The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1855-02-28

bearings considered scctionaIly, and
thirdly, its bearings upon the interests
of the State of the representative.
Perhaps q regard to self preservation
and self interest would suggest their
importance i'm converted order How
ever that may be, those three phases
are Immediately suggested, by every
subject, to the legislator. Nor is
either o: them unimportant. No true
hearted American can feel hostility
to the welfare OF these States in Il
federal point OF view, simply because
he believes the vested powers have
been perverted. While we remain
in the Union wo must consider the
good of the whole us the goo of CIV
cry part, and do all We can to promote
the original object of the federation.
AS the ac4uisit'o on OF Cuba can have
no special bearing upol the State of
South Carolina, but can only effect her
as her interests are inscparally con
meet cd with those of the entire South,
MIR. Boyee accordingly only notices
the importance Of the acquisition as
it may affect the general government
and as it may affect the South. He
clearly shows, to my satisfaction,
That while Cuba remains in tho han DIS
of Spain aud continues to be Slave
holding community, we arc rs we'll
off ina national point of view without
it. Only in a commercial point OF
view is it probable that we might be
benefited by tho acquisition; and
even the commercial advantages, he
thinks, might be fully realized by
liberal po icy Of levyng dutie<. lie
also as clearly shows that the intc.
rests Of Southern institutions cannot
be str gthcned by the addition Of
such slave community As the
result OF his investigation of the sub.
ject, lie sets forth the features OF
slavery, rs it exists on the Island Of
Cuba, SO different TO that of slavery
among the Southern States and the
state Of the population rs being in so
noxious Il condition, that none but the
visionary, rs it sccin5 to ne, can fail
to agree with his conclusions.
lie says it is not our po.icy to
suffer Cuba either to be AiricmiZcd
or to fall into the hands Of any other
power. That is much as he could
say, if he has been sincere in setting
forth the results Of his Investigations.
The manifest destimy argument will
not stand against his reasons for
opposing its acquisition. There are
those whose speculative notions Of
manifest destiny arc unrcs,raincd, who
believe that we may go on to acquire
and swallow up without drtrimcnt to
ourselves. But we should remember
the evils Of attempting TO unite, under
one govcrnmc. t, communities whose
political characters and social habits
are totally avcrsc TO each other
Such an impure combination mus,
necessarily produce political Ter.
mcnt and e!!danger the stability of
government. 1t is more the diversity
between Northern and Southern cha.
racfer than any other one cause that
diStracts this Union now. National
character must be unit or NATIONAL
security will be prcca,ious and her
institutions unstable.
Too rapid cxtenion. of itself will
diversity interests, and endangrr the
harmonious action Of republic. -
For republic depends, for its admin
istration, upon the popular will. There
are centripe,al and centrifugal forces
as will in morals as in physics con
servatis'n the ce"tripctal and pro-
gression the centr tugal. And when
ever one dominates too mu, h above
the other, it can but result in dssulu
ton and ruin. We are now tending
too much to the centrifugal We are
losing sight of the old land marks,
and disregarding the suggestions Of
past experience. Men seem 10 forge,
til they are liable to err, or that it
is any longer to be feared that " hat
has b, Ell runous to communities may
still be. Such diSsnlule state Of
popular sentiment has always prcccl-
ed The ruii of republics.
We have many rcaso s, it is true.