The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-03-05
ExTRACIS

RW Tunes u. 1rudewttt, ESI., Foo' ~
1856.
"As i,s future leaders and administrators,
the master and the crew OF tic great sup
of Stat. your obligations to canonlzed
an.,,strv and to universal humanity are i'm
nieuse: and you cati discharge them ell
c;rni,v ouiy Lv IL cea,seless and perseverng
effort to comprehend it i'll all ITS principles
and PURPOSES In order TO do all tins, II
mus, ever he kept i'll mind that OURS Is
strictly Il Constitutional government, not
arbitrary aud drspolic, AMI that our Consti-
tu,i,u j, u written Constitution, specifying
;u.l limiting hv expression the powers oi
the government, which arc only such us are
r..nuir.l for It's practical administration
within {, fixed aud well defined sphere. Its
..L;.clS. lis modes, and lis means OF acton
.u,. clearly drneAted, and It's direction III
faIliL.y Indicated Oh great constitutional
chart bv whicl. it is to be conducted, and II
becomes the duty Of American youth to
know that chart thoroughly, that the ship
may safely moored, and all the great tri-
umrl,s of the voyage in the end Ie pernla-
nently secured.
The pertinence of these general remarks
is made apparent, if we refer to the present
iunc,ure of public affairs, arising out OF the
question of the rights of the South, under
the Federal Constitution, connected with
domestic slavery; aud willie | would not
offend the propricties OF the taste 10y i'll
troducin. an irritating topic into this ad-
.l,nss, | am persuaded that the most t.stid-
will not rebukc me for the allusion 10y
IF illustration We must understand
Constitution on this subject, that we
,uov know in what manner successfully TO
defend our rights under it. To what pur-
nose shall we Lc clad i'll the ar,nor of the
Constitution, if we want the requisite cour-
age and Intelligence to wield it properly ?
Unless we are capable Of appreciating the
extent OF the protection 1t affords, 1t con.
fcrs upon lis the power Of cursing instead
OF Llrsssn.. Ii is the keen edged instru-
ilcnt in the hands Of tho infant, the idiot,
or the mailman; or the burning brightness
of the sun flashing upon the eye from the
polished rcilcctor-it dazzlcs to blindness.
it is to enjoy glorious privileges in mcan
iunvl;,nce ut their foundation. 1t is 10 pos
sess power without wisdom. 1t Is pearls in
the path of swine If we fly to the Con
s,itutiou for protection i'll v;rin, as we must,
il we bc ignorant of its principles, we are
lost, or must fly to revolution. There is no
middle ground OF compromise on which 10
stan. 1t is our refuge, or remaining i'll
the Union, we have none. 1t is our anchor,
or w. are :,iloat Oh il raging sea without
any. What, then, is it, we ask vi our country
men, citizens vi the same great lsepublic,
who acknowledge allegiance to the same
great charter of civil, religious and polili-
cal rights Nothing more than that the
Constitution shall be studied, understood
and allowed to prevail. And shall this be
denied TO us /: II So, The die is cast, and
our fate i, sealed. If we cannot find safety
and peace under the sanciiiird .E5is o
that instrument, the fabric Of the Union
must fall, and if necessary, VIC must fight
or, shrinking from that issue, prepare tc
meet our doom of dishunur;,blc Chains, il
gracclcsS and noiscIess submission.
The history Of the Constitution proves
that it WAS framed in view Of this subject
Its provisions are intellectually stamped will
the evidence of that fact. The South In.
gaauliy contributed her share Of bloot
and treasure in tho contest for coloni;,
emancipation. Her money and her valo
had been proIusely expended and heroicalI
displayed III hat great Revolutionary strug
gle, and sl. held Il position equal i'll di4
nifty, and welded an influence equal in pc
tency to that of amy other section of tn
country i'll the assembly of sages frol
which the Constitution ema,ated and
it possess any strength Or be;uty of prt
portion, To the South, equally with til
North, hcionys the honor Of the achicv,
Inent. She then and there spok. in tone
Of recognized authority, Of authority d
rived from the tolls she had undergone, I'll
treasures she had lavishcd, the perils 81
had encountered and the hcroism she HI;
displayed i'll the war Of Independence.
ucr voice WAS therefore respected, and IL
requisIlions were. readily yielded to, Al
she entered the Contedcracy under Il
Constitution, in the fond Lclicf that Ii
rights were admitted and secured bcyol
tho reach OF niischevious entroachncr
She felt secure under the Constitution,
cause she understood its provisions, and re
sonab'y expected that those provisions,
all salutary excellence of restraining Gu
eervatisIn, would be studied and co,np
hended by their descendants. Patrio
themselves, they believed they could OF,
be the plogenitors OF patriots, wLo, throu
successive generations, us they came in
possession Of their heritage of freedo
would seek for the foundations of that he,
age, expb;riny profoundly tho muninc1
b. Of their title to hold it and enjoy it. ri
having been done, that glorious comm
heritage thus transmitted by them, font
hoped would be possessed by their poster
in peace forever. How mournf,,i the n
take! The present condition Of affairs
shall not dwell upon. We see what it
and pour forth our fruitlcs lamentati,
over it. Spread out before us is roari
dashing SEA Of blood, covered with
wreck Of the E.rest governmental fal
the world ever saw. By the lurid volc;
Night which breaks up at intervals from
derneatll it, we behold upon its l,eav
s'bosoin the scattered fragment of tie II
glorious civil poIity God in his provide
ever voucl,safod 10 man, and alternate r
and despair possess lis. Will you saw Il