The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-07-23

remedy against its acts. From all
this, itFfollows that our only remedy
is is,that&hich belongs to us in com.
morrwith our slaves revolution, and
no more.
I cannot but think, therefore, that
if South Carolina declines 20 secede
for asreason2like this, she will give a
deatllblow to the great cause Of State
Rights, for which she has hitherto
perilled SO much, and with which her
name is 80 soproudly associated.
Il. Let us glance, however, at some
of the difficulties which it is urged
aie incur way as free, sovereign
and independent State. 1t is said
we will have to resort to smuggling
for alivelihood. That our negro
population will become redundant,
and that if they escape We cannot
reclaim them. The objection in re-
gard to smuggling is sufficiently an
swered by showing that if goods are
carried from our territory into the
other States, it must be done by the
citizens Of those States themselves,
and they must settle the matter with
their own government. AS to a re-
dundant population, I have no fears
whatever on the subject. live ever
have more slaves than we can profit.
ably employ, wo will be able to sell
them at a reduced price, and I havo
no doubt that the surrounding slave.
holding States will soon be able to
obtain the sanction Of their govern
ment for their purchase. 1t will be
very different thing from the Afri.
can slave trade, and as our slavehold.
ing neighbors arc to be the pets of
their government for fear of the con-
tagion of secession, l have no doubt
they will be able to make satisfacto-
ry arrangements on this subject,
even if it should involve an amend.
ment Of the constitution. Long be-
fore the day could come. when VIC
would voluntarily give up our terrific
ry to our slaves, and run away from
them, or they could conquer it from
us, our neighbors would find means
to relieve us as well as themselves
from such dire calamitics, by giving
them much better employment in
their rice and cotton folds. South
Carolina will not be permitted to be-
como st. Domingo in the bosom
of the South. History presents no
instance Of O nation perishing from a
redundant population-a peaceful
exodus has always been found.
AS to the difficulty in relation to
the rccapture Of our fugitive slaves,
it is obvious that rs the slaveholding
States would be exposed to the same
evil by their slaves escaping into our
territory, q remedy would soon be
found by our mutual necessities
Interest will regulate these subjects
asEit has always done. Should our
slaves escape into the free States, we
will have to do just what we arc
doing now-submit to their loss.
Mr.. President, I admit that it is
very easy to say many hard things
against secession, SO apprchcnd it
is just as easy to say many hard
things against disunion. Our friends
must allow me to say to them: Push
not your arguments against secession
too far, or you may find your batteries
turned against your own favoritc
scheme-disunion by cooperation.
Do you know that you can accom-.
plish disunion and the establishment
Of a Southern confedcracy without
many Of those very sacrifices you
urge against secession? If your con.
federacy consists of the cotton States,
do you know whether YOU will be
permitted to seccle without coercion?
May you not encounter blockadcs and
a war of custom houses? Will not
slavery become hemmcd in and local
lied within the borders of your con-
fedcracy? Will your power of
recapturc be perfect and complete?
May not the commerce of Charleston,
and your other ports, be liarasscd
and driven away? Who shall have
the mouth Of the Mississippi? l
.haye heard many brave words uttered
by western men on this subject on
the floor of Congress, and high claims
put in to this right.
Speak kindly, therefore, I pray
you, of secession, for it is the first
born, the lawful offspring of disunion
doctrines. Such, be assured, will be
the Judgment of candid world, the
record Of impartial history.
[ admit, however, that our friends
have one advantage over us. Their
scheme lies in the future; ours is at
hand. They have the chapter of
accidents on their side; we have oniy
the chapter Of history.
/ admit, however, that our friends
have ono advantage ever us. Their