The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-07-16

| ilC INllS, DIS llOW uuulllllStciCu, j.
destructive of their rights, property
and safety; and that having no hope
of reform, they are under the solemn
obligations OF duty to themselves and
their children, to seek for security
and protection under some other form
of government. Am | wrong in this
assertion, or do l state the PROPOSE.
ton in terms that arc too strong? II
am in error, then it would be
idle for me to say another word,
as this is the postulatc of all the ar.
gument | expect to offer, and if it be
not true ! admit in advance that my
conclusions will be false.
If the usurpations Of this govern.
mcnt; if its entire departure from its
original purpose and design; if its
hostility to our institutions; if its un-
just and unequal administration; in
short, if its utter unworthincss of our
confidence and support, are still open
questions or questions for reconsider
ton, then have nothing to say which
is worth moments attention.
Ifthe people Of South Carolina
have not made up their minds on
these questions, or if they desire to
reverse their Judgment, then let them
exercise the privilege which unqucs.
tionably belongs to them as freemcn
judge now, or reverse their Judgment.
1t may be unpleasant, nay it may
be even humi!iating. to rctract opin-
ions long and publicly avowcd; bnt It
is better, far better, 20 do so, than
knowingly to persist in error, and TO
carry out doubtful opinions into de.
cisivc action. But | will not pre-.
sumo for a moment that any such
state Of feeling exists here or else.
where; that there is any fluctuation Of
opinion among our people OH the
great questions connected with the
continuance of chis Government. re.
peat, then, that having no hope of
reform, we are all the uvowed. dclih.
crate, and sincere advocates uf disun.
ion.S oS tifis;atate d sss&hiic n,ntisI
mcnt / take nv full snare of resro,..
siblity, and SO must all your public
men--your Senators, your Repre-
scn,atives, your members Of the Leg
islature, your public functionarics.
you yourselves, the people, all, all
arc responsible.
The sentiment is unanimous that
South Carolina must never submit to
the past aggressons Of the General
Government. Now, whatever sisui.
fica!ion may he attached to the terms
Of submission and " resistance"
elsewhere, | presume they are well
defined in South Carolina. BY ''rc-
slstancc" we do not mean mere pro.
test and remonstrancc, but something
actual. practical, organized, forcible,
if force be made necessary for de-
fence. Such has always been the
usual construction placed by this
State on the celebrated resolutions Of
Kentucky and Virginia. When,
therefore, it is said that South Caro-
lima must never submit, | understand
all those who hold this language to
mean that the State Shall, within
reasonable tune, adopt some such
practical, efficient, and decisive mode
of resistance, as will justify the use
of all her rights and resources, to re-
lievc herself from the injuries which
have heretofore been inflicted upon
her.
Such is the seed we have sown.-
Are we prepared to eat the fruit
which it offers to our lips
Mr.. President, this is not the com.
mcnccmcnt Of a new controversial
We arc in the midst Of our old
and long-pending contest, and our
ground has already been taken. We
must advance. We are advancing.
We cannot close our eyes to the past.
What has been done cannot be un-
done. The State, under the gni-
dance and direction Of her constitu-
ted authorities, has already taken the
initiative, and entered on important
measures. A convention Of the pco.
pic has been ordered and elected, and
large supplies have been demanded
and arc III the course Of expenditure.
Although | have heard objections
made to the course OF our Legislature
on these subjects, yet it has never
been repudiated by the people. That
most delicate power, which every
faithful representative exercises with
sparing hand-the taxing power
was freely exercised and as freely re-
sponded to by an earnest and intclli.
gent people, who well understood for
what purpose their money was dc.
manded. 1t is now, therefore, too
late, | repeat, to retracc the past
What has been done has deliberately
been done, and deliberately confirm.
oH The ppnnln hove lotor,>;,,ol