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


renown; treason within, traitors with.
out, and invasion around; the house
hold no protection, neutrality no
refuge, the farm deserted and dcvas.
tated, and the security of the camp
to be purchased only by priva,ion,
harassments, wearisomc marches,
and bloody sufferings;-he had some.
thing more precious than gold who
possessed salt for his food; he slept
upon bed of roses when some tenn.
porary success Of Sumter or of Ma
rlon enabled him for moment to
suspend his vigils or his fears of some
marauding enemy. In battle always
beaten, but never conquered; in
strategy often foi!ed, but ncverthc-
less victorious. If VIC assaulted, it
was, perhaps, to be repelIed; and
yet seldom without the object to be
obtained. If we marched forward,
ii was but to retreat again with pre-.
cipitation; perhaps; but without loss
or dishonor, and often to occupy Cas-
ifby fortune or accident) still more
eligible position. In short, it was
the tactics of Fabius, with tenfold
the endurance and the difficulties,
without Canine to accelerate his
triumph. Nor less, too, was it the
bold energy Of NIarcellus, with
more blood, and toll, and suffering;
but with infinitely more limited means
and inadequate preparation either to
achieve or encounter it.
And would not one tithc of this
bold. pcrsevering energy be sufficient
to rescue and preserve the dcstinies
of South Carolina as sovereign,
free, and independent State? Or
are we, fellow-citizens, too degenerate
to initiate the example of our ances-
tors, even to the tenth degree of
their gallant bearing? Are our
institutions more worthless than
pound Of tea? Is our State unwor-
thy of the sac, iiice? Or were we
iclnded, or did se but perrctrate the
'nooh cry oil. a-ernnls jest. when we pro-
c!"i' ed 10 the world thc imminence
OF their danger, and the deliberate.
ness Ct our purpose to defend them
at all hazard and to every cxtrc,ni.
ty:'
Out Of the blood: the toll, and the
treasure of the States has our indie.
pendence been achieved, and our
Government been erected. We took
it n pulling and new born babc-it
has grown up into vigorous man.
hood. We cherished it a rickcty
child-it has become champion, a
monarch, master, and q tyrant.-
We protected its infancy through all
the storms Of war--its cradle was
rocked by the dying struggles Of pa-
trlots--its infancy sustained by tho
generous blood Of sovereign States,
until, spurning the lap that nurturcd
it, it rose like young Hercules from
his swad,!ling clothes, to strangle its
nurse and to perpctratc rarricidc.
We took it cold and senselcss asp
to our bosom, until, animated by its
warmth, it has stung--nay, it has
poisoned and corrupted the generous
heart that nestled it. 'Wc planted it
II mustard (thc least of alb seed, and
watcrcd it with our blood and our
affections, until it has grown to
great herb, and the unclean birds of
the air have lodged and brooled and
nestled therein We established it
for our general and political welfare,
but it has usurrcd domestic and
spiritual dominion, and claims to
possess the right, as well as feel the
obligation, Of cxpurgating us Of the
sin Of slavery. 1t came stranger
poor, and hungry, and naked,
seeking our aid and hospitality; but
when warmed by our firesidcs, cloth
ed by our bounty, and strengthened
by our good cheer, it dcridcl the
host, monopolizcd the hearthstonc,
dismissed our servants, and appropri.
atcd Our property. It approached
us with the mock humility Of the
latchct in the fable, which besouyht
Of the wood lutte stick, (but little
stick it asked to make for itself a
hclvc, as its sharp edge would other.
wise be useless. So modest re-
quest, and So small favor, the
forest thought it would be unrcasona.
bic not to comply with. But no
sooner was the Ratchet armed with its
handle, than the trees began to fall,
the forest disappeared, the shade was
succeeded by tho sunshine, the
plonghsharc upronted the bosom Of
the earth, and the fruits Of the soil
took the place Of natures primcval
planting.
And thus it is, fellow. citizens, that
we now stand related to this found.
ling of State charity--this being of
our creation-this unnatural monster