The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-09-30
q asS5o,sr gaattoe %Mss.yu.' Z,
sUMTERvTLLE,# s.. g., ssEAsTETBER IS so,1s51.

WI HS EIe e O., 4 9 8.
colors. We shall sink below our7higl
destiny if we have not tho courage,
and the fortitpde, 70 meet all the
vicissitudes CT a contest which
involves our hopes, our happiness,
our existence. 9
During the autum of last year,
both in speeches and conversations, l
repeatedly expressed tho opinion,
that if but one State should sccede,
The. General Government would
attempt TO enforce the laws of
Congress and coerce her into obc.
dicnce. l have since seen nothing to
change, but much to confirm that
opinion. tits the province Of Congress
to make laws, but the duty Of the
President to execute them. This
duty he solcmnly swcars he will
perform. The President and his
Secretary Of State, have given
repeated assurances that this duty
will be discharged. I know of no
reason. to doubt that it will be
attempted. The army and navy arc
placed at the command of the Pres.
idcnt for that purpose. The Prcsi-
dent and Mr.. Webster belong to a
school of politicians who do not admit
the right of a State to secede from
the Union. This opinion has been
often expressed By Mr.. Webster, and
expressed with reference to South
Carolina. They hold that resistance
to tho lawsof Congress by a State
is iawlcss resistance, and to be
treated as the act Of rebels and
traitors.
1hayc taken much pains to ascer
tain, whether il South. Carolina
sccedcs, she will be sustained by the
act, or-the public opinion Of ofany.other
State. Tho resultsis. o. conviction
4" q, ~. svJ,1n Ncal@ ne '.s i,
il, @ our a3Jct il, ..i~.. BY
:,1,y one oi ji2ra -Nc? cyileni.y
/, ..g1.iI& 'fc a2r E tye ,.l,.s,,..f
''t.:--.=... .,t,:rrt;... :. IA. ).
~. ! i14 Y G'.icvc fiat t9&ulh:
arohna, Eun ,1.aala Or sciiish
aa .,is ,I.be&NM're 10 iavUlv3
...-A. ID q .ou,ra' "i''iu"t caue-. ar,!
would look upon struggle with inc
General Government and this State.
without concern and without SYM.
larhy.
From the foregoing views, it would
seem that my opinions are, that the
Southern States cannot remain in the
Union without degradation, and ul-
tilnatc;y, Tic abolition Of slavery:
That slavery is of greater value to
the South than the Uuion: That
secession is the only remaining
a!tcrnaiive-but that it should be
rcsortcd TO as the means If establish.
ing a conledcracy Of one or more
s!ayc-ho!ding States: That at this
time the secession Of South, Carolina
would neither be followed nor
justified BY any other State: That
secession Of South Carolina at the
present time, the other Southern
States remaining i'll The Union, would
only agsrayatc the evils of which VIC
justly complain, and would be mex.
pcdIc"t and unwisc: That in
such event, force would be attempted
by the Federal Government, and the
great object Of secession seriously
hndcred and endangered, if not ut.
tcrIy defeated.
| have now, gentlemen, expressed
my opinions upon the deeply interest
ins POINTS indicated in Your com.
lnunication, with the rrankncss and
canlor that becomes me as repre-
sentative and 4 citizen. ! commend
them 10 your scrutiny and your con.
sidcratloM. They arc opinions de-
libcratcly formed after the long
and anxious reflection Of one who has
no ambition but to promote the
true glory Of South,Carolina. |
dare rot hope that they will be
acceptable to all Of you-thcy may
not be SO to any Of you-5ut l am
willing to submit them to the test of
time and truth, as am content and
resolved, TO stand or fall in
the public estimation, by them,
and upon them. In public or in
private life, | should not feel that
| am q patriot if did not, at what.
ever personal sacrifice, try to save
my native State from the disasters of
blind and needless counscls. But
Sonth-Carolina is the home of my
affections, and her bosom shall be m,
grave Her cause shall be my cause,
her fate my fate.
| cannot lay down my pen without
this admonltion to M fellow citizens.