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

Ilc SUulu VIII Dc InOFCQ 10 ltS lnmOSt
reccsses, stripped Of all the disguiscs
with which false issues may surround
it; the naked fact will be presented
to the people that South Carolina has
made her choice between slavery and
the Union! That nurtured in tho
doctrines of Virginia, stimulated by
the doctrines Of Georgia, encouraged
by the example of Mississippi, and
sustained by the love of Alabama, she
has planted herself in the pathway of
the abolitionists, and resolved to de-
fend her institutions 'at every hazard
and to the last extremity A spec
tacle like this, by every law and in.
stlnct of our nature, must command
the sympathy and respect Of every
free people. Our sister States may
say that we are rash-that we arc
precipitatc; but if they themselves
have fixed limit to their forbcar-
ancc, can they say that we arc with
out justification, or that our cause is
unworthy Of success? A new issue will
be presented. 1t must be met and
decided. A right US dear to them as
to us is at stake. 1t will b. the first
struggle in that conflict which all ad.
init must sooner or later take place
between abolition and slavery. The
manner in which the contest is begun,
whether by too hasty a movement on
the right, the centre, or the left, will
soon be forgotten, and all hearts will
be turned to the great issues involv.
ed. Yes, sir, be assured that the SC.
ccssion of n single State of this Union
will bring up for Judgment the might
test questions OF modern age.
Statesmen, sir, not venal hirclins
presses, not pensioned libclers, but
statesmen, will find materials for the
exercise of their highest intelligence,
their profoundcst wisdom.
But if | am still told by our friends
that they cannot concur in these
views, that they cannot believe in the
sympathy of the Southern States,
then ! submit that my arguments
against cooperation before secession
are as potent as theirs against coop.
Grafton afterwards; and that if nci-
thcr is to be obtained, and South
Carolina cannot maintain her scpar-
ate existence as they also contend,
then submission, hopeless. ahjcct sub.
mission, is the doom Of the South.
But again, it is asked why should
South Carolina be further in advance
than the other States? This is at.
trlbutablc to several causes. It
must be remembered that from our
earliest history South Carolina has
been one of the strongest pro. slavery
States in the Union. The history Of
the Confederation, and Of the con.
vcntion which formed our present
Constitution, affords abundant proof
Of this fact; she is now therefore,
where she has always been. And
this is one cause of the peculiar ha,
tired always exhibited towards her by
the abolltionists, and why they would
rather see slavery crushed through
her than any other State.
Again: She has larger slave pop.
ulation in proportion to her white than
any other State. But the chief cause
for this state Of forwardness on the
part of South Carolina is the entire
absence Of party division within her
borders. This gives her an advantage
over her sister States and is not set up
as title TO superior merit. Not at all.
Every one knows how party divisions
and party contests color and control
all questions. In our sister States the
people have been drawn away from
the calm and unbiased consideration
OF great Federal questions, and have
been engaged in eager strife for party
asccndancy. But with us there has
always been Il "unity Of sentiment"
which has cmphatically CONSTITUTED
us one people" Hence We have
been able to look at these great ques.
tons through 4 clearer and more
correct medium, and in this way the
popular mind has been sooner inform.
cd and sooner set in motion. But
South Carolina has manifested no
disposition to aspire to the leadership
Of the South. Let the records of
her legislation for the past fifteen
years be searched, and it will be
found that she has invariably prefer
red to give the lead to others. Good
taste, rs well as sound policy, rcqnir-
cd this of her. Her notification
contest placed her sufficiently far in
the van to forbid her voluntarily as.
suming tha. position again, and ac.
cordingly she has ever exercised all
proper Difference and respect towards
her sister States, and is even now
doing SO by inviting them to meet
her in Southern Congress.
The truth is, that South Carolina
ls less responsible for the present az.