davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
The Militia System of the
State.


Brethren ofthe press, here is a theme
worthy of your steel-pens we mean
from now until the meeting Of the
new Legislature. An opportunity in
the coming elections is offered t, you
to insist on the reformation Of our
military system, which ought not to be
neglected. The popular mind has long
since come to the conclusion that our
beat, battalion, and regimcntal musters
are all farcical and ridiculous so far as
results, military knowledge and
discipline, nre concerned, besides
imposing q duty on many who have
neither taste, time, nor inclination for
playing the soldier.
1t needs no further proof of the utter
inulllity ofthc present mode oftrnining,
than to sec the general drilIings Of beat
companies in the country, and often
in town. There is not halt an ounce Of
military pride or ambition in the whole
troop, and that is generally confined to
the feathers and epauletts. The
marchings, maneuvrings and manual
exercises, no matte. how devoted the
officers may be, arc bunglingly man.
aged, and you may keep your eye on
them year after year, yet no improve
ment is visible. The cause is evident.
The duty is regarded rs an exaction
from the State. Very few of the pri-
Yates aspire to promotion. They
prefer stick to a musket because it is
lighter, and they imagine it terrible
imposition if they arc drilled for a
couple Of hours once every three
months. Of course under the working
of such system the acquisition Of
useful military knowledge is not to be
thought Of :,
We have no substitute to offer or
recommend but the adoption of the
system of uniform companies through
out the State, the continuance OF those
already organized, cavalry and artille.
ry, and the establishment Of new com.
Panies, to he organized into battalions.
regiments, or brigades, rs may be con.
venicnt or practicable. In addition to
this, an enrolment of all citizens liable
to perform military duty, and the
imposition Of military tax on those
who prefer to pay rather than become
members Of the uniform companies in
their respective ocalitics-the amount
thus raised to be distributed cquitably
among the volunteer organizations.-
In this way we think an effective, we'll
drilled, and disciplined 70. &C, men who
understand their business, will always
be on hand in case of emergency.
We regard q reform in our military
system as matter of some Importance
to oil the people Of the State, and
therefore hope that our brethren who
think with Ms will discuss the question,
give us their suggestions, and urge
upon the incoming Legislature such
action as experience and investigation
may dictate. We want a citizen sol
dierly who will take pride in their
organization, and feel. some ambition
to perform their duty with spirit !;
among whom an honorable and gcncr
Gus rivalry TO excel in all the arts os
war will prevail, SO that, should the
necessity ever arise, we will find men
rs well as Offices fully prepared to
enter into action at short notice.
Cdrolinion.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
Our NHifigi;a SVStem.

We publish elshwhere in this sheet
an extract from the South Carol;nian
in regard to the present militia system
of the State, in the spirit Of which ar.
ticle we concur most heartily, and in
the voice of q large majority of our
citizens, and as defenders Of the rights
of the people, and cxposcrs of unjust
exactons and abuses, shall not cease
to call loudly for reform. The present
system oftraining the militia is wrong
in its foundation, and utterly inetfi-
cicnt in its operation. y more ridi
culous farce that our common beat mus.
ters can scarcely be imagined; this does
not arise from any want of public
spirit, or honorable pride, but from q
settled conviction of the inutility Of
such exercises in times Of peace and
an indisposition on the part Of the men,
to be made puppet shows of, for the
qualification Of the few, whose ambition
would stalk forth in "fuss and feath-
ers"
Few there are, who would think of
denying that petty military trainings
and musters are sources Of great
social evils, and Il heavy tax on the
working classes, but semc there are
who from familiarity, prejuliccd ignor-
ance and perhaps aTurkish faith in
predestination, still carp, and chrome
like, ask to have substitute pointed
out to them.
The substitute rs offered by the Caro-
lin'an is amply sufficient, has been
proved by actual experience in other
States to answer ell purposes, and if
once introduced into South Carolina, we
will venture to say there will never be
found in our Legislature nm individual
bold enough to advance an opinion in
favor of he system row prevailing.
We have confidence enough in Caroli
mans to believe, that should their State
or country ever call upon them there
will be found in the field at one months
notice better trained and more enthu-
siastic militia, than all the battalion,
regimental and brigade musters now
in vogue, could make in century,
The remedy is with the people and
from what we know Of their senti.
ments on the subject we, have no fear,
but that they will demand and receive
their rights.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1854.

