The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-02-15
MIR Taber's Reply.
B. Il. Perry, Esgr.

INDUCED the hope that / might
never again be i,npelled to the un
pleasant necessity of noticing you.--
But your claims upon me are so
strong, and your case SO clear, that |
must .torego whatever repulsion may
feel to do justice to you.
To the bar of public opinion l had
been ruthlcssIy summoned, and | re-
spond by laying before it the Address
which; had excited such groundlcss
clamor, that thus informed. it might
judge between the assailant and the as.
sailed. This constituted my whole
defence, and was prepared to stand
or fall by it, without further attempt ut
vindication or appeal. But sir, the
public have now to thank you, who
has a.g il, insulted its deccncy and
good seaso, by .he repetition Of your
libels upon me, Tor the necessity which
now brings our names before it. Your
paper Of the nth furnishes that ne.
cessity; and justiics me in what am
about to write. | demand your at.
tention while | sketch the history OF
this transaction.
Ind been chosen by my classmates
at our graduation five years ago, to
deliver an Address on the occasion of
our reunion. The day arrived, and
performed that duty. 1t was as for
eign to my natare rs to my tongue, to
utter q singles sentiment ut variance
with the best welfare of the State, and
her people whom | loved. In that
crowded auditory, there sat among the
honored ofthc land, one who was in
vested with the dignity of n Trustee of
the College, who was an old member
Of the Legislature, and more than all,
who professed kindness to myself
He was moreover, twice my senior.
But what were these to him in the out
rage he meditated? lie stood ready
to prostitute his honors, to disgrace
his years, aud to falsify his profession,
in his eager zeal to win an eclat, us
dear to him as ii was loathsume 70
others. DO you recognise the picture.
sir 2 Permit me to give it another
touch. This man had never been
wronged or attacked by me. Oul past
relations were kindly, and so much
did | count upon his sincerity, that
only y few days before the occasion al
Iudel to, ! sought his friendly council.
on a matter relating to the Address
itself, received il, and thanking him in
the worImcst manner. left him. This
would have dsar,ncd an cnclny-it
served only TO make more malignant
The kindness ofa friend. This Trus-
tee Of the College, this Legislator.
this friend, hears the Address, goes TO
his home, aud dipping his pen in gall,
publishes to the world u tissue of ;ibels
and Insults. demand Withdrawal.
Of tie oIrnsvc language. lIc refuses
IL; processes again personal kindness,
and to make tie wrong more fragrant,
asserts the rig'.t to use such language
rs fair criticism" He is challenged.
and declines this also. DO you see
your features vet? Iou are the Trus.
tee, aud the Legislator. who disuraceL
the dignity of both, by a womtom as
sau!t upon the feelings, and hy fou!
ISLANDERS Of one, who in your presence
but few years before stepped from
that same stage into, and bad returned
thilher TO refresh the friendships nl
College. You are the friend who
played the smiling assassin with hypo.
critical profession of kindness upon
your Ii ips-who alone stood forth as
my accuscr and my foe. This was
yonr good feeling to me. this is the
rr Of end you had The niiiontery
and still have, to repeat its expression,
III TIE same breath in which you out.
rage and caInmuiated me. Yom are
the antagonist, who asserted the rgh,
to insult, who refused the honorable
amend, and when pressed further,
gracefully took shelter behind the sia.
dow OF q reputation. Turn your con.
duct in this matter rs yuu will, and
in every aspect it is damuing to on.
Your professions can be rcconcilcd
with Your conduct only on the hypothe.
sis, that you are All inbccile. Yet t.
doubt their truth, is to convict you OF
vile hypocrisy. You would perhaps
prefer the former alternative. But the
world knows that you are no fool, and
it will therefore choose the latter.
But there arc still other phases tc
this disgusting detail. Your libels
60 forth, and reckless mobs hail them
rs the occasion of riot and outrage. Ir
the Capital Of the State, under the
very eyes of the Legislature Itself, {
mob is mustered -parades the street:
in lawlesS triumph, and devotcs to ex
ecration the character, and to fame!
the ciiigy of citizen, for the simple
exercise of his right Of speech Yol
were The "conquering hero" of that oc
casion. That mob assembled to out
rage me-. but to compliment and up
plaud you. Little did they dream
that they were the dupes Of your bas,
designs and falseLoods. They repai
to your hotel, and eager to see an,
hear their champion, Shout for you
You present yourself before them
What ali opportunity was then pre-
scnted to you to make yourself mem
orable for one act worthy Of c:tizcl
and Legislators! Had you rebuked tn
mob, and told them that in coun