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

they nave deciafed tho Christian religion
inadequate to the Wants of humanity, and
established for themselves -higher law"
upon the principles of universal philahthro.
Py. The advocates Of this system ofunbuund.
cd sympathy have repeatedly declared that
when the consttution-sthe "uiaghs charta"
OF American liberty--comes in contact with
their creed, il is the high and sacred duty
OF man TO disregard the itiiuhctiuns uf the
latter. The safeguards which were thrown
around that sacred instrument-ordained
for tho common safety-for ito defence and
protsction--have guns down surcessivey
before the advancing tide of iniquity and
oppression, until there only remains the
dlsrohed ekeleton of that once beautiful
'ofm, through which the shriIl winds of
abolition are whistling their fearful orgies.
Under the operation Of causes beyond the
scan Of man, we are rapidly approaching a
great atid important crisis in our history.
The shadow Of tho sun has gone back upon
the dial uf American liberty, aud we are
rapidly hastening towards the troubled sea
OF Revolution. A dissolution Of the Union
is our inevitable destiny, and it 10 idle for
man to raise his puny arm to stem the tide
OF events. The skiiful mariner, when he
ioreseea the gale, trims his bark to meet il
IN It's coming. The redening clouds which
have slumbercd for years upon our political
horizon, was sign Of events pregnant with
great results, yet we regarded it as thing
OF doubt and uncertainty. The lightnlng's
lurid flash Las followed, and under press of
sail we essayed to outrdo the storm, and
compromised our political existence. But
now the muttofihg thunder proclaims the
near approach of the hurricane, and shall
we not reef our sails 10 meet the advancing
stormsl Why do VIC stand with our arms
folded, calmly awaiting our doom, while
there Is chance OF salvation1 The fleet
s widely scattered, and still held under the
sway Of some power lethargy. But thank
God-~the crew Of one ship are on the alert,
and at her mast head float the Palmetto
standard. The old, true, stern, unt1inching,
eagle-eyed Helmsman who has ateered her
COURSE Tor forty years. has gone down at
the post of duty. Another with dauntless
brow, in quick succession bowed his head
beneath the fury Of the blast, yet there is a
threng OF fearless souls to claim the position
OF danger. The storm may burst in all it's
terror and sublimlty, but that gallant bark
which has never yet anailed before the
Tempest, VIII outfids ita vengeance and sail
sale into The harhor of security and peace.
L. woa!Si b, an lusni ID the understand.
Ssye .als ~
tional llhc.!., 10 attempt q is Si;jS BY reier-
ence to particular acts that tho constitution
has been abused and grossly violated. II
there is man with the least particle of
Southern blood coursng in his veins, who
INT 10 &C
events that II is The palpable purpose of
Northern insolence never to pause in their
lawleas aggressiors until we occupy the
position of vassals in the Union, let INN
depart from among us, and claim fellow
ship with those whose perverted notions Of
justice and right accord with his, for he is no
friend OF ours. Southern men may differ in
the mode, measure, and time Of apply ing the
remedy, but all are agreed as to the dan.
gcrous nature oi the disease.
That instrument for which we once h ad
such deep aud holy veneration, has be-
come by-Mofd=aa rcproach to tho Ameri.
can people, and is made the Instrument
o. the most unnatural oppression. The last
barri.r OF that Constitution whose peculiar
boast il was that il was founded upon the
i'n,nutable principles Of justice and truth,
has been swcp, away by the surging tide OF
abolition Ianaticism, and we are now float
'nS at the mercy of the waves. We arc
drifting mady within the circle of the
dreaded whirlpool, and yet we refuse to ex-
crt the power God has gwen us, for our sal
vation. II we perish thus, and our name
is blotted from the roll of nations, our fate
IL mcrited, and our dnom is just. Act after
act OF aggresslun has followed each other
in such RAPID succession, that it is enough
To open the eyes Of the blind and make the
martyred patriots who slumber upon every
battlefield Of liberty rise from the dead
nj irown Indignantly upon ,husc who
awe so shamclully disgraccd that for
which they went through the toll OF the
Revolution, and finally died to perpe,uate.
We have protested. and our proestnlions
have been in vain. We have warned, and
our warnings have fallen upon idle ears
We have claimed our rights, and our
claims have been answered by adding in
suit to injury. What more can we dot
There are but two altcrnatives.-~to main.
tam our rights at all and evrry hazard, or
crouch beneath the oppressor's rod. Shall
we cling 10 the Union for the patry pur
pose OF a national name a.! Shall we cry
Union for tho fear of perilling our person.
al safety IN contest with power! Our
only remedy is III secession from the Union
instant, immediate secession. If we sub.
nit now, the tate that awaits us in The fu.
ture is too degrading to be told. Without
present, resolule, determined action, our
doom is sealed. Secession is ouro .ly hone
OF salvation, and too that with or without
the cooperation Of our sister States of the
South. But the first sted taken, and they
will unite with us heart and hand. The
minds of all are prepared for the cmefgcn.
cy. The weak and the strong are alike
convinced of the danger Let but one
Southern State fling to the breesc tho flag
OF Disunon, and her sister States would
soon assemble around her in that majesty
which lnsulted humanity alone can assume,
and present front that will awe The Uni
verse. We have nothing to fear. Le, us
then prepare for action; and If tho battIe.cry
should ring over our land, hundred thou.
sand souls would crowd to death as 10 a
festival. There is no retreat but in dishon.
or and shame. The sons of Carolina are
prepared for action--if necessary, separate,
distinct, independent action. They are
willing to peril all in defence Of their hon.
,..,. "a -