The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-02-12

the altar Of liberty, the victim is bound and
ready Tor the knife. They would cheerful.
ly lay their bottles by the side of their an.
cestors, beneath the green bouglls Of the
Palmetto tree, and await the trump thai
shall sound the knell OF time. In any event;
let US be Prepared to stand by tho cause oj
God and truth. Let us be ready pre-
to preserve, untarnishcd by the least
stain OF dshonor, the motto written upo1
the standard Of our State, "Anirnis Opi-
busquc Paralil''
The custom on occasiuns like this, az
well as my own feelings, fclow-soiIders,
Will not allo% the to pass this opportunity
without few general remarks addressed
specially to you. And we hail with pleas
ure the prcsenct of our invited guests, the
members of the Claremont Troop, who have
honored Us with theif presehce on this oc-
cason as bright omen Of tho future. We,
"feiiow-soldiers,' are engaged in the same
struggle for equality and Independence.
With but slight shade of difference, we
belong to the same noble profession which
has ever been the Keystone 10 the Arch OF
Liberty. Based upon the noblest traits Of
character--those which impeI us TO repeI
au insult and redress an injury-the mill
sary professions al all times stands pre. emi.
nently high. The citizen solder is the
proudest character in the world-dignified
and calm in times of repose, vet terrible in
the hour of battle. The base hirelinp OF
Europe slaughters his fellow men for pai.
try recompence but the citizen soldier bares
his blade only in defence ofhonor and prin-
ciple: The one fights for money, the other
io' liberty which Is dearer than life itself.
Friends scorn the motives Of the one, while
angels applaud those of tho other. True
courage is the ptoudest wreath nature has
woven around the soldiers brow. .Tha,
firm resolution and unflinching dc,crnlna-
ton OF purpose which enables man To
stand unmoved amid the "wreck OF matter
and the crash ofwords," is not alone the
soldiers boon; but the brightest jewel.
which ndorns his character. There is a
reckless daring commonly called courage
which may inipel tho most ti,nid sonI to a
wondrous deed like those phosphoric lights.
which perform fantastic feats amid the
quagmires OF earth, il vanisI,es ere il bursts
upon the Vision. But genuine courage.
like the diamond, glows amid the profun.t
d'ty OF darkness, and glilters with; incress-
ed brlliancy as the storms OF war gather
their darkest aspeci.--This is the trait ihai,
FORMS that brilliant charm that lie thrown
As5aiid the character uf The citiser, scltiiers
tliess s'h,&- stt iers, ara nots 5iilic si,ss
tfase tributes Il atll. char
,yoar ea5s.es,, II, sra s3.
upon, the world What nnaTs tbs ss.Bis
dfapcry which decorates your Legislative
halls in the habiliments of mourningf fl
tells OF sorrnws past and troubles To come
The brightest star has been struck from
the constellation. The noble, the gifted,
the beloved Calhoun, who loved his naive
State with the fondncss of woman love,
is no more; and Carolina mourns. Yet his
warning finger still points to the path Of
honor and duty. and his immortal name in
spires us with tenfold courage to resist
that spirit which laid him, the pride Of Car
olina's heart. low in the tomb. Every thing
IL tending to convulsion that will make
nations weep tears ufaguny. 1t may be a
boodless conflict-war may not ensue; but
the lowering aspect of political afr.irs be
tokens clash Of arms Arc you prepared
for the event! Have you that stern. rio,
training and discipline which would enable
you To stand calm and collect amid the
shock Of ARMIES. Grid we'll your armnr,
and prepare for the worst Come in wha,
torn II may, war is at all times terrible
Ii involves an awful destruction of human
lifc--but 10 die on the battlefield of Il bcrtv
IS glorious death.
"Oh, II there is upon this enrthly sphere
An, boon offering that Heaven holds dear,
lis the last !bation that liberty draws
From the heart tha, breaks and blecds in her
cause"
Why talk of submission when dishoncr
is staring us in the face! The old revolu-
tIonary soldier, as he tottcrs over the grave,
Sn5missio,y "Fellow soldiers" there IS no
such word in Carolina po!,;,cs! Her motto
IN regard 10 such outrageous assumptions
OF power on the part OF the General Gov
ernment has always been "resiStance"
VIII any one tell Us TO fold our arms in
calmness and peace while the uplited knife
gares above our heads, ready to deal the
fatal blow, when we have the power to de.
fend ourselvesl Have we any thing To fear
in contest with the Gene: al Government,
UnrolI the scroll of Fame and read the
brilliant achievements Of the Palmetto
Regiment on the ensanguined plains Of
Mexico. II we submit now, we would be
traitors to ourselves and our posieri,y.--
But II | know the spirit which burns in
your hear at this moment, you arc ready
TO peril all that you hold near aud dear in
the contest, and not only for yourselves,
but TO assemble your children around you.
and swear them upon the altar of liberty,
Never to 1.-Two rs traitor slaves,
While heaven has light or earth has
graves
S~~-~>~-~~~-sGe-..~-S-~~-
Somebody's Father.