w Persons wishing to see us upon
business connected with the Paper or Law,
can find us at any hour during the day,
except from four to five in the afternoon,
at our Office, just back Of Sol.oMoNs' New
Store. All business connected with the
paper must be transacted with WILLIAM
LEWIS, john S. RICHARDSON, jr., or II. c.
LOGAN. Mr.. r. G. LOGAN, the Foreman
Of Banner Office, is our only authorised
Agent to receive money and give receipts
for the same, and may always be found at
the Banner Office. All letters addressed
to the Banner must bo prepaid to insure
attention.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
Ara Excellent Ordinance.

The town Council Of Greenville have
passed an osdinance requiring all own.
ers oflots to attend to the hitowashing
of their. fences, clearing out their horse
lots &C., and general renovation of
their premises. This is o happy move
and one we would be pleased to see
generally adopted in our country vii.
lagos. Independent Of the efficacy of
lime as promoter Of health and ab-
sorbent ofimpure atmosphere, moth
ing adds more to the beauty Of town
at this season of the year, than the
contrast of newly whitened buildings
and the green foliage Of summer
There is too, no better evidence of
thrift and prosperity than cleanliness,
nor surer evidence Of decay, than
broken down and tattcrcd fences and
dwellings.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10

THE MILIrEnY.-The battalions par
ado in Edgcfield commence this week,
at Mount Willing. We suppose that
each one of these occasions will give
rise to the usual amount or dust, gin.
gercakes, colt whickcrings and loud
bawled words of command, all result.
ing in n''thing. We regard our mill.
tary system u farce, and would be more
than willing (save some good volun-
teer companies and the cavalry general
ly) to SEQ it all done away with.
But why should we desire to dehar
our gallant majors the great pleasure OF
''strutting and fretting their hours
upon the stage?" Well, perhaps VIC
arc wrong. Let them enjoy their
trapPings and their suits of glory!
Edyefeld .ddvert;ser.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
g1OlkaCmesS OYerGlNAc.

A characteristic trait Of our townsmcn
OF which We might boast, is their gallant
ry and politeness to ladies', but this, like
every commendable quality, may some
times be overdone; instance a COM
mon street scene. The reader must real.
'ze that the enervating sun of summer is
upon u.s. shady sidewalk is in demand,
and before the stores are gathered group
OF the genus homo, in busy discussion, O,
matters such as require ga deal of vast
considerations" gentle rustic OF muslin
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
Gr1Hld division s. of n.

The Spring session of this body, was
held in our village during Thursday
and Friday Of last week. The attend
ance was not large, except from our
own Division and from that of Bennets.
vile, which deserves TO be called the
Gibraltar Of the Temperance cause ::
still it was highly respectable. We
expect soon to publish the proce edings,
SO far as they will interest our readers.
In the mean time we may remark, that
the turn out and public meeting of
Darlington Division at the Methodist
Church, was in every respect worthy
of the occasion and gratifying to the
f lends of the Temperance movement.
The procession was large and impos
ing the music volunteered by the
anIable young gentlemen of the Viii
age Band, most excellent, and the
assemblage Of citizens, especially of
the ladies, highly complimentary and
encouraging to the members of the
Order. The G. w. Patriarch. Col,
Montgomery Moses, presided over and
directed the proceedings at the Church.
After very graceful and impressive
salutatory address on behalf Of the
Grand division, he introduced our
worthy brothers, Rev. John Culpepper
and +. F. Marley, Esq. These
gentlemen made very admirable
speeches, of which we can utter no
higher praise, than to say, that they
cqualled public expectation and made
an impression for tho cause, gratify ing
to its friends. 1t is scarcely necessary
for US TO say, that only tho absolute
want ofspace de,ers US Eom q more
elaborate account Of the occasion.
Burlington Elaq:
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
Gov. manni,,g,-

