The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-04-26
who holdeth the Universe in the palm
of his hand. More anon.
For the Banner.
GOV. Manning &c the VBgtlane
Society of Clarendon,

and regret read in your paper Of tho
18th inst, a report and resolutions
from the Vigilant society Of Clarendon
denuncatory of Gov. MANNING for the
too free use of the pardouing power.
Three things strike me very forcibly
in the action of the society, viz: lst.
The evident effort Of the writer of the
preamble and resolutions which so far
from being confined to the history and
vIndic"tion Of the society, (Which by
the by has not been attackcd) shows
in its face, that the grand object of the
writer is to manufacture public senti-
ment against the Governor. 2d. The
absence ofthe facts and representations
made to Gov. Manning, inducing him
to exercise the prerogativo of mercy,
with which tho constitution and the
LAWS Of the land clothe him. (There
are two sides to all questions, as yet
we have heard but one.) Sd. The
most important fact still, that this SO.
clety is self constituted, irresponsible
and land though composed as we know
it is, of the most respectable citizcns)
has no higher rights, than any
individual citizen-nay, not so much,
(the individual citizen is known in law,
but this society is not) whilst on the
other hand Gov. Manning represents
in his person as tho chief Executive of
South Carolina, one of the three regu-
larly organized branches of the State
Government, with ceI ain prescribed
duties to purform under that Govern
ment Is he the man ,-"ntlanen, rs
you have we'll said IN your Editorial,
TO put at defiance the law, or to per-
form the duties Of his office and posi-
tion under it? We have indeed come
to pretty pass in South Carolina, il
these self constituted irresponsible
bodies Or societies, are to overrule and
overawe the action Of the organized
departments of the Government -
Why sirs, cannot those very gentle
men proclaim to your judicial tribunals
if these tribunals fail to carry out
their views and opinions, that they
have abused the power conferred
upon them," and that consequently
"they have forfeited the confidence Of
this society,"" Again Messrs Editors {:
Cannot these gentlemen with the same
propriety call meeting if their associ.
alton and denounce the law making
power, the General Assembly of the
State, the other organized branc!.
Of tie Government, with tho same
propriety for not carrying out
to the letter their view Of matters) as
they can and have done in the case Of
Gov. Manning?
The truth is, Messrs Editors, in my
opinion these Gentlemen have acted
hastily and under the influence of feel.
ings, Of which they themselves are
not concious : Their high respccta.
bility alone gives consequence to their
action, and in the heat and furvor of
their feelings they have overlooked,
in adopting and publishing to the world
these denunciatory resolutions against
Gov. Manning, that they arc setting
one of the most dangerous precedents
known in the history Of all Govern
ments, viz: An effort to bring one Of
tho organized departments of Govern.
ment under the lash ofsclf constituted
and irresponsible judges or in other
words subject to the clamor of county
cross road gatherings. ] repeat that
these gentlemen must have been for.
getful Of the dangerous example thcy
are setting.
But Messrs Editors, what are the
facts in this case? What has been
Gov. Manning's action in the premises?
Without knowing the facts, under.
stand that they are substantially these,
viz: At Fall Tenn 1858, two persons
were convicted for trading with slaves
and were sentenced perhaps for six
mopts imprisonment. The friends
Of the parties called on Gov. Manning
a few wocks ago, petitioning him to
remita tew 'ceeks Of their imprison-
ment. The condition Of their families,
the long Imprisonment already endured
and the planting season passing away
without seed in the ground, but par
ticularly the delicate and distressing
situation Of the wife Of one Of the pris.
oners, all combined to induce him, to
take off q tsto weeks Of Imprisonment