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


he says Chat he has not yet readjt. II
he does read it, trust he will find
cause as wen TO modify his opinion, MS
to relieve his anxiety, lest he be i'm
plicated in the opinions, Of his former
pupil. "
But what shall say Of Judge
O'NEALL's letter. How shall cha
racterize it in terms becoming the
ermine which he wears, and ut the
same time suitable to its spirit and
tenor7 From the high post which he
fills, he has descended to this contest,
and deliberately and voluntarily as.
sumed the attitude ofnggression and in
suit to me. IIe does not merely ex.
press himsslf in the harshcst terms res.
pecting the Address, but he become,
your accomplice in calulnny, and stig.
matises me personally. Here j, his
language: 81 know that we have a
body Of aristocrats ampng us, who be-
lieve exactly as Mr.. TADEn. had the
6oIdness to express. They believe as
he does, that negro slavery and wealth
are to entitle the possessor to educa.
ton. The working classes they believe
ought not TO be educated" Can Judge
O'NEALL expect such wanten misrep-
rcsentation to pass unnoticed? Does
he believe that the post which by the
Providence of God he occupies as the
presiding Law Judge in South Carroll
ma, can give him unguestioned license
in the utterance Of q gross libel upon
the character Of citizen? Will it be
expected of me, just on the threshold of
life, that should remain mute, when
thus assailed by one who is forgetful,
alike Of the dignity of his Office and his
years, in his volunteer zeal to injure
me? Shall that Office give him COM
plete freedom Of attack: but close my
lips against defence? lie should re
member the truth, SO often forgotten,
that just Us the Office is elevated and
dignitied, so does it sink into whitening
contrast, him who unworthily fills it.
The people of South Carolina, have ev-
er been accustomed to surround the
Judicial Office with reverence, and to
honor in the person Of the Judge the
sacred character Of his functions. His
name is the synonyme Of peace and
justice. Yet, what viii they say, when
they learn that their chief priest at the
altar ofquiet law and order, congratu-
latcs you sir, upon the honorable no
tice" which you have received because
ofyour assault, upon me? Honorable
notice" at the hands OF mobs and riot.
ors, Is that the honorable notice.
which the presiding justice Of South
Carolina desires for himself and his
friend! You have received none 9th.
cr in this matter, and Judge O'NRALl
, may well profit by your example,
Had his letter appeared but few days
earlier. his name would have been as
sociated with his ''fricnd's" own, in the
same "honornble notice. from these
mobs. He doubtless Iamen,s the glo,
ry lost by the delay. The time will
come when Judge O'NEALL must
choose, between the qualification Of his
versatile tastes, and the decorum and
dignity which become the Judge. In
his eyes alone are they compatible,
and the people Of i!e State will not al
ways bear it thai NJ ufiice which they
have mvested.&!!A vcmelntiun, ns well
on account OF IS high nature, MS for
the wise and good Who have adorn d it,
SHOULD nov be dishonored in his per
son, by gratuitous assaults upon cha
rac,cr, and by his public cndorsem MT
OF rioters and ontiaws! The mantle
Of the Judge will hide many defects
and procure for the wcarcr considera
ton beyond his own personal deserts
but when it covers the shoulders u
one who abuses its immunitics, aud
despises the halo Of its folds, from him
at least will its sanctity depart, and
the robe itself will hang about him, US
the gaudy ,rappings which enclose the
loath<ome and worm-caten corpse
Judge O'NEALL speaks Of n bod J
of ariStocrats in the State, who believe
that negro slavery and wealth are tc
entltle the possessor to education. =
What does this mcanl Who and y hal
| eiC lliCSC atlStCCtuLSs toi'lNt O"ilcfS
Does he seek to make the insti,utio,
odious, by coupling it with an epithe
offensive alike to republicanism anc
good sense? Does lie conspire agains
slavery, by exciting and appealing t,
such feelings among HE people
What array the poor against the rich
and make slavery the scapc-Soat? Is
that the game which, domestic abolition
playss No wonder you both tool
offence at the strong slavery tenets o
my Address. But your indignation
betrayed you too far, and exposed you
own rottenness. You we're both sus
peoted Of this bciore--who doubts i
now?
A word more, and | close Let 9th
ers be your eulogist, prefer TO be you
historian.
ltmust be u high qualification to yol
sir, in looking back over your past ca
reer to find that it has been SO thorough
ly consistent and undertaking. The gen
cral tenor ofyeur assaults upon char
acter, your systematic hostiitysto al
who advanced doctrines tending to ele
i II. L @.