he barnwell Sentinel, of the 29th
ult., pays the following well ner;,,J
compliment to the worthy chief mad.
lstrate Of this State:
His Excelleucy Governor Mapnine
has Just completed his review of the
TWO Regiments in this District. He
was attended by our new and distin.
guished Adjutant General Dunoyant
ana also by two of his suit, Colonela
Edings and Willingham. Governor
Manning is one ofthe few men in Soutb
Carolina connected with the old ,eo;m.
who does not suffer by comparison
with the source from which he springs
His name is hallowed as the represen.
tative by descent. and, in fact, of TINT
spirit which the weight of more than
two-thirds ofa century has but caused
to shine with increased lustre, And
it is source Of satisfaction to us and on
people to be, as in this case, so pleas
antly reminded that the race of thoso
to whom we owe all we have. is SO
well sustained by one who, in the alb.
sence of ancestral honors, could. and
has achieved distinguished success bv
his own merits. Governor Manning
is not only finished gentleman, but
few OF those who claim to excel, az
public speakers can bear the palm from
him. We have heard the strongest
expressions Of qualification at his
speeches to our Regiments, not only
as to the manner, but also as to tho
matter Of his addresses. In fact, our
people have never been better pleased
with any Executive, and we venture to
assert, that in no portion Of the State
has he left more pleasing remen.
brancc or higher admiration for him
sell, than among the people of Barn
well. With such a Governor rs Man
ming, and such an Adjutant General as
Dunovant, there is no danger that tho
claim Of South Carolina, as to talen t.
courage or courtesy, can we'll be de-
MED.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10

Hollordys Pills for the Cure Of Sick Head
ache, Bile, and Weak dad Disordered Sfoslachs.
These wonderful Pills have been the means
of restoring to health many persons pronounced
incuribls by the faculty., both ut home and
abroad They may be taken with perfect anfe
ty, and a certainty Of effecting cure, by per-
sons suffering general debility, sick headaches,
and those who are prediaposed to dropsy cannot
use e more effectual remedy than Holloway's
FihH, acting as they do upon the very main
springs 0f life, disease can resist their Hflu-
ence. The effect thsy have is mild. yet speedy,
and ax family medicine they arc unequaled.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10

''See ioi''laoie itiouldlS. hInSSlun, VINO
was found guilty at the last Iaurens
Court, Of negro stealing, has appealed for
new trial. His case will be decided
shortly. Several negroes belonging to
Col. Witherspoon Of Lancaster, are also
in the RichIand Jail awaiting the decision
OF the Appeal Court. They were, you
know, convicted of the murder of Mr..
Craig Of that District.
The Annual May Exhibition OF the
Senior Glass, s. c. College, took place on
Thursday and Friday evening last. The
exercises were as follows
THURSDAY EvESING,
]. Z. +. townsend, (Marlborougn,)-
"Quisque Sue fortune faber,"
2. }. c. WEST, Observation-Disclosures.
ty essential to the Stability of Government
g. w. l.. DANIEL, (Edge6eld, 1.-The
Dignity Of Labor.
d. JAMES LowNDEs, Charleston, )--Sci.
ence Confession of Human Weakness.
FRIDAY EVENING.
l. w. b. CULP, (Cusseta AIa.)-A Vim
dicntion of prejudice.
2 j. r. RILEY, (Abbevillc,) ,)-Vir civil
tatis rcgendR pcritus.
3. J. w. ADAMS, (Edgcfield,) The De-
magoguc.
2 II. p. OLIVER, (Orangeburg, )--soli-
tudc of Genius.
8. B. r. STUART, Charleston, Witch.
craft.
OF course it would be invidnous for us to
pronounce an opinion as to who did best :
for all done well. AS compositions, their
speeches we perhaps too howcry and
reduHdant-a fault common to all Young
writer's. Quite number of ladies' wit
messed the performance of our young
Friends and were, that is those that listen.
cd, very we'll please. The new College
Chapel is not yet finished and when it will
be no one seems to know.
Capt. Walter Gibson whose adventures
IN the Eastern Archipelago are SO well
known Is here on a visit from Anderson
Z, H., his native place. Tho citizens OF
that town have instructed their Reprcscn-
iative to bring the matter before Congress
and procure indcnnitication for his losses.
DR.. Chambers, IN eloquent and talented
divine from Philadelphia has been spend.
ing fortnight with us. He preached in
the Mc,hnd;s! Church tic las: two Sill,
day evenings to crowdci and attentive
congregations. DR.. Bachman OF Charles
ton also d'scoursed on Sunday afternoon
in the Lutheran Church. He was heared
BY many CT diGaront denoniinations-ali oi
whom were pleased.
The pew hoIdcrs of Trinity Chnrch have
resolved to enlarge that noble edifice. 1t
Is now one If the finest specimens ol
Church Architecture in the South, and will
we hear, be improved in appearance.
:-Jannr folks have commenced en-.
inying themselves by pic-nics in day time
and moonlight strolls at evening. Sidney
Park is az popular Az ever, and may its
flowers ever bloom and trees ever be nreen
and BRIGHT reminding the visitor Of him
whose mind first suggested and hand fist
planned. Yours,
CoLUmBIENsIs.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10


