The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-07-29
N o.. AOs.

SnP'y ~ toue our rSWe8t anu NaRpl-
ness ID the way in which we suppose
it may best be promoted, we are told
that it cannot be. We are informed
that secession IS revolution, We are
assured the Union must be. presefv.
ed, even by blood, we are made t0
feel that we are too precious gem
in the federal tiara (not for ornal
ment, but for plundering uses) to BIZ
lightly parted with. Nay, It is said
thata prosperous independence would
enure to the injury Of the confedera.
cy, and that the peacea5le secession
of sovereign State is as impracticn..
bic and as unreasonable as voltii.
tary separation of slave from biz.
master!
If these things, fellow citizens, Be
80, can you give stronger definition
OF q despotic government, than see.
tional majority to tax, to plundeir,
and oppress- and free soil confed.
eracy to enforce them? Most evils
have some mitigation, and it is SCI
dom that rule can be established
(however stern or exacting) that
does not work some corresponding
advantages. In submitting to endure
the oppression of the government, we
might at least as reasonably hope to
enjoy its protection. But while itself
aggressing, it toleratcs, nay it pro.
tects, our eastern confederatcs, not
only in their legal and Legislative
robbery of our property, but in I'M
punity against our reprisals. Yes;
let Southern State enact alaw Of
retaliation against Vermont and Ohio,
and we would readily experience how
soon the arm of this government
would be extended to avert it..
We have all wondered, perhaps.
how a spirited people in the 18th
century, in the midst of arts, science;
and letters, could haye endured the
tyranny Of an unadjudicat.d doom in
the bastiie, or the unanswerable des.
potism Of a s'lettre de catchet.s.' But
are our political relations to this un-
.ian ameforatcd, either in featnre or.
complcaiolis Ii was -EG55o frank and
extorted Acknowledgements Of the
celebrated Mr.. Burke, in the British
Parliament, "that he knew not how
to draw up a bill of indictment against
q State or whole people"--that
"there were no terms in law, with
which he was acquainted, for such d
process But American ingenuity
it seems, has discovered more sum-
mary mode of enforcing, If not more
subtle manner to evade, the forms of
criminal Jurisprudence. The can:
mons mouth, it seems, is to expound
the constitution, the sword is to ar.
raign, the fortress is to be the tribu.
nal, and mercenary soldiery tho
jury to render in the verdict, for
resistance to federal aggressions.
In this grave aud truthful aspect
Of our wrongs and our humiliation,
what are our duties, our obligations;
and our resources? Shall we sue.
cu,nb, ingloriously crouch and sue.
cumb, without a hope and without d
struggle? Shall we think to appeaso
the appetite of a wolf fer goEe by
rendering it sop Of cur blood?
Why, it will but ''grow on the thinga
it feeds on" Do we think to satisfy
the miser's avarice, or the fanatics
lust, by compounding rights and
principles for forbcaranccl Our his.
tory furnishes the most conclusive
reply. We have borne The exactions
Of their protective duties on our in.
come in all humility, and in the hope
Of enjoying our domestic institutions
in peace; and now they arrogahtly
demand that we shall render up tho
very capital itself, by the ptofts of
which we have alone been enabled to
pay the duty.
Happily for us, the great event
| which has given worthwhile interest
and renown to the day which wo
have thus assembled to celebrate Is
before us to initiate, as we'll as I'd
commemorate. The past points to
the future; and the very emotions bf
patriotism which NC feel III cofteti.
plating the one herald the spirit Ind
the energy With which we are pre-
pared to participate in the other.
No man can exultin memories of am
epoch Ike this. 40 man can indulge
in the feryor Of its all,glorious reeol.
lect,ons, no man can iubiiate in its
Festivities, no man can tie proud Of
his ancestors on Of their tYiumnhs
over oppression, without recurring.
like Esaa, With shame and indicna.
ton, to his lost inhoritance. Lost,
did say? ] trust not lost, but too
long and too forbearinsly neglected.
and destined soon to be scgaihed un.
der brighter and moro permansna
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