The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-06-18
raettcr From n senator rsutlcr.


by numerous subscribers for the cal
: of public meeting in Hamburg, on the
3lst ins,.,a TO wit: "'rhat G. w. Styles
l.. Hill, and a. Wray, csqs. be aproin.
ted committee TO waiton Judge Butler
and vdeliHerq the public invitation to him
10 nltend,iand address tho people on the
day named, the object Of tho meeting
being toc,nsider the question OF sepa.
rate secession of South Carolina from
all the other States in the present Con-
federaoy.
Allow me, gentlemen, 10 thank you
personally for tho acceptable and polite
manner in which you acquitted Your
selves Of The duty imposed upon you,
and 10 return my cordial acknowledges
mems 10 my fellow. citizens for The fiat
tering compliment implied in their call
on me 10 address them on the occasion
indicaled.
From inlimations which | have re.
ceived, i is probable | may bo called
on to address other meetings Of n simi-
lar character. From the best view
which Lcan{tako Of my duty, having n
regard for my official relations to all
tho people Of South Carolina, ] have
come TO the conclusion that it would be
better thut should not minslc in such
public meetings Just at this limc.
The subiec! Of your meeting is one
Of great magnitude, and one which will
be discussed by tho people. SINCERE.
ly hope that il may be so discussed and
considered as TO lead to no intestine or
party contentious in the State itself.
The crisis is one which gives 10 your
meeting great dignity and solcmn,,v
have every reason 10 conclude that
the result of your proceedings will JUS.
tify a hgh'opinion Of your intelligence
and patriotism.
cannot conclude this communca.
ton without making remark or two
on The great subject which has occa.
stoned your meeting.
No one who looks at the certainty of
the past and the tendencies Of the future
but must regard The crisis In which we
are involved with anxious concern and
solicitudc.
a large proportion Of southern repre-.
scntatlres, and several States LegiSla-
lures, by solemn resolutions, have de.
clared that Southern institutions are no,
sale III the hands Of the prescn, Federal
Government. They have received too
many stubs under The deceptive masks
OF compromises and party organizations
no look for future security. Another
question has presented itself for consid-
GRAFTON :,would the non.sl n.slnveholJings
States, by an adequate amendment Of
the Constitution, give additional or any
guarantees for the protection of South
ern rights and sectional equality The
manner in which Mr.. Calhoun's inlimn-
lions 10 prepare an amendment Of the
Constitution was received in Congress,
is pregnant commentary on this new
subject.
Mr.. Calhoun commenced his last
speech with the following passage:
81 have, Senators, believed from the
first that the agitation of the subject ot
slavery would, if not prevented by some
timely and effective measure. end in
disunion. Entertaining this opinion, |
have, on all proper occasions, cndenvor-
ed to cull the attention Of both the two
great parties which divide tho country
to adopt some measures 10 prevent so
greut disaster, but without success.
The agitation has been permitted 10
proceed with almost no nt,cmp, to re-
sist it, until it has reached period
when II can no niger be disguised or
denied that the ynion is in danger
You have thus hnd forced upon you
the greatest and gravesl question that
can ever come under your considcra.
tion----how can the Union he prcscrvcdP
The mode Of securing the Union, MS
indicated by that experienced states.
man, me, with nothing but the dcnunci-
alons of OH impatient majority.
What alternative then is len to The
Southern States Nothing but the
province Of taking care Of themselves
how is that TO be done? answer by
the formation Of an adequate govern
ment, such government as could in
vest itself with the powers, and dis.
charge the dulics, Of a political sovcr.
eighty among the nations Of the earth.
Bonndless in resources. commercial,
agricultural and manufacturing, with n
numerous and intelligent population,
with statesmen Of wisdom md expert.
ence, md with model Of tho best con.
stitution that ever was devised, the
Southern States have all the elements
nf grent political commonwealth
Some think that South Cnrolinn, bv
separate secession, could erc1nsire7y as
sumo the position Of an ample governs
ment for all the purposes Of national
existence. There are comparative w.
ry few who would oct on such m opin.
ion. II would be 10 sever the State not
alone from the Northern States, but
from Southern allies and associates; and
in its operation would certainly require
grent and destructive sacrifice. To
speak ,ofro other, it would require the
sacrifice of the only great seaport city
OF the State. What statesman could