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

ton of antagoiiism TO our original Ase6cia-
| ton. We are still members OF II, and will
aid it to the extent of our power in all eff
forts to enforce it's principles and policy.
If for any cause this Association has be-
come paralysed In its energiesj ~6 invite
all of our citizens to Join us in sustaining
in Charleston AT active, efficient organi-
| cation. Let Charleston be prepared, rs
part of South Carolina, to sustain the State,
and by sustaining the State, preserve the
| rights and liberties of her citizons.
! --~>~>-~~-..
The ConstitutiOn and Scccss
| sion.
The right Of Secession seems to be un-
dergoing some investigation in Florida, as
well as in Georgia.
| The Jacksonville Ne,ps, staunch South
ern paper, replying to,he Republican. which
charged that the secessionis,s attempt
to derive that right from the Constitutional
compact, puts the subject in a clear light
ih the following forcible remarks:
because tho writer's quoted by the
| Republican assert that the right Of scces-
| sion is constitutional, the inference is hastiI
| ly drawn that they claim to derive the right
from the Constitution. This, by no means
follows right may be said to be consti.
tutonal when the exercise of it is not pro-
hibitcd by the Constitution, but this is very
different from claiming the right from the
| Constitutional compact. The States pos.
scss and exercise many rights which are
constitutional, but which, nevertheless, are
not derived from the constitutional compact,
The States derire no porcr ,chateUsr from
The Constitution. Tho States possess eve
ry right and prerogativc appertaining TO
sovereignty, except such as they haye
transferred voluntarily for the common
| good to their common agonts--the Fede.
raj Government, by the Constitution. II is
CONSTITUTIONAL for a State to borrow
money, make internal improvements, erect
colleges, create corporations, and perform
many other acts which sovereign Stutes
may perform; but although it is eo,,stitu-
fional, i, would be absurd 10 argue that the
right TO perfsrm these acts was derived
from the agent, or servant, to whom she
had entrusted certain other powers, among
| h;ch these were not enumerated. The
Constitution is merely The commission,
held by the General Government, TO prove
its authority from tho sovereign States
who created it, TO perform certain acts
therein specifically enumerated; and all
powers not conferred on tho agent by that
commission are reserved to the sovereign
States themselves This, in our humble
opnions Is the true theory OF this Govern
nient; and any oiher must lead to consoli-
dation. Whenever the time arrives--and
our ncighbor seems 10 think il has already
comc-whcn a majority Of the people
are brought down 10 that point of subser.
vIency and submission as TO acknowledge
that all their rights are made over in trust
TO the Federal Government, and that they
possess no rights but such as are derived
from or granted TO them at the pleasure 6f
their own crenture, they will be prepared
for consolidated Government, and il will
be useless to discuss The right Of secession,
or any other right, before people so lost
to sense OF their own fallen condition" :"
Co. observation-disclosures from a letter
OF General Felix Houston, to gen; leman
in South Carolina, dated 3lst May, 1851:
II earnestly hope that South Carolina
will stronously ajhere to i:sr resolution to
secede without waiting for the tardy co.
operation Of any other State. If you fail,
for one will be compelled to believe that
there IS some inherent evil in slavery which
produces the monstrus anomaly OF a people
/
10 avert being slaves.
"Thc North have besieged the South
for years-they have taken position around
us, bough, off our allies and made breaches
in our defcnces and lodgemcnt within our
lines, and now the only difference amongst
them is between those who would storm
our works, and thoae who would proceed
by the more certain and less dangerous
means OF blockade.
In Mississippi the feeling is gradually
verging TO the South Carolina position.
am satisfied, as am one who does not ex-
pect an agricultural people 10 form great
public sentiment with that promp,i,ude
| which characterizes commercial conmu.
mites, day by day we are gaining strength
Yet we have much 10 apprehend, not in the
success OF General Qultman, but in the
character Of the Convention 10 be elected
Mississippi is now the battle ground,
and l am we'll assured that the whole funda
of the Administration and consoldationists
viii be ayishly expended To- defeat the
Southern Rights party. On the main
ground We are invincIble-but tho sub.
mssonists are trying to divide us about the
mode and manner OF redress. If the South
ern States get tangled up in the mcshes of
the thousand and one projects Of redress
we will be lost. South Carolina must cut
the gord;an knot. Rely upon it, you will
he sustained in a decided manly secession
Ii force is attempted you will have the aid
OF thousands. who will come not az bur
dcns to the State, but with the means Of
support. War may not ensue at once, but
it wall sooner or later. In or ou. OF the
Union the slave holding States will never
have peace and security for their property
until they practically demonstrate that they
can defend their rights by arms. II the
South cannot look this gren, truth boldly
in the face, they will more certainly fall be.
lore the Vaccinations OF the North than
Greece did before the deep laid policy of
Philip of Macedon.
South Carolina acts right when she
| establishes arscnals and prepares arms Let
| it not be said of her that her resolutions
arc strong, but her resolution weak"
The Abbcvile Banner states that duel
,r,S fnuubt On Tho ar' morpinr on npo or