The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-07-02

OPINION. 1t seems TO me that the
effect which our separate national
division, will certainly produce be.
tween the Southern States, especially
those upon our border and ourselves,
has not been sufficiently considered.
South Carolina is even now unfortun-
ately but too much separated from
them, how much moro entire must
this separation be rendered when she
has become to them o foreign nation.
Even moav, how numerous are the
provocations to rivalry and discord !:
then with what q fatal proclivity will
these provocations tend to bIoodshed
and to war. The moro especially as
a foreign alliance, and an illicit com
merce, are the channels through
which our future prosperity are cx-
pcctcd to flow. I enter with reluc-
tance upon the processes through
which we arc to attain the condition
of separate nation, and as they have
been fully treated by others, I turn
to them chiefly to illustrate, that sep
arate secession in the present condi-
tion of the country, if effected, will
end in the permanent division of the
slaveholding States. Admit that the
Federal Government acknowledging
the right Of secession, attempts no in
tcrfercnce with South Carolina, and
she peaccably becomes an independ.
ent State, it is apparent that she must
resort to duties on imports for the
support of her new government; now,
as not more than one.fourth of the
imports of the State are consumed
within her borders, three-fourths of
her fair trade is at once cut off. For
whatever be the amount of the duty
levied by us, it must operate as to the
goods consumed in other States, as q
discriminating duty in favor of Sa.
wanna and against our own ports. =.
This difficulty has bee~. anticipated
and is met by the admission that we
must depend upon an illicit trade to
sustain and enlarge the commerce of
our State. I waive all other objec-
tons to this scheme (not without
great weight in morals and policy,)
and consider it merely in respect to
its tendency to divide the slavehold-
ing States. Do VIC not perceive that
prosperity thus procured for Charles
ton must necessarily bring decay and
ruin upon the neighborins city of
Savannah, and is it reasonable to ex-
pcct that she will quietly brook that
her commerce should be thus destroy
cd, not by fair competition but by
an Illicit traffic =? DO we not here re-
cognizc fruitful source of bitter riv-
airy, fierce alterations and speedy
violence ? But / dwell not upon so
sad n picture. These speculations
upon the future may be of little
worth, but reason l think justifics the
assumption that years of separation
(for to develope and exhibit the pros
perity which is to draw the other
slaveholding States into the confede-
racy with US, years must elapse) will
leave US in interest and sentiment,
far less prepared for union than we
are at present. But suppose, as I
believe, that the Federal government
will not acknowledge our right of Sc
ccssion, (for according to the views
expressed by almost every leading
politician, who is likely to influence
the action Of the government, to ac-
knowledge the right of secession is to
abdicate all authority } and the Pres
idcnt attempts to enforce the laws of
the United States, will Congress sup.
port him? The passage of tho force
bill, under circumstances strictly an
alagous. (for it was against the right
of secession as we'll as notification
that that measure was adopted, }
seems to me to leave it not at all
doubtful but that Congress apiU furn.
ish the President with all the author
ity he may ask for, to carry their laws
into execution.
What form this warfare may take
know not, except that, as l think it
unwise to under rate the skill Of our
opponents; and as those in possession
of authority may always compel those
who resist its exercise to become the
assailants, | doubt not but that the
Federal Government will throw upon
us the commencement of actual hos.
tilities. In this attitude of affairs, it
is confidently expected that the other
slavcholding States will rally to our
support, and Southern Confedera.
cy be thus formed. Such is not the
result to which my judgment leads
me. Should war assail us in such a
form, rs to arouse the sympathy of
the Southern People, / doubt not
but that many gallant spirits would
rally around us; but the States, rs DO.
litical communities, having already
decided that they would not scccde,