JUDGE BUTLER-We find the following
alusion to Judge Butler passing frecly the
rounds. Current paper and, more espe-
cIally, genuine coin (ike this) pass every
where
e. Judge Butler, of South Carolina, is one
of these Senators in Congress to whom
the public heart instinctiveIy turns when
ever great question divides the public
mind. There is u mellow ripeness in his
language, real value in his counsels, and
genuine heaE'iness in his thoughts, that
win upon lis whether we will or not. All
about h'm Indicates disin,ercstedncss AID
integrity. Representing an extreme
Southern Statc--a State more disposed to
independent action, liz politics and gov
ernment, than any other Of the confedera.
Che is nevertheless full OF devotion to
the country and always ready 10 show hia
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
Fatal AlfraY.

We learn from the Marion Star that on
Sunday last Erander Jackson. abou, Ii,
shot his cousin, Evander W.. Jackson,
about ID years of age. They were out
shooting and disagreed. Evander Jackson
has been arrested and lodged in Jail.
The same paper says tha. at muster
ground near Anthony Cribb's, on Saturday,
a rencontre took place between James T..
Higgins and John Martin, in which the
former wac killed. Martin has delivered
himself up to the Sheriff. Charleston
Co,,sier
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
The American Hotel.

In our recent visit to Columbia we
atopped at the American Hotel and were
so much pleased with it az quiet, we'll
kept and comfortable house, that we feel
we arc doing the public favor in recon-
mcndng it as a pleasant and comfortable
stopping place, especially for ladies.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
NplNeMedI.

MAKRlED.-On 30th Of April 1854.
by Thos.. II. Os.een, Esq, Mr.. john H.
CouRTENEY to Miss MARTHA NORTON all
Of Sumter District.
MARRlED.-On Wednesday Evening
Sd inst, by the Rev. D. w. Cuttino, Mr.
JOSEPH B. WHITE Jr., to Miss ESTHER H.,
second daughter Of John China Esq, all of
this place.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
South Carolina Temperance
Standard,

The above is the title of a newspaper
soon to be published at Lexington Court
House, S. c., and 20 he devoted to the
cause OF temperance. We wish the en-
terprse every success, and refer our read
era for: more particular information to the
Prospectus on another column.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
ICE T! ICE! ICE!

