The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-02-08
(coErINuED FROM FIRST PAGE.
Of the man.

disqUiSitlon upon Government, fully
exposes that monstrous tallacy of
modern times, call people are enii.
tied to liberty" Akin to this, is the
error that Rcpublicanism the most
elaborate and difficult of all system,
is not 'nly suited to all people, but
that it can at once qualify ignorance
and incompetenco,fo the duties and
responsibilities Of self Government.
Moreover the Republican idea rcqur-
es 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 cmphaticaIly
illustrated, in the history of rcpub-
lies, it is that they cannot prosper
where political equality does not OK
list, in short, where some such system
as African slavery is unknown.
laws, which neither the violence Of rev.
olution, nor the efforts OF reform, can
effect, society everywhere, is split into
the extreme divisions OF wealth and
lesure-povcrty and dependence. The
progress of civilization does not oblitc-
rate these lines, but tends rather to in
tensify and pcrpetuatc them The life OF
this latter is of necessity mcnial, and
in communities where tEey do not
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? Arc they not the
really tools Of the anarchist and the
dcmagnguc? Yet it is this class which
modern utopianism invests with full
political rights. TO dcbar them Of
the privileges Of the citizen, is TO ar
ray against society, jealous and
violent mass, and to admit them is
TO subject government to their rudica!
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 inferior upon the superior
race, it enjoys entire immunity from
that stern natagoniSm which, elsewhere
cngulfs it. Here is no pauper 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 superior.
Here the mind Of the laboring poor,
our slaves, is not soured by torment
ing dreams, nor the heart Of tic rich
man tutored into cruelty and opprcs-
sion. But contcntment and loyalty
exemplify the life Of the dependent,
while in the master is fostered that
high and stubborn love Of liberty, Of
which the great Englishman wrote.
These observations apply, in some
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
deepes; study. And there is no feat
ure Of their policy moro striking than
ahis under considcra,ion.--Ci,
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.halfits population. 1t was
among the Athcnians, confined by the
constitution Of Sulon, to the four prim-
tive Ionic tribes, and though subsc-
quently enlarged by Cleisthenes and
Percles, SO rs to admit the whole
body OF. native freemcn, yet the great
mass always remained in exclusion, as
much SO as our slaves. The equality Of
Greek liberty was the equality of. her
free citizens f., before stated, there
were in Athens bat 10000 voting citi-
sens, 10 37O,OOO slaves. Yet with
this startling disparity of physical
force, there existed to the end of The
Republic, harmony almost u'inter.
ruPted. In peace, the sare was the
contented husbandlnan and domcs-
tic, and in the storms Of BATHS he
shared the pcrils and fortunes Of his
master. The subsequent ruin which
swept over her institutions, calno from
another source. In the turulls and
oaprices Of an unrepreson,ativo dem
ncraoy, and beneath tho blows Of
iron handed barbarians, tho liberties
and' polity Of Athens sunk to thu grave.
Slavery and tho distinction which
attached to citizenship, gave to the
Greek mind leisure and tastc for that
public education which expanded into
such grand outline aud bouuty. They
invested his nature with that heroic
spirit which deiied and conquered the
Persian host. They in o word, con.
tributeI to make him that poetic and
free.soued thing which has won the
love Of aftor times.
When WI, oDrne down tn tho Roman