The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-11-20

sStAnL 10 EpreSenL III Ill It's feiatiouS " tlc
Democratic purity.
8 The time was not proper for doing so
when the series of articles was originally
. written. We might iIavo disturbed our
friends in the Presidential contest, with an
issue upon whicl, they might not have been
prepared to act; but the contest is now
over; the Democratic party is now in II
condition to project its course; it is its
duty; If possible, to adopt II line Of action
that will settle this sectional controversy
whicl, threatens to break the STRUCTURE of
our Union, and we can conceive of none
which tends so directly to that object, us
the one which leads at once to the removal
of restrictions from the slave trade.
The Democratic party has gained a tri-
umph over sectionalism, but it were simple
to suppose that we have achieved final
victory. The wolves driven back to the
hills will not more certainly return when
repose shall settle on the limbs of their i'll
tended victim, than will the Frce-soil
party at the North, when We shall have
abandoned an attitude ofresistance. There
is necessity that the South shall be re-
lieved from position to invite attack; that
the relations of the two sections which
compose this Union, shall he so rcsetlled,
as that tho one shall not he legitimate
Object of plumber TO the other, and to effect
this obiect-to place them upon an equal
grade with respect to each other, and upon
positions Of equal respectabiIitv before the
world, it is inperativcly necessary to remove
the brand Of piracy imposed upon our in
stitutions, and redeem and einanci pate the
S9uth.
H,a norft m ia
South, and is under every obligation to
Soull, alone that it has been able to achieve
success We gave them not only support
to the extent Of our numbers, but we gave
them All attitude of resistance which diverted
aggression from its purpose. 1t is thus
only that the Union and its glorious tral
tions have been saved from the grasp of the
sectional Invader There is no single North
ern State that would not have given MI
jority to the end of grasping the helm of
government if they had been assured Of
the ability to WELD it; but they rather took
their chances of fortune under consii!u
tional government than trusted to conncc-
ton with that section whose only bond Of
union was the hope Of plumber, and from
the fear they mig int never enjoy the fruits OF
a. sectional triumph, they joined the South
to perpetuate the Constitution. Tie South
therefore, contains all that is vital in the
Democratic party it is the main trunk OF our
national structure which gives to Northern
rnajorities the opportunity Of nesting
among its branches and as we'll from the
recollection of present obligations ut the
hopes Of that success which the South can
always give to the party that may lie true
to her, is this party bond to consider for
us, and to adopt the measure necessary to
the strength and integrity OF Southern i'll
stitutioEs.
To the accomplishment of that object,
the measure we propose is Of the very last
Importance. 1t is vain TO look for a proper
: measure Of stability and progress to the
South while the restrictions Of the slave
trade continue. Without labor we cannot
look for the full development of our re-
sources. Without population, we canno.
= hope for proper share of power in the
general Government. While will the
brand upon ns, consisting in the act of
Congress declaring the slave trade piracy,
we can never hope for position in the re-
g:,r,is Of an enlightened world. If the
trade be piracy, the slave must be rlundcr
by spocious reasonin, we may cover up thcs
stolen goods from the thefts Of its procure
nent, but the natural logic of tho world
will still pursue the crime to its consequent
ces. Though we show, rs we can show,
that this union of unequal races exhibits
the best form Of society The world has ever
seen that it shows order and the securities
for order; that it has elevated tile African
that it has raised the savage to an agency in
the civilization Of the world, and has given
tho ruling race higher point to start from
in his reach to higher thoughts and nobler
purposes-still. if it bc crime to take the
slave, it must be crime to keep him; or, il
the form be right, the process to its forma-
ton cannot be that darkest act in the cata.
fogue Of crimes which we proclaim it and
enlightened reason tells VS. that we must
% abandon the defence Of slavery, or we must
remove its condemnation from tho statutes
Of the country. We cannot disaffirm the
sentence, for it is our own act We are
miserable appendage of this government,
and the North is what it assumes to be. the
only party to hold intercourse will, the
world, ,7or this is our own voluntary act, and
we cannot object that it shall be taken as a
%SoHtoeS'ou VI J"'iSHeht, anu tnaI Tic SEN
;tence Of execration legitimately comes upon
us:
In defence Of slavery, therefore, there is
no position left lis but that of the outlaw,
who strikes for advantages which he has no
right (osclaim, and against the forms of a
society he cannot question. Such q posi-
j tiair rs this is inconsistent with tle high
ofifce which the Soutl, is called upon to
,ssperform. II she has to bear onward the
Democratic. party, and the traditions and
sgiories of this Union, she must he lcgili-
a:4aatst and salled:to the recognition of an
.santjg tjglitehed world. If she Is not to do
slte; has, at least, the trusts of her own
{ sfpfms of society, and it is incumbent upon
her 20 legitimate herself If the Demo.
ssssatic part, therefore, would rest npon the
Of + sit ~ohll preserve the South in
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