lite and death; and Il you do not
Immediately and forever abandon Your
purpose of Wrestling it from us, and rctIu-
cling US to utter ruin and despair, we shall
consider the ~Coniedcracy as dissolved by
Your ACT, and will protect ourselves accord
ing'y. This appears Ia me the only al
iernative left TO the South. Wesee that
the Northern Staics are bent upon eurades-
tructi"n; that all their tend
that way; that they are determined 10 force
us into the abolition Of slavery, and in con
sequence 10 piungc us INTO greater horrors
than ever hcteia civilized people. The
sentiment is now publicly avowed by The
most prominent ofthcir leaders, and acted
upon by all, that the emancipation OF South
ern slavery is an obligation higher than all
others, and above any oath TO support the
constitution; and the Government, Of the
United States controlled and administered
by these acting upon this fanatical senti-
man, has become. in their hands, an insiru-
ment for the furihcrance and finai achieve
ment Of their unhallowcd end. Certainly
this leaves tho South no possible escape
from the rutn that menaces her, except
through the door OF secession. This is her
only hope.
"ln naiive swords, and native ranks,
lirr only hon. M 81 t.tt. l,,.1la .. f