The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-05-14

7 to 1884. Fair quality 10 l-Sc.
We feel assured that no apology need be
made to our readers for the space which |
we havo devoted in this number to the va
rious proceedings of tho Convention. No
subject. connected with our weil-bcing as a
people, can nt this day so fully claim the in
terest Of CaroIinians as that which has
bccn dclibcra,cd upon by this Convention.
1t is not n question the decision Of which
will temporarily affect the State, which will
merely advance or rc,ard her in her course
OF prosperity; but it is ono of liberty, of
honor, Of existence; for without liberty,
such as we have been accustomed to and
as the character Of our people entities them
to enjoy, wi,hon. that honor which from the
bcginn ng has belonged to South Carolina, of
ever maintaining the right, OF . posing! the
wrong, OF being an inferior and a snhiect to
no power, without these what would be en-
istcnce TO us? What Carolinian would prize
it? And yet. without fault of our own,
thcso worse than dangers seem before us in
our path. What was our creature now
threatens TO be our master. Constituted as
the Safeguard of our liberties, the General
Government is now the Chief source OF
danger to them Liberty is but the assur-
ed enjoyment Of our rights and one OF the
highest Of these is that OF fpropcr,y. II is one
OF the chief objects for the institution Of
government, and i, requires no political cd
ucation TO sny that that government is
worthless which docs not secure to its ci,i-
zens the possession and enjoyment of what
they honestly own, and that that is n dcspo,-
ism which takes it away from them, or
which, permitting them o he nominal own
ers, assumes the power of disposng of it.
Now what part has South Carolina bccn
permitted 10 take in the use. management
and disposal Of our vast Western posses
sions To whom did they belong but 10 the
States but this State has not been permit
ted to use or manage any part Of them; she
has been ridiculed and denounced because
che claimed that she owned share in them,
and the General Government has disposed
OF them, not only without consulting her
wishes but in direct opposition to those
wishes. Here is a gigantic spoliaton, a
Wrestling from us ofnur property upon a
S5 vast scale by our own Government Does il
no, sss.a2
4 party, the ptey Of gogernnent, is 10 tc our
status in this Union. We are the weaker
party; the Northern majority is growing
daily, and with acccssions o. power, will it
become more scrupulolts in the use Of that
power But it is degradation enough for
Carolinians TO be at the mercy @! majority, !;
10 feel that, after all that has been tax,
from them, they own more than hun.
dred millions of dollars worth of slave prop.
crty only SO long as Northern an,i-s!avcry
majority shall accord them pcrmission-
The North has not yet bent her energies to
the work che has set before her she is un-
decided as yet whether, having restricted
its extension, she shall permit slavery to
continue and grow within those confined
limits until it shall stllc itself for want of
room, or whether Rhc shall at once lcuis!a;c
its extinction. Mcssrs. Clay and WEE.
sTER and others may keep off the latter
doom during the few years they have to
live though that ls doubtful, for Massa-
chuse'ts. by e!ccting SUMNER, has rcpndin-
ted WEBSTER; but the former lingering,
death IS fixed and certain. While we live
Northern manufacturers, contractors, Office
holders and tho myriad Of other harpcs, will
be fattencd on our substance; federal tan
alton will with Southern money, hcautly,
improve and deve!opc all the resources and
strength Of the North, and buiid ships and
rase armies and provide munitions ot war
to rcpress revolls III tho Solthcrn provin- !
ccs. Cubas condition will be ours while |
we are permitted TO hold our slaves after
that we have TO contemplate The condition |
of st. Domingo or Jamaica as our destiny |
There arc but few individuals in this State |
~hodo not see these dangers impending
operus; and the majority Of these feel thus
secAre simply because, patriotic and loyal
themselves, thcy,chnnot but believe that the
Northern people will return to justice and
iraternal feeling. Ercry aggression they
think vii be tho last; though every ag.
gression is used as precedent for the ex.
nctionof a.stll more unrightcous claim =
With these exceptions our people arc OF
pne mind they feclthis Union to be the I
most dangorp;ss enemy they have; that
they have not so,f,,nch II, tho whole world,
out OF i, to fear asinti.i that it hS1 made +
after eneroachmont upon +
heir rightssand that whiIo they arc united E