ZR,flE COLUMBIA ICE HOUSE has been
~ eatirely rebuilt, 30 NJ to DO capable Of
holding several thousand tons of ICE. and 10
now opened for tho season. Every facility will
DO afforded to persons living at diatnAee 90
supply them regularly. II will bs sent fevery
morning, if desirable. by rail roao, passenger or
freight srain; and the railroad agsnts have kind
ly offered to give every facility fos its tranEpor-
tntion. We will always have man nt tho
different depcts to receive returned hlanhetps
boxes, &c. h
Cost Of ice two cents par pound /; drAyngs,
haIeB and packing 81 centa; ohargea on railroad
will be from Is to so cents per l01 pounds.
BOATWRlGRT& & BARKULOor
Pfop.ietors..
ef transporting ire. Blankets will ba furnished
az cost. So q
May 10, 1854 - IT
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
Amfi-Hctail Convention

This Convention, composed Of those op-
posed TO the retail trade in intoxicating
liquors, was held in Columbia on Wcdnes-
day and Thursday the 3rd and 4th inst
The Convention th ,ugh not large one,
was very respectable and influential body
and was made up Of those, whether con-
nccted with any branch or order of temper
ance societies or not, who were opposed tn
the retail Of Intoxicating liquors and desr-
Gus Of some alteration in the existing laws
upon that subject.
The Convention took this subjec, into con-
sideration and passed resolutions express
s've OF their sense OF the propriety and
necessity Of such law and resolved to
recommend to the people Of the State to
memor!alize the Legislature TO pass an
Act requiring the expression o. the public
WILL upon this subject. The law to be
left in tho last instance to, and to be
framed by the wisdom Of the Legislature
and the measure to be acted upon only in
case The public-,ciH authorizes il. Rcsolu-
tions were adopted and committees appoint
cd in conformation with and in further
ance Of the above. All of which we pro-
pose giving, if We can obtain them, at
length in our next issue.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
COTTON MARKET.

CHARLESTON, MAY, 8.
COTTON.-The market to day was
quiet, the sales having been limited to 600
bales, at abou, former prices. The trans
actions were at extremes ranging from 7
to 9sc.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10

eR The unexpected acqu,tal Of the
brothers Ward in Kentucky, who were
charged with the murder of the school
teacher Butler, has produced some dissat-
isfaction, and been the cause OF an indigna-
ton meeting in which all parties engaged
in the case are denounced, and the Hon
u. S. Senator Crittenden has been request.
ed to resign his Office, on account of the
part taken by him in the trial.
We have more confidence in the indie
pendence of the Judiciary of Kentucky and
the integrity Of twelve jurorR, than the YER
dict Of any such men, az usually form an
Indignation meeting, which it is hoped will
meet with deserved contempt, for after
oil il is nothing moro than an attempt to
force into courts of justice tho law of a
mob.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10

A General Sabbath Convention is to
meet at Chicago, On the 18th May,
under tho auspices Of all denomina.
t'ons, and is Designed TO, consider what
measures arc necessary to insure the
proper observance Of that day fp the
region Of tho West.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
Try It,.

For the benefit Of tho afflicted we
publish the two following receipts,
which are said to be genuine:
TO CuRE CoRNs.-Pare tho corn
smoothly of, reaching the quick if
convenient. Then get as much ear.
wax from your own ear as you can
screw out, and rub the place we'll with
it. Two or three repetitions Of this
course will effect permanent euro.
To DRIVE AWAY WARrs.--Let the
urchin's hand be so placed that the
blood from o newly.butchercd COW
shall flow upon it until we'll besmear.
ed.-Then suffer it to cool and remain
unwashed for ten minutes, Wash of
then, and tho warts will disappear.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
Teslcy.

The communication of" WESLEY -" has
been received, but its length will preclude
its appearance in this weeks issue. We
will insert It in our next.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
General Conference.

The third General Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South. was
held in the Methodist Church, Columbus,
Georgia, beginning May lst, 1854, Bishop
SoULE presiding.
The following delegates from this State
presented themselves and took seats. in
that body:
Messrs. Ship, Ga newell, w. Smith,
Walker. McSwain. Boyd and Stacy.
The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10
The Veto.

Wo.haye received copy Of the veto
message Of President PIERCE upon ian
Act making a grant Of public lands to the
several States for the benefit Of INDECENT
insano persons" The message meets
With tho cordial approval OF the Southern