The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1851-05-03
From the Charleston Mercury.
Delay ana Ultimate Submission Tden-
tfcal.


Delay and Ultimate Submission Tden-
tical.
Messrs. Editors Never have an intelli-
gent and brave people, possessing all the
elements of prosperous development, been
more tortured and assailed by the ghostly
tears OF consequences, than the people of
Charleston.
None in her limits question the doctrine
of State Sovereignty none are callous to
the infections of an oppressive Government ::
none doubt the right of secession, and scarce
any dispute the necessity Of its exercise :;
and yet there are thousands who stand
aghast at the consequences which bewild-
cred fancy brings into life at every STEP
Talk to them Of State secession, and you
-"Harrow up the soul freeze the young blood:
Make the two eyes like stars start fromheir spheres
The knotted and combined locks TO part,
Like quilts upon the fretful porcupine.'
And what has done ali thiss Have the
men of Charleston turned away from the
promptings of all that is noble in them. to
take counsel of their fears2 For shame !!
for shame!
Look into the future, calmly, fearlessly ::
scan it in all its mighty outlines hold np
the undimmed lamp of the past, and as it's
rays penetrate the mists Before you, see
whether the path of honor is not now the
path of success.
In this investigation it is necessary first
to determine what consequences follow on
the heels Of delay. South Carolina, the &C.
cond time in her history, is the leader of a
mighty cause. No matter what circumstan-
ces have conspired to place her there, flor
we need not recount the disappointed hopes
OF the last year,) enough that she does oc-
cnpy it. and that the direct issue therefore is
resistance or submission. Men may draw
nice lines of distinction between submission
now, and submission ultimately; the first
may be adopted with offended grace, the
last may be secuted with indignation, but
they are identical, and time will prove them
so. We do not say that they are identical
in theory. but identical in their influence up-
on our destiny. And it is because there is
not single difficulty in the way of secession,
not one risk which must be met in its achieve.
ment to-day, which will cease or dimin-
ish in the revolution oftime. Should South
Carolina, therefore, submit now, in the hope
OF change for the better, what will rescue
her from The pit of ultimate and unbendipp
submission when this hope is gone, and time
has eeinented the chains Of oppression 2
We do not discuss the expediency of State
secession: to some doubtless it is stumb-
ling block to others foolishness but our
aim is to demonstrate the truth of the as
sertion, that delay is the first and inevitable
step to ultimate submission. Our business
is not with those who unblushipply pro.
claim the latter; but we address ourselves
to that large and respectable party, who start
at the thought of ultimate submission. and
yet advocate, 10 our streets, the policy of de-
lay. When our State has cast about her
Convention the robe Of sovereignty, what
cogent reasons will you urge to stay her
hand Z Will You beguile her with the hope
OF pre-arranged, Simultaneous corporation {
Cast your eyes over the South, and count
up the chances. For years has our Legisla.
ture been inviting and soliciting this; South.
ern wrongs has been the theme of the pul.
pit, the mart, the highway, and the stump
until the hearts Of men sicken at the recital {;
the Language Of rant and threat are exi,anst.
ed. and yet Southern rights still lie in the
dust Have the people Of the South made
any progress in the East year towards resis-
tance : AOn the contrary. is not the public
mind everywhere, both in our own State.
sinking BY rapid grades into the long sleep
OF subrnissionf GeoFgis, who few months
since excited the warmest hopes, has struck
her col0rsa on tue eve Of battle. Virginia
has forgotten the sol; Henry and Mad
sison; and The Nashville 3 Gonsention-that
assembly which ike the Rsrors AZ R.n,.,.