The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-07-09

| VI ltio oouy W SOlS upOlI lucLl. AH
who are members of the Constitutions
al Convention Of the people, cannot
give vote to control their future
judgment. They ought not to be re-
quircd to do SO. have conyersed
with several of them, and tney have
como to n common conclusion to give
no vote upon any matter upon which
they will have to deliberate, when
there shall be q real occasion for their
officially responsible judgment. l find
myself in that class. What may be
the situation Of things when the Con
vcntion shall be called on to decide I
know not. There may be many in.
structive Developments and revcla-
tons before that time. Madness and
infatuation take their course with q
blind confidence, and at the next ses.
sion Of Congress | shall look for some
Of their usual exhibitions.
Before | speak Of the probable and
conjcctural action of the Federal Gov.
crnmcnt in reference to South Caro-
lima, should she determine to scccde,
| will notice some views, and submit
some considerations connected with
Secession rs remedy for our wrongs.
The right of Secession in the ab.
stract, and the right of rescrting to
it to effect wise and beneficial end,
in a political and moral point Of view,
arc different things. The one mar
be conceded as a legal proposition
whilst the other, as it may effect 9th.
cr communities as we'll rs the State
itself, involves high considerations and
obligations OF duty which no States
nan can Or orcht to disregard.
South &ro'Ie hCt d option=tt
- in Or remain ont ei the Federal
union she entered as sovereign,
to enable herself and confcderates to
protect heir rights lrqrcy Foreign
powers and to-pHRota dGS 5tic tran.
I5tuility. If these ends shonltr1ft. he.
k5accotnplished-.-buti in fact, ,if it should
lisaln CIT ttasstisf Govern ent 81 used,
lsssisi, siie
partners to the oppression and dctri.
! 'non: Of others the suffering parties
should have til, right O! rcsuni,ta
their original position. TO say otli.
crwisc would be to make free States
as they entered into the Confedcracy,
not merely parties to a despotic Gov
ernmcnt, but victims oft against thei.
consent. But whether secession be
conceded as a legal right, or rs meas
urc of revolution. is immatcrial, if
there be n real occasion to resort to
it, and it can be used to effect some
great political end worthy of its excr.
else. lit should end in merely sep.
arating the State from her former
com!cdcrates. and placing her in a
condition that would require her to
invest herself with all the attributes
and duties of a sovercig IN nation both
abroad and at home, then it might
bring South Carolina into a situation
Of isolation, at war with her true in.
tcrests and policy. If she should
resort to this measure, with q view of
bringing her nciyhbors into politi.
cal connection, so as to enable them
jointly 10 form q Confclcracy for
themselves, that would be adequate
ioi all the purposes Of maintaining
their rights at home and relations
with foreign powers, then it becomes
a question OF the greatest magnitude,
!nll Of consequences that should bo
looked to with all the care and intelli-
@ence that can possibly DC employed.
The state Should take no course that
would make rivals and adversaries Of
her Southern neiShbors. On the con.
trarv she should cnlcavor by all pos.
SIhlc means to act with then. as allies.
If the State should look to nothing
beyond her own secession, she will
enable the Federal Government to
make rivals OF those who III interest
are, and III feeling, should be her
friends.
| make the broad remarks. that
there is not public man in South
Carolina sensible of responsible
trust, aud forcsceing the inevitable
consequences of separate secession,
that would put the State on tho trial
Of ;hat experiment, if the act wero to
operate exclusively on the State itself
such an act would not only cut off
our commerce, but would place it in
the hands Of cur rivals. In assuming
such an attitude, It would be the duty
Of the State to make arrangements
for the management of her rights
abroad. Her pride would revolt at
sending forth her flag, without some
navy to protectit, and without minis
tcr5 and consuls to represent her
rights, and protect her interests
abroad. No nation can rely on the
forbcarancc Of others, when there