The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-09-20

mocracy, neither is it union held to-
gcthcr by the will ola central power.
but confederation Of separate indie
pendent sovereignty, united together
only by bonds of mutual affection and
interest, and whilst all power rests
w'th the people, yet my brothers, it
may be delegated to agents, who un-
der various sanctions and rcsponsibili-
ties may exercise it in the name and
by the authority Of the people. 1t is
upon this branch Of your sovereign
power that the present change proposed
ls designed to act, and to immolate on
the altar of the peoples rights, this
rcvered and long established maxim
of your fathers.
Brotl'ers, awake, this change is un-
called for by the people, and should
the leaders of the party who advocate
such measure persuade you that the
moral and intellectual Improvement of
the masses by whom it is to he excr.
cised is competent, believe them not.
| further charge YOU my brothers, to
remember that if this principle is once
sanctioned it Immediately becomes
precedent, yes my brothers, it will be
stcp.stone upon which some future
usurpcr may take his stand, and under
the very colour Of the law, destroy the
Constitution itself Such my brothers.
have been the folics and vices into
which other States Of the union have
fallen. They have been tearing away
stone by stone from the beautiful tenn.
pie your fathers erected and thus have
destroyed the very Government they
proiessed to save. Brothers, they have
walked far and bold in the folly Of
their own hearts, for already + We they
turned the destroying arm against the
peace, happiness and the domestic in.
stitutions Of your devoted State
Will you follow their example. Would
YOU avoid SO fatal hcresy. Then
dim not the light Of the council fires
OF your State. Sustain your Lcgi>ia
turo in its ancient rights. TarniSh not
the holy escutclron of your iathers.--
II, i
the devices Of drunken ambition,
while it bahbles in the tollies ofits own
devices, it lcadelh to political darkness
and destruction. 1t scattcrc,h the an.
cicnt glory of the State. 1t pullc,h
down her ancient defenders. and expo
seth her ramparts shorn and mutiated
to tie ambitious fudes of demagogucs
and aspirants. Iii short, my brothers,
will you now, when your light shines
brightest amidst the confusion and
darkness that covers your land, ex:in
gnish the res'al flame lighted by. the
inspired wisdom uf your fathrrs--a
light that shonc on the path that led
you free, whilst the darkness and hor.
ror of Il revolution marked in blood
encompasscd you. Why then are yol
now called on to disrobc your I.cgis
laturc Of this ancicnt vcsturc, SO ad.
mirably calculated to the policy Of the
Government, and which has ever work.
ed to the entire satisfaction of the
people whom it. wa. intended to serve.
Is it folly, is it restless ambition, or is
it ignorance you have been thus arous.
ed to pull away from your noble edi.
flee this pillar upon which rests the
peace and We might say the future
prosperity Of the State. Is it the
spirit of '7G laboring thus to pcrpctu.
ate the primitive principles Of gov
crnmcnt so dearly bought, and hithcr-
to 50 honorably sustained. Fit is not
then my brothers, even now, efforts
are making by many to induce the
people to take Il fatal step on this hrh
way to democracy. The power is with
the people to unmake all that has been
made. Ambition knows this and will
tamper with the people Cor an exercise
of this power. Brothers, each warrior,
son or citizen, should know that ambi-
ton like the serpent lies hid under
many devices. 1t is your duty, it is
your province to guard with scrutiny,
and resist with steady frmness the
very beginnings Of evil. Each scpar.
ate department Of your government
requires alike your watchfulness and
care. The Legislature, Judicial and
Executive departments must alike sub.
NIT to your influence through the
mighty medium Of the ballot box, and