The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-07-23

A>sS'A ~A,AA 'S0 a"y o3'Si hoosh'
ern State. Virginia, Georgia, Mis-.
sissippi, and Alabama were certainly
in advance of her. .1f then she now
appears to be in advance of others, it
is the result of causes for which she
is not responsible. But, freely ad-
nit, that if she retifes from her pres
ent position she should always in fn-
turc preserve the dignity of silence
She must now act, or "forcvcr after
hold her peace"
Again, it is said that the cause of
disunion is making progress, and We
ought to be satisfied with its present
advance and wait for further devcl.
onmcnts-that few years ago there
was no disunion party in South Car
DINA, whilst now there is scarcely
any other. 10 this l reply, that if it
is meant to be said that our friends
in the other States have "kindled
their fires at our altars," shall We
now abandon our position and expect
them to advanced! Some Of them
are now telling us: eve want mca.
sure to unite US, we are beating the
empty air, we speak to the idle
wind Let us then give them oil
for their lamps. We have no other
issue to tender butseccssion; it is the
last arrow in our quivcr, it is the only
alternative to Submission.
Mr.. President, astatc Of high cx.
citcmcnt is not a natural condition
either in men or nations. We must
not cxpec: to kccpEup this agitation
always. The people become wcaricd
with long continued and fruitless
cxertions; they become fatigucd into
compliance, and yield a struggle that
holds out no hope Of immediate vic
tory. This, sir, isour danger. Let
us beware how we lose our opportun-
ity.
Another objection urged against
us, is, that our fsiends in Congress
from the other Southern States have
not counselled secession, and I am
appealed to by my friend and collca-t
guc lMr. grr9 sto5aaysif TIL: IL; 80 not
the case. I answer FRANKLY i is. so
far rs my intercourse extends. Bu,
at the same time must be permitted
to say, that | am inclined to thirk
these very gentlemen, who are wor.
thy of all our admiration and es.
TEEN, would be very apt to make the
mos. uncompromising sccessionists if
they we're, as l wish with all nv
heart they were, citizens of South
Carolina. In all questions of this
kind, involving fundamental changes
Of government, we generally find that
the people are ahead Of their repre-
sentatives, and it is wise and proncr
that they should bc so. In the or
dnary administration of public affairs,
the Representative may rightiully as
sumo all rcsponsihility-hu but the re-
sponslbility Of altering their form of
government belongs to the people
"''' '"''n'' nc "e'eoa'eu. 1ehcc
We frequently near the remark, even
!" our own otate, tiat inc rcprescn'
tativcs are behind the people on the
I".s,'o'' w., u u o's.'.''o','
- " ms our i''c"'S III congress,
''lolc'orc' very properly oecnncu to
uo"'''e, =, measure IN regard 10 winch
.'ey h'o no an'horl'y TO commit
'lir!' .v constituents / Eh"" tn"t 'heI
H"' never DC 'ou'n III INC RANKS OF
,noSo VINO Will uehouncc South caro-
l'''a IN y s't stceuts' out '''aI III them
"u VII, Always ma men "hom we
Ia,tl :, !, " ,,n'oi -,
will No ;no, b.. a,or;; ," ~, -.
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- 90 9. any