The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-03-12
The Rfesidenta Proclamation ana the
2 SoutAsfn Press.

Tho r1fessage Which President Fill
moro sent short tinfe since to- Con-
grcss, in reference 10 lie rcstde OF the
fugitive slave, Shadracl,, from the
officers Of justice in Boston, by mob Of
blnck and white people, does not meet
with much favor in some parts Of the
South, and especially in South CaroIinn,
If we take the tone of the public press
Us reflection Of public opinion. Our
readers will find in another column an
article from the Charleston Mercury on
the subject, which is Of the character
we refer to, and which shows that the
proclamation is considered in tho light
ofa ruse, TO give the Presiden, the power
Of employing the army and navy at his
pleasure, not against the mob in Boston
bu, against the people ofSou,h Carolina,
in the event Of their taking any steps
towards carrying their threats Of seces-
sion into effect. In this light it is looked
upon as uncalled, and as piece Of
,duplicily-,I,nt in Issuing it, Mr.. Fill.
more acted as The Thames whcrrymen
do--looking one way and rowing the
Other.
Without desiring to impugn, or even
to doubt the intentions cf Mr.. Fillmore
and his cabinet, we are free 10 sny, that
tho circumstances under which that
document wns issued, are certainly
calculated 10 produce the impression
which, MS we sec, has been formed in
the Southern States concerning it. The
Southern people ask, and certainl Y with
some show Of reason, where was the
necessity OF issuing such n proclama-
ton, when Mr.. Webster, Secretary Of
Siatc--who doubtless was consulted by
tho President, in reference TO the
propriety ofissuing that document, and
who, in oil probability, coincidcd with
Presiden, Fillmore on The necessity Of
promulgu,ing tin his letter 10 the
Union Safety Committee Of New York,
in reference to the rescue Of Shadruch,
used the following language:
81 am sure, gentlemen, that shame
will burn the checks, and Indignation
ill tho hearts Of nineteen. twcnlic,hs OF
the people of Boston, at tho nvowal Of
principles and the commission OF
outragcs SO ubominoblc. Depend upon
it, tint if the people Of ,ha, city had
been informed Of my such purpose or
design rs wns carried into etfcc, in the
Court House in Boston, OH Saturday
last, they would have rushed to the
spot, and crushed such nefarious
project into the dust. The vas, majority
ofthe people of Boston must necessarily
suffer in their feelings, bm ought moi ia
&ssufler al all in their character and honor
or in their loyalty TO the Constitution,
from the acts Of such persons as
composed the mob. venture 10 say,
that when you hear Of them next, you
will learn that personally and
collectively, as individuals, and also as
represented in the City Councils, they
will give full evidence Of their fixed
purpose 10 wipe nwny und oblitera,c. tc
the full extent of their power, this foul
blot on the reputation OF their city,"
l'Eey also say, that Mr.. Fooie used
the following language, in reference &c
the same subject, in his speech in
Tammany Hall, ON the Monday
evening succeeding the celebration o
the anniversary Of the birthday o
Washington:
81 never felt that any considerable
portion Of our citizens would prove false
to the Constitution. Nor will be con
vinced that such is the case, until facts
are produced far more cogent thnn any
have Nef heard Of. The people OF
Massachusetts are doing very well, and
] trust, will ultimately do all .hnt is to
I he desired.''
In these two extracts, the people OF
South Carolina make out a plausible
case, and can, with reason, ask the
President why he should invoke the nid
of the military and naval authorities Of
the United States 10 put down n mob OF
colosed people, when, according 10 the
words Of his Secretary OF State,
nineteen.,wer tiehs Of the white people
'of Massachusetts arc opposed TO any
violation Of the law, and will support
the Government Of the United States in
maintaining it. Again, Mr.. Webster
says, In the same letter to the Union
Safely Committee, in reference 10
South. Carolina:
'in one important S,ntc, rccen,
elections show that there prevails among
the people almos, an entire unanimily
of sentiment in favor Of breuking up the
Onion; and this dissolution Of the Union,
It is supposed, mny not take place with
out conflict in arms. Ministers Of war
are, therefore, provided, schools Of in.
slruction in military tactics established,
and on armed air and attitude assumed.
These apprehensions of conflict, in case
secession be attempted, are not only
we'll founded, but, in my judgment
certain TO be realized. Secession cannot
be accomplished but by war. do no,
believe those who fnvor it expect any
other result. Their hope is that their
cause and its objects may spread; and
That other States. by local synpalhies,
or supposed common interest, may be
led to cspouse it; SO that the whole
country may come TO be divided into
great locnl pa'lles, md as such 10
rnDfand (nr tho rpaoforv "