The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-09-09

piiSu occuS VI uOule 4AarlH8, Duu III
the counsel chamber, the man ofsrc-
Election is most to be needed. I
have taken some pains to inform my.
self Of the sentiments entertained by
our Southern friendssin Congress
men who never quailed, and whose
cheeks never blanced when scores Of
Southern men were 8dcscrting the
cause Of the South and going over
to the enemy in support of the Com
promise-men who stood firm and
unmoycd in opposition to that odious
measure, and whose stalwart arms
struck as many efficient, blows in dc.
fence Of the betrayed South as the
ablest and best Of your own Repre-.
sontatives, and I Idoclare here, that
their voices were unanimous against
the contemplated secession Of South
Carolina, and I call upon my honor.
ed colleges, who may follow me in
this debate, to attest the truth Of
this declaration, that our friends are
not only unanimous against secession
but they have imporsuncd us not to
take the hazardous step. Many of
them say that such :aation will force
them to disapprovc ofsour course be.
fore their constituents-that our Sc
cession would overwhclm the South
ern Rights party in ovcry one Of the
Southern States, and that wild pnans
to the glorious Union, will fill the air
and drown principles, rights and re-
sistancc to wrongs. They say that
the tide Of fanaticism is onward, that
the peace which the South has, &C.
quired by all the sprrenders Which
she has made to free;soil, is tcmpora,
ry and short livel--athat new aggrcs-
sions, and complcieiailurc to carry
out the COMPROMISE measures, will
force their constituents to throw of
their apathy and strike boldly for
'the;s rights,
They tell Us # if the epeaplo Of South
Carolina ,,ata q pre- pared to- resist sRast
Impressions hst + ti.s asilIft not lioSsl
their courage or weaken thcirs pur-
pose by standing.upon thcir3arms un,
til troops Of their friends arc prepared
to form into line with us. These
are, believe, the opinions Q? large
majority of the Southern Rights
men. Where, then, are wo to look
for encouragement ii We scccdc alone?
The compromiscrs arc all against Us,
of course, and some Of their leaders
have declared their purpose TO draw
the sword against South Carolina il
a collision cnsued with the Federal
Government. The first enemies We
would have to meet to save an ins.i-
tuition common to the Southern coun.
try, would be our brcthrcn- equally
interested in its preservation with
ourselves. Could tanaticism the on,
spring Of an internal deity, conceive
u consunmation more dcvoutly to be
wished for, than ono Southern State
to be warning against q sister, VIII
We, by our rashness, take the fatal
leap which alone can destroy our in.
stitutions? We have staring US in
the face, the declared hostility Of
more than onchalf Of the people Of
the South, and what will be the mca,
sure Of sympathy from our friends,
even, when they inportunc us not
to do the act, which We rely upon to
unite them. No man has higher
appreciation Of the spirit and intcl!i-
gcncc Of tho people of South Caro-
lima than have. They arc ardent
impulsivc and courageous, even 10 y
fault. But when q whole common
wealth is involved in tho most vital
interests, in the decision which is to
be made, discrc ton should not be
characterized as cowardicc, and pru-
dcnco as timidity. Courage is not the
only quality for q soldier, much less
for the general or leader, lie should
have for,itudc, wisdom, coolncss,
strategy qualities indispensable il
you would save yourself from the
snccrs and ambushcs which . Willy
adversary may spread before you.
We find ourselves in an awkward di.
lcmma, Of being tho subjects Of a
bitter hostility from a majority of our
sister States, who have 4 common in
tcrest and common destiny; and the
friends VIC have in their midst repro
bate our remedy. Isl wise to stand
upon our arms until, at least, one OF
our sisters shall have prepared her
cohorts to sustain us, or shall We
rush, regardless Of consequences, on
what | conceive to be certain destruc-
ton? Arc we to pursue policy
which cannot remedy existing gncv.
anccs, and which, when pressed to
oxtremities, will result in q disastrous
defeat, if not irrcmdablc destruction
and disgraccP With great respect
for the majority Of this Convention