The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1855-02-21
'.Pigmies are pigmies still though perrhed on

IC is 70 Cih.ES IualiCI Cl serious
concern That sn mary mcn Of inferior
minds are filing tie hi sEcst official
stations in our c, u;.try.
Let any cnc look in upon our u. 9.
Congress, and, with very few exccp
uons, ho will find second or third rate
men assembled there, to transact the
business of this great and growing ma
ton. LISA matter of common re-
mark, among the observant and judi.
cious, that the intellectual standard of
both State and Federal officials, has
been greatly lowered within the last
twenty five years. The death of Cal.
houn, Clay, aud Webster, seems
almost to have put an end to the race
Of political giants. Where is the man
in our Legislative Halls TO be COM
pared with cithcr7 They were, to be
sure, extraordinary men, and would
have ranked among the foremost in
any age Of the world. But they had
their competitors in their day Of re-
nown. There were men who could
grapplc with them, although, perhaps
not quite their intellectual equals.
Clay felt the dialcctical prowess Of
Randolph, and Webster, that of a
lIaync. They all had those near at
hand, Who commanded their respect.
and who were prepared to face them
ln debate upon terms approaching to
equality.
Eut if we lament the death Of great
minds i'll our dclibcrativc Assemblies.
we lament still more, the absence of
that sterling integrity, that wide reach.
ing patriotism, which characterised. as
il general rule, the ST. .mcn of form er
days. The fact is, men for the mos,
part, obtain their political elevation in
these days, by trick, J, and it is moth.
Ing surprising that we should find them
practising the same thing on a higher
scale when i'll Office. We glory in our
free constitution-wc can never sulli.
cicntly admire the symmetrical struc.
tur" "f our government the nicely bal
anccd powers-an asscmbiagc Of
oo'ere'Gns, with u general agent, with
specific and we'll defined powers for
the conduct Of the general interest of
Sovcrcigns. The world never vet
saw SO much political wisdom and
and integrity rs arc cvinccd in the
strnctur" Of The government of these
United States. But of what avail is
all this, if by political chicancry and
monntcbank;sin, Our admirable GOV.
crnincnt is cmasculated and perverted
from its plain intent.
Cannot our country produce strong,
cr md better men than most of those.
III power? mqucstionably she can.
lhclc is no dcarlh of talent in tho land
neither is there an unusual deficiency
OF mcorruptible integrity. But the
very men we need, are, for the most
part, in retircn cnt. They scorn the
means necessary To- be used in order to
get into power. They abhor The party
silacklcs which are immediately
attempted to be thrown upon man,
when he enters public life, and there
fore, they choose to spend their days
in scc!usion. 1t is notorious fact too,
that great men are modest; they are
scarcely conscious Of their slpcriori ty,
and power is generally forced upon
them, rs it was upon our own Wash:
ing,on, and others tf Revolutionary
memory.
1t has been said, that circumstances
make men, and that great eircumstan.
ccs generally bring before the world,
great men. W., have no doubt Of the
general truth of these propositions.
The most contemplate questions, in
themselves considered, have been ugi
tatins our country for years past, aud
they have been originated and agitatcd
by contemplate men. But these
questions will shake the pillars Of this
government, ut no distant day, if n
greater array Of mind and Of weight
Of character, is not opposed to them
in our dclibcrativc Assemblies.
The money changers and dcsccra.
tors ot.our political Temple must be
expelled, and, if need be, with scourg.
cs. Our sleeping giants must be
sought ont, and compelled to do their
duty to the country and the world.
The trickeries of mere demagogucs
n1