The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1851-07-16


obtain it. Now, l do not intend.to speak in
terms of disrespect of tho Administration,
or to excite unfodnded prejudices. Our cause
is not to be strengthened by throwing dirt
at any one. 1t spurns the aid of such mis-
siles Let them be used by those who have
a taste for them. But in speaking of those
who now WELD the power of this Govern
ment, and their friends, we must speak of
them according to their known opinions,
principles and conduct. The school of poll
ticians, to which the Administration belongs
is the school of consoidationists. Its most
prominent members are thoroughly anti
slavery in their feelings, their principles and
their policy. The President believes that
| Congress has the power not only to abolish,
slavery in the District of Columbia, but also
the slave trade between the States. and that
this power ought to be exercised, at what he
calls a proper time. His opinions are on
record, and will be found to be extreme OH
this subject. Mr.. Webster believes slavery
to be an evil, and regrets exceedingly that
| it exists in the Southern States;" and whilst
he admits that Congress has no power to
act upon it there, still he suggests, to use his
own words, "that in the dispensation of Pro-
vidence, some remedy for this evil may oc-
cur, or may be hoped for hereafter" The
truth is, that both the President and Mr..
Webster, like many other advocates of the
Compromise, are responsible for much Of that
very agitation they are seeking to quell-
They have sown broadcast anti-slayery doc
trines in the Northern mind, and now behold
the fruit "The engineers have been hoisted
by their own petard." The Pope taught re-
publicanism at Rome-republcanism drove
him from the Vatican. Mr.. Webster taught
anti slavery In Boston, and anti-slavery drove
MIN from Faueuii Haii. French nayonets
opened the way for the return of his HoIi-
ness. Federal bayonets opened the way for
the coming of the Compromise. Trained,
then,.in the school of the consolidationists,
having as little respect in principle for the
secession of a State as the sedition of a mob,
with all their.feelings and opinions opposed
to that institution on which rests our happi-
ness and prosperity. and which no minister
| of State has any right to denounce as an
s.eyii'' 81. s,lci, magnitude as to cali for a
..Temedy" at the hands of ''Diyine Provi-
dence, with such feelings and opinions as
these, say, it is altogether probable that
the Administration, urged on too by 'the
power behind the throne, greater than the
throne itself" will be disposed to coerce
South Carolina. The extirpation of the
''pcstilent hercsy" of secession, the suJjuga-
tion niof a slave State, out Of which, through
| the adispensation of Providence" the ex-
tinction Of slavery may be "loped" for, are
triumphs to tempt the ambition of better
| men than live in these degenerate days In
sucha crusade it is not difficult to foresee
that an army with many banners might soon
be enlisted; but what t uits would victory
bring TO them. The Administration would
be compelled to say to their allies, like
Pyrrhus Of old-"Snch another victory, and
W. must 60 home aloneI" But it may be
asked, Is the power to coerce sovereign
State, so clear that the Cabinet will feel au-
thorized to exert it on their own responsible
itya Are there not such grave doubts on
the subject, as to make them pause before
proceeding to such an extremea have
already said that. the Cabinet belong to the
| school of the Consolidationists. They deny
the sovereignty Of the States; they contend
that the States never were sovereign; that
at no period had they the powers of sover-
eighty, or If they had, they have transferred
! them all to the General Government. They
say that "the doctrine of Reputlicanism is,
that the majority can do no wrong. in the
| same; sense in which it is said in England,
that the King can do no wrong, and for the
same reason because there is no legal rem
edy."* With such doctrines as these, it is
easy to perceive that the Administration
would not call it "coercing" sovereign State,
but merely enforcing the laws on the DISC
bedient citizens of an empire, who have no
more right to justify their proceedings, un-
der the authority Of South Carolina, than
under the authority of their particular pro-
Itege, Hungary, whose recent attempt at a re-
1 dress Of grievances. has found such wonder
ful 'favor at court" 1t is true, that we have
all been taught to believe that "this govern
ment, created by compact, WAS not made the
exclusive or 6nal Judge of the extent of the
powers delegated to ITSELF" So said Thorn
as jefferson, in The Kentucky resolutions;
but thisgood old wine has been poured into
neW bottles, and they have burst. The mod
er0s, l fear, have forgotten the faith Of their
fathers. ~ q. - -
But we are not left to speculation as to
the opinion, at least, Of the head of the cab
met on the character of secession. In a let
ter addressed, during the last winter by Mr..
Webster, to dinner party in New York, he
u declared that 5a secession is war" GBy this
is meant, I presume, that secession on the
part Of . State is ;pso tacto a declaration of
war by her. The onrs, and the tie odiun
are to be thrown upon her. But supposiao
that the Administrator determine to use Coz
i efcion. in what form will IL be atte,nntaff3