The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-10-07
POL. /. Z tea La.:

now divide parties in this State, 7
have hitherto reffained FROM any pub.
aication of my opinions, from regard
TO the proptieEas Of my position as a
andsge aud q member TO the Conyen,
uop.g, ss.,s s5,ss..g ~, ,2 .s,'-.
lhe reputation of the Bench for
lInpartlality is so important to tho sa.
aEy administration Of Justice,
generally the duty of a
3 tain from all factious dis
religious or political;
b igher questions, which
opinions, MOTTO engage
81 pungent discussions. A
yer, romans a CITIZEN,
his rights nor his duties
ssss &d to his office. He some.
ter avoids the appearance of
Expressing his views on public
ersies, with frankncss yet.with
G6sstcsy, than by preserving a silence
that may be beattributed to timidity or
deceit. The matters nov; debated BY
ourSpeopse, involve; the very frame Of
the Government; and in the spirit of
Soion's law, every oitizen, in every
station, is bound to take the side Of
truth and right. Some attempt has
Bee: made to lisparage the authority
Judges onGthe present issues, but
their influence should depend upon
their intelligence and probity. 1.-THE
permanent tenure Of their office, Gin
itself eqniyocal according to GONE Of
the doc ctrines cf the times may ir,
cline them S$to conservatism * rtde 's4
duces independence of oglaion 10 the
|szSaas M extent; ana Their salar'es 90
|') their whole .int.sesl,
|1s S. $operty in I the common.
B|S]Z |sSss ~ d as in the casesof pttcr
|S5SS;| hemselves and their estate
ea, children and friends,
|asE coEt a!led 81. The action oil,
During my absence on iicial duty
anu without;exaoting FROM ne any
pledges, you elected me 4 delegate
,ofthe Convention a deliberate as.
aembly Of the graYest character,
where conclusion should he attained
by comparison Of various Judgments;
perhaps, by some concession Of pre-
conceived notions; / can make no
pledges now, committing me to fore.
gone conclusions on particular meas.
nres, Notwithstanding changes Of cir.
cumstances and convictions. 1t is
inconsistent with the schemes Of our
Government, destructive of the indie
lpendence and usefulness Of the dele.
gate, and unjustto his colleagues, for
q member to prejudge absolutely any
specific measure that may come be.
fore the Convention. Tn my own
case ut least, 4 feel too little conf
4dence in conformation and my rca.
soning, to set my honor against any
change Of opinion that the changing
events OF q year may produce; and
propose to reserve the right Of fair.
lyconsidering all tic arguments and
1.-The evidence that may be presented,
when my Judgment is to be finally
formed. With this saying am quite
willing to. state my present opinions.
My purpose is'to state them. rather
than to defeud .hcln ny argument.
The doctrines as to the rights and
comedies Of the States, professed by
the people Of this State in 1882, fol.
loWing the lead Of yifginia and Ken,
tucky in 179S, stillhave the full as.
sent of fSmy understAding. As a
I. deoiple Of this faith, salaopt tic te.
net, that q State mays&edo at will
from the Union she has Goymed with
j. sister States. Our Caeaeracy is
Of peculiar character, an lMuc aid.
inthe construction Of thonstkument
of Unionsis Afforded BY st,ayihgthe
gtractnre Of ether leagues. BS tho
declaration of independence certain
British Colonies became so.areign
States, and when afterwards tbeY,
separately as soycrcisns. lornrd IN
the cderaf Constitution, d compact
for tho exercise Of certain powers
Jointly, they did not surrender he
thor so sereignty Tile Federal Co,
yernsnent is Tie Government Of catl
Yof5the Etatcs "a common agency 10,
the execitionsof definite po@ersst,nd
its Constitutional acts demand 5ebcdi,
salica us tlis acts of the several States,
gbyy sl yslirtiilc of their previous covellant,
even of those States the representa-,
tiges OF which may have disscntcd
sifpla t'lie right gf sfs'cecss
Ri 5E .fas 54gS