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

moro urgently into exhibition, into &c
ton, formidable foe shifting at dis
tance, penetrating by tho chords o
sympathy the very hearts of its oppo
nents, and paralyzing resistance, ere
the battle is begun. But to meet this
combination of a philosophy and phil
an.hropy which can only consummatc
their purpose by the desolation o.
prosperous and civilized communities
the drying up Of the sources of com
fort, oven Of living, to large portions
of mankind, and in the utter misery
and final destruction Of the very peo.
pie they pretend to relieve, stand
| placed, as I believe by God himself,
in deadly antagonism, the people of
the slaveholding States of this confed-
eracy. Of race trained to self re.
lance and somewhat naughty re.
pulsion to any exterior influences, in
telligent, skilful, courageous, they
constitute q nation, fit to contend
with and subdue the wild storm of
fanaticism, rave it never so fiercely.
Hero then is the sufficient safe guard
Of one institution, the energy Of the
slayeholding States compressed into
united action. Thus united, they
possess physical force amply sufficient
to ensure the respect of all other ma.
tions, and thus to fortify and cxalt
their own self respect. The public
sentiment ofsuch people, sustained by
q just regard to its most vital inter.
ests, is not likely to be ovcrbornc by
any foreign influence. Nor is our
cause without vindication from abroad
God seems to have smittcn our fer
cest foes in the very temple Of their
worship. That spirit Of equality,
which they have evoked and strength
cned for destruction, stands among
them, an object of terror and alarm,
giving them fer the presentsDlatcr
strlfcs, frauS Ind weakness, portend-
ing ior the future an Ava;ar of plum.
der and Of blood. If this Southern
nation could but see its danger, and
exercise its power, cast off the bonds
of enemies, foreign or domestic, re.
assert it's rightful control of its own
destiny, and be indeed free State !.
But wo are divided people, and
therefore our enemies triumph over
US.
The allurements Of office, the bland.
ishmcnts Of party have hoodwinked
large portions of our people, and
danger lours in yair before blinded
eyes. And, now WHAT'S the remedy
which it is proposed should be applied
to this great evil. We suffer from
temporary divisions, it is proposed to
make the divisions permanent
South Carolina has been isolated
auitAin the Union by the acts Of our
enemies, and we propose to complete
and pcrpetuate that isolation, by
drawing between her and the other
slavcholding States, the deeply mark
ed lines of a separate, national exist.
ence. This seems to me to be IA
tai error. Not an onward move
mcnt, but disastrously rctrogradc;
and, | do not hesitate to express my
conviction, that those vino most de-
sire our ruin have it not in their
power to infiict so dangerous wound
to the institution Of slavery, as we
shall inflict, when VIC sever Sout6
Carolina from the slaveholding States
of this Confedcracy. I know that it
is argued that this separation is but
temporary. and leads to a firmcr and
more permanent union hereafter, but
those who argue arc compelled to
admit, all are compelled to acknowl.
edge that no slaveholding State will
at this time voluntarily unite with us
in the proposed secession. Some
suppose that the desire Of sharing in
prosperity will hereafter draw them
to our sides; others, that sympathy
with our sufferings will produce this
result, but all admit that for the pres,
cnt, and as far as oar power extends,
aoe and they become separate Nations.
In the view which I take of this mat.
ter, the question Of peace or war en-.
suing upon our secession, becomes Of
subordinate Importance. ! do not
disregard the evils of war, especially
of civil war, but such is my opinion of
the wrongs already done us, and the
far greater mischief which impend
over US, so clear, and of such deep
Importance do consider tho right of
secession, that the necessity Of re-
sorting to arms to maintain our just
cause, ought not, / think, deter the
States from acting. | contend against
it because | am convinced that the
separate secession itself, however ac-
complished, is disastrous, introducing
discord strife and permanct aiincation
among those whose united fcrce consti
tute our only sure reliance for the de-
fence Of an institution assailed bysucn