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

aScu W PiF"''oho, C"oolueucu Wy
suffering, and victorious by endur.
ancc-history furnishes no such cx-
ample of moral sublimity, as that Of
the gallant patriots by whom it was
achieved. The arm Of Brutus was
ncrvcd by the secret treason Of on
applauding Senate. The followers
of Hampden and Sydney were sus-
tanned by on invading army and an
invincible leader. Napoleon con-
quered for glory and fought for am,
bition; but our ancestors, for national
peace and personal obscurity. The
revolution Of Franco was but a popu.
lar tumult, the outpourings of an en-
ragged and frantic people, confident Of
their strength, cngorged with blood,
and her councillors at once the tools,
the victims, and the instruments of
national phrcnzy. There was neither
terror nor suffering to deter them;
nauyht to overcome or restrain but
their own madness. But to the
great minds who conceived the indie.
pcndence of our country-how stri.
king-how overwhelming the con-
trast. 1t was not, in its incipicncy.
the great mass of the popular mind
moving onward, and resolutely i'm
PEELED to achieve it. 1t was not the
heaving commotions Of mob the
sudden and electric excitement of q
whole nation--the loud applauding
echoes of popular sentiment; but
the patriotic inspiration of few great
minds contcndins with the time
rooted loyalty of the age gc-,hc long
and fcndly-chcrishcd allegiance Of
the colonies the tcrrors Of mighty
thronc-the liberal favors of q patri.
archal government the ignominy of
traitors dcath-divisons within,
and a nations and q monarch's ven
gcancc without.
In the estimate of the difficulties
and of the merit ofthe sacrifice, these
things perhaps are too often forgot
ten. 1t would be we'll !or US, in view
Of tho duties and obligations i, .ch
oppression has dcvolyed uuon those
too of our day and generation, to rc
call them, both for example and in.
struction.
When tIo ilsubor,'ilate spirit Of
Eos'on had provoked the ire of the
ErIti$A Government, its first measure
Of retaliation was to abolish its priyi-
lcgcs as sport Of entry" Public
clamor cried alond against the men
and the counscls that had brought
this exclusion upon them; and Han
cock and Adams had to endure the
exccration Of an cnragcd commercial
community, stimulated by an ayidity
for gain, and for time ovcrshadow-
ing them with the indignation of a
dismaycd aud terrified constituency.
Had they taken counsel Of fear or in
tcrest, where now would have been
that dearly.chcrishcd commerce, that
metropolitan prosperity, those high
attainmcnts in letters and the arts,
which have long since made Boston
the Athens Of the Western hcmis
phcrc. When, for the purpose of
Cancellation, q general pardon and
amnesty was proclaimed to all who
had been engaged in the late popu-
lar tumults Of the day, Hancock and
Adams were especially excepted, and
declared to be reserved as examples
of royal vengeance and rctribution.
Popular confidence for a time forsook
them, like timid birds fraycd away
by the storm; and when elected TO the
Congress which passed the Dcrlara.
ton Of Independence, they could
fint but two hundred of their fellow
citizens bold enough to vote for them
as their representatives. Their after
lives arc the strongest commentary
! could offer you on the fact. The
one became the distinguished Presi-
dent of the first Congress, the other
the friend and successor Of Washing
ton. So hopeless seemed the enter
PRISE, SO powerful the opposition, SO
pcrilous and detcrring the prospect,
that when Charles Carroll, one Of
the wcalthicst men Of America. an.
preached to sign the Declaration Of
Independence, all exclaimed, in utter
amazcmcnt, "therc goes Million"
cast upon losing die, and forfeited
to the crown.
Nay, all that has deferred us from
the assertion of our rights under sim.
liar circumstances Of oppression, was
urged then with ten times the force,
and infinitely more truth and appii.
cation. 1t was said that the pro-
vinces were weak, that they were
divided, that the time had not yet ar
rived for action. that British power
would overwhclm opposition, ,ha. the
colonies were not united, that 10 CO.
operation had been pledged or prof
iorcd, and that our independence,