The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-02-15

language, "Citizenship and all its cog
nate rights were enjoyed by a very
small portion of the people" "The
great mass always remained in cx-
ciusion. as much SO as our slaves" In
support of the above allegations, we
make the following extracts from the
Address, and leave to the candid read
er to say whether they do not con-
tain arguments i'll favor Of the aristo-
cratic few, the twenty thousand Of
their own race. 1t must be borne in
mind, too, that only a very small por-
ton of those twenty thousand were
educated, and tley, too, were under
the control Of the higher class, the cdu-
Gated few:
"Thc two greatest dangers which
bcsct all human governments nre the
extremes of radica!isms on the one
hand, and stagnant inactivity on the
other. Both are equally hostile to
liberty and civilization, just rs the u,,-
iettered violence Of the mad,nan, and
the stupor ofthc opium eater, alike
cannot consist with individual well
! being. The tendency to either varies
greatly with the character of the geo.
pie, aud the political system under
which they live. With absolute and
dcsPotc governments, the tendency
is most intense to the latter; but with
the free aud liberal, the procivity is
equally strong towards the opposite
extreme OF radicalism. In this, as in
all things else, the path Of sound wis
dom lies in the happy medium which
we call conservatism.
But in Republic, conservatism
is the safeguard Of the people. They
constitute the government, and they
have nothing to fear from it, but what
they should fear from themselves.
Conservatism, therefore, protects them
against themselves. 1t is u great pub
lie conscience, which rcbukcs the sac!
riiegious thought, and unncrves the
reckless arm. ..,.,s,.s.-
IN all IS maF;ii ots TAUGHT, that
wherever the element of slavery does
not exist, and it las been attempted
10 confer political equality upon all
c.assca, We find section of society,
where history has placed them, in dan,
gcTous fellowship with the demagogue
and uaurper.
\ 4,
Such is the position of the North
consequent upon the condition into
which the absence of al inferior race
has brought them. The people cor.
rupt the politicians, and are in turn
corrupted by them, unit! society be-
comes radical, and govcrnmcn, verges
towards anarchy
6 Turn then to the South Sc wha,
a grand part her mcnial class performs
III social and political development.
True, their voices are not heard in
drunken shouts in our public meetings
and the galleries of our Legislature,
cheering OH the dcmagogue. They
cannot exercise the sn-clllcd frecman's
| birth:ight, and vote down law, proper.
" and God, and vote up anarchy, rob.
berry and the devil They canlot reaa
nor eorih, and MuS become no sJiscr, j.
no 7corss.
| ''The masses Of the North have ig.
nored history, and laughed to scorn
the dread warnings it u,tcrs. No ex
travagance, however wild, dounts them.
but right onward they dash, tramplins
under foot all that is venerable, and
rIoting in the strong drink of novelties
and isms. Temperance reform, abo
lition, spirit rapping commingled.
"For q charm ofpowerful trouble,
Like hel-broth boil and bubble"
"Soe how their social. fabric sways
and trembles, how religion is poison
ed with enthusiasm and paniheisrn
how their political system totters q,
the brink of pure dcmocracy--thal
worst form of tyranny; how woman
despising The holy Offices of wife ant
mother, markets her modesty in pub
lie brawls, how legislation is rockies.
and corrupt, and its halls polluted will
rowdyism almost Jacobin. In such q
chaos that curse of democrices, tht
demagogue is at -his,nature ant
ends unchanged. Processing to equal
ize, he levels downwards to breal
old chains, he forges new ones; to pro
mote harmony, he engenders discord
to advance, he relards; TO love the peo
pie, he would dupe and use them
The loud-moathed advocate of liberty
he works, zealously for anarchy; ant
J when, at last, the people madly de
stroy their ancient landmarks, and
con6ding, yio!d to his guidance, h
erects on the grave oftheir rights ant
peace, n bloody, rcmorseless tyran
, ny !.
"But when State education goc
further, when in keeping with tho spin
, it Of the age, it seeks q broader basi.
r let her rear, institutions like this. Lc
; her conseorate light upon tho hill tops
, whence its rays will pioreo tho darI
valleys and ilIumino tho path of tn