The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-07-16

wv "oo'ieiii VI oios0iy All tuo DiStIiCt
of Columbia, and the repeal of the
fugitive slave law. These are the
only two measures which stand out
prominently in the foreground. I
can think of no others. No slave
State is applying for admission, no
territory remains for the application
Of the Wilmot proviso. No one, I
presume, would pretend to say that
any legislation or the old issues of
the tariff, a bank, or internal improve
ments, would unite tho South in any
measures of resistance to this Gov
ernmcnt. The aggressions referred
to by our friends, presume, arc to
be direct anti-slavery measures.
Let us see, then, if either Of the
measures 1havc named are likely to
be adopted by Congress.
First, rs to the abolition of slavery
in the District Of Columbia. In my
opinion this measure will not be
adopted, or, if it is, i. will be in such
form as will fail to produce united
resistance on the part of the South.
These arc my reasons fo- this opin-
ion. Whilst l believe that the anti
slavery or abolition party is increas-
ing both in Congress and out of it,
set | do not believe that they will
have strength enough to accomplish
this measure ut this time.
Politicians manage these things in
Congress. They have the power to
do so at present, and understand
their business thoroughly. They will
permit nothing to be done at this
time which will unite the South
They cannot stop agitation, tits true,
either in or out Of Congress. Men
will talk, and rant, and write, but
when it comes to voting, the inyen-
tions arc numerous for arresting that
evil The authors Of the compro-
mise are still upon the stage. That
saeasnfeis to he made q test ques-
stilers snre TO yield to it.
2 sen ts & Me- Iesitieftiai
$500
Is wanted Row, IS 10 keep the South
quiet. a peace must be patched
with her. She must be let alone for
a while, until her back becomes fitted
to the burthen which has just been
placed upon it. She must be flatter-
cd: and cour,cd and cajoled. Liber-
al cflcrs will be made to induce her
TO ioiI, in the canvass. High places
will be promised her; in short, she is
wanted ana must be won. This is
the course things will take, and only
let South Carolina give up her pur-
lose Of scccssion-lct her say that
she will not leave the Union until
she obtains cooperation through fu-
ture aggression, and resistance in
any form is at an end. But have
intimatcd that this measure might be
adopted in form which will fail to
produce the result which our friends
predict. Let me explain what /
mean.
If slavery is abolished in the Dis
trict Of Columbia at the present day,
it will be done with the consent of the
Shareholders there. That species of
property is becoming daily more in
secure, and Of course less valuable.
The facilities for abduction, the
spread Of abolition doctrines, and the
presence of some 8 or 5000 free ne
grocs, against 8 or 1000 slaves, out
of a total population of $4,000, all
combine to render slave property
there Of very little value. When
the alternative is presented to the
people Of the District Of losing their
slaves altogether, or selling out even
AZ reduced price, it is plain which
course they will adopt. The consent
OF the STAKEHOLDER to sell will thus be
easily obtained, and then the right
Of Congress to purchase will be the
only remaining difficulty to be over.
come. Now, it must be remembered
that the general power of Congress
to abolish slavery in the District of
Columbia is still an open question:
Nj. Clay, and his school of polti.
clans. if | understand them, admit
the power, but say that its exercise
would be a breach of faith to Virgin.
ia and Maryland whilst they reIuain.
c' slavc-hOding States; and now,
since the rctroccssion of Alexandria
to Virginia this objection would be
narrowed down, l presume, to a
breach of faith to Maryland alone. =
If slaver.y, therefore, should bo abol.
ishcd i'll the District of Columbia with
the consent of tho shareholders, the
question then comes up. Will the
South unite in dissolving the Union
because Congress has done, what, in
the judgment Of the greatest party
leader of the day, and his numerous
followers, is only n breach of faith to