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


swept frcm its eternal fastonlnps by two
master spirits, who attempted TO ride in tho
whrldwind, and direct the storm. Ross,au
and Votaire gave a new and fearful IMPULSE
TO the human mind and they stand account.
able for the PRONUNCIATION Of doctrines which
have rolled high and fierce tho sea of human
passion lrc.emnently gifted with the
power ct drawing the absurdest conclusions
from the sonndest rreinlscs-they pro.
nonnccd The Bible forgery and religion
cheat, and established in its stead u system
OF universal l'cncvolcnce, which extended
IN It's reach to the rcmortest corners OF the
earth. Franco caught at. the idea with
avidIly. The bright CLEAN of universal
emancipation, that occasionally sho,
a'hwar,, their vision lead them on through
seas of blood, in the hope of finally con.
ss"mmatIng their brightest stdesire-which at
best was cunningly devised iable-a
transitory illusion. Their doom may he
read IN the history Of the reign Of terror.
Under the prevailing influences, Europe cut
loose from It's ancient fastenirgs, an driftcd
wildly over Il sea of uncertain,y, whose
loaming bI!lows had been lashcd into fury
by the storms of doubt, and terror without
chart to direct or compass 10 steer her
course. Old nsagcs and Laws gave way
before The new spirit which had sprung up
and dgnliicd itself with the name OF ben
evidence. How many onirages upon the
great fundamental doctrines OF social nrie..
have been committed under the name
Bcnevo,cncc! But what is this Bcncyo-
lcncc-whICh claims for itself such exalted
prcrOgativcs! 1t is that specious yarb in
which Rosscan and Volthire clothed the
worst OF all their infidel docirincs-,hat
equality in posllon-equality in dignity
rights and property WAS not only funda.
mental law Of nature; but the foundation of
all true systems Of government. Why dis
gusc it for political purposes under the
name OF communism orysocalisml Why
a,tcnr' 20 conceal the true nature of the
attack, by such f;msy pre,ences! The
object was too loathScHee and corrup, TO
stand forth before tho meridian blaze Of
truth. II was hand 10 rand fight between
nlidel!ty, and the Truths of Revel ition--it
was stern conflict, tct,etGttthe degenerate
passions of man, and tiiessu3nitor of duty.
The battle began on ihe soil OF France.
Fierco spirits clashetl ii s,il fiercer fight.
l'heseontlict Of lasstls and opposing inter
ests heightened the sceass SSiiarTisr5 alter
barrier q rons9 s9rvat tista which had bcan
thrown un u pmthe it9 q n ssIif i,oYf, be
f,rsi teHgs aides t,SI,
fTssashca' iisaf sdfturmol ltiparaiIeiicd IN tho
annals OF ,is.e.
a Republic was reared upon its ruins,
which to all appearances was permanent
national arrangement made by the people
themselves. There WAS an appearance of
health in the body Pollic-but tile hectic
flush carried TO the experienced mind the
surcst evidence OF the deep aud fearful
character OF the disease. The attractive
doctrines Of universal equality spread
throughout Europe, and soon followed out
break upon outbreak, and explosion alter
explosion, until the oldest Kingdoms quaked
To their centre and munnrchs bowed their
knees ~ terror
Amid these ccasciess agitatiuns and wild
vascii'atons OF mind, the gaze ot man was
Suddenly arrested by glorious orb which
arose in The Western llorlzon and shot a
BRIGHT ray oi JOY and hop: TO the remores,
corners ol the earth. The sun OF American
liberty arose with a sp!cndor undIlmed by
the death danp> oi tyranny. Her iudcpcu-
dcncc had been declared and acknow cdred
by the world, and she stood briyh, cx-
America has been looked upon as the las,
and u j. repository OF human liberty, and II
was !onlly hoped that the knel! ot time
alone con.d shake her eternal foundation.
bat II WAS an experiment in government
ana 1t has utterly failed The immense
supctS,rnc'urc reared al HE cost ot so much
blood aua treasure, j. RAPIDLY crumb!ing To
dust, ana car brightest hopes are bur.cd
aurd the RUNS The causes oi iha, failure
brings us 10 the present CRISIS IN our ma.
'oUaI affairs.
SPr.ngng up urdcr The most adverse
circumstances, he United States nl Amcrl.
ca have run race un"quaIcd in history,
iur the rapid,iy O! lis increase ~ everything
necessary to The establishment of Il urcat
and powerful Euprc. Alter having con.
ir.bulcd lis united energies to the advance
mcnt "i The causc o! human liberty and pro-
grcss ihr more than seventy years, we now
present spectacle mourniul 10 behold
Untcl by the ties y! a common ancea,ry,
and dnni,iy bound by the cords of common
difficulties and dangers, strange To tell, the
two powerful sections OF or country are
thus day array"d in deadly hos,,!lty-,hc
uan Is already ldId--hut apply the match.
''''' az 'Sttp~i''' IA ''!b'N, WHOSE clItttS
Wl!l he ict 10 The cnd OF tune What has
produced this LnIghly change. The causes
are pia.n aud obvious. lniiclily and So
cialian, The two fertile sources Of dsrur-
hanrCs Oh the o.d CoutIucni. have assumed
stlIl wilder aspect here. 1t was unIncu-
tlOntiiy Incorporated into the Declaration
OF Independence itself. Where can YOU
find more fearful !allacv than ~ couchcd
III that olt-rcpcatcd dogma, "aH men are
bJrn.iree ahcqHal!" What hinge upon
which 10 hang the fate OF nations and the
hopes OF Liberty. The history OF man, from
the birth OF tI!nc 10 the present moment,
stamps 1t with The Impress OF falschood
And although II IS III direct con,ravcnt,ou Of
the prcccp,s OF the Bible, yel It is the basis
upon which IS reared that immense super
structure OF crime ana inlquity winch is
destined to oycrshAdow the glories OF our
land.
The assumption of superior wisdom in
the European mind, under the name Of
bcncvocncc was content 10 rcpudatc ,h.
Divine authority; but It's legitimate
offspring, ianatclsm. has gone step
farther, and cncroachcd upon he prcroga-
tive OF Omnipotcncc. Whole sects,
denominations, and sla,cR havr bern,uc on