The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-02-08
coNTINuED From FIRST PAoE.)

"''1"''e'oi "PoI NoNeihulcnl, lullS
exposes that monstrous tallacv of
modern times, call people are en,.
tied to liberty" Akin to this, is the
error that Republicanism the most
elaborate and difiicult of all system,
is not ,nly suited to all people, but
that i. can at once qualify ignorance
and incompetencc.for the duties and
responsibilities Of self Government.
Moreover the Republican idea rcquir-
cs that all should participate equally
in political right.
To assert the contrary is to defy all
the popular maxims on the subject.
And, if there is ono fact cmphatcally
illustrated, in the history of rcpub.
lies, it is that, they cannot prosper
where political equality does not OK.
ist, in short, where some such system
as African slavery is unknown,
BY the operation of immutablc
laws, which neither the violence Of rev.
olntion, nor the efforts Of reform, can
effect, society everywhere, is split into
the extreme divisions OF wealth and
leisurc-poverty and dependence. The
progress of civilization does not obIitc-
rate these lines, but tends rather TO in
tensify and pcrpetuate them. The life Of
this latter is of necessity mcnial, and
in communities where they do moi
fall under the care Of superior
race, they constitute that turbulent,
corrupt, pauper host which looms in
such fearful darkness over European
society. ]: such class fit for self
government? Can they exercise safely
the rights, or fulfil the dut cs Of citi-
zens Of a republic? Are they not the
really tools of the anarchist and the
dcmagoguc? Yet it is this class which
modern utopianism invests with full
political rights. TO debar them Of
the privileges Of the citizen, is 10 ar
ray against society, jealous and
violent mass, and to admit them is
TO subject government to their radical
and corrupt influence. between this
bitter alternative, must every repub-
lie choose where the inferiority OF
race is not recognised. The institution
of African slavery relieves society Of
this alternative. Here government is
entrusted to the superior division, the
white race, and in the mutual dcpcn-
dence of wealth and poverty, leisure
and toll, the inicricr upon the superior
race, it enjoys entire immunity from
that stern natagonism which. elsewhere
cngulEs it. Here is no paupcr class
armed with political power, and urged
'on by terrible passions, against prop
'crty and the peace Of the common
wealth. Here the citizen, whether
rich or poor, feels himself a superior.
Here the mind Of the laboring poor,
our slaves, is not soured by torment.
ing dreams, nor the heart Of the rich
man tutored into cruelty and oppres-
sion. But contcntment and loyalty
cxemplify the life Of the dependent,
while in the master is fostered that
high and stubborn love Of liberty, Of
which the great EngIishman wrote.
These observations apply, in scmc
degree, to all governments. But it is
in republic especially, where laws
and order depend for preservation upon
public virtue and opinion, that slave
ry is the corner stone Of safety.
If, gentlemen, we appeal to history
for the vindication Of this theory, it
will be found ample and universal.
The Greeks, as they are the models in
literature and All, SO in the philosophy
Of government they command the
deepest study. And there is no feat
ure of their policy moro striking than
shis under considcra,ion.--Citizcn.
ship and It's cognate rights were en-
joyed by very small portion of the
people, as in this State it is enjoyed by
less than one. half it's population. 1t was
among the Athcnians, confined by the
constitution Of Solon, to the four prim-
tive Ionic tribes, and though subse-
quently enlarged by Cleisthenes and
Pericles, so as to admit the whole
body OF, native freemcn, yet the great
mass always remained in exclusion, Us
much SO as our slaves. The equality Of
Greek liberty was the equality other
free citizens. r., before stated, there
were in Athens but 10000 voting citi-
7ens, 10 370,0O0 slaves. Yet with
this startling disparity Of physical
force; thcro existed to the end Of the
Republic, harmony almost ul,inter.
rupted. In peace, the SLAVE was the
contented husbandlnan and domcs.
tic, and in the storms Of BATHS he
shared the perils and fortunes of his
master. Tho subsequent ruin which
swept over her institutions, oalno from
another source. In the tunuIls and
caprices Of an unreprescn,ative dem
ncraoy, and beneath tho blows OF
iron handed barbarians, tho liberties
andE polty Of Athens sunk to the grave
Slavery and tho distinction which
attached to citizenship, gave to the
Greek mind leisure and tasto for that
public education which expanded into
such grand outline and beauty. They
Invested his nature with that heroic
spirit which defed and conquered the
Persian host. They in o word, con-
tributed to make him that poetic and
free-souled thing which has won the
love Of after times.
When we oome down to the Roman