The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-04-22
HON. w. ?. MILES.

We make the following extract from the
speech "l tins gentleman, upon the Kansas ,im-s.
tion. The entire speech is characterized hv ;b.l
iy, and nprcsscs one while rcadin. it, that lis
author is Il worthy representative of the old
Carolina spirit One destined 10 make his mark
" 7" talk ah"u. sovereignty h..ng inliviSiblr.
"a unit, &c, is in my judgment, mere me, c,l,vsi.
cal iarg"n. 1t is pure philosophical abstraction.
A. Il io optical il'> r;,cli"n, it. is true; sovcr-
""nty is an uudivilr,l whole, it, cannot be- par
cclcd out, cut into parts; it is III" life giving
power, spirit, S'ml, whicl, Imickcn$ aud informs
III" whole political organization. l;ut it can only
be kn"wm by lis attributes and their exercise and
IHacirally can only exhibit itself through agents,
l,IS the lif nr man can only .xir iisrIr j,v
som" external manifestations II is. ,lntl"uld" "dlv
one oi the highest rrcr"gitivcs of sov-rci"niy tn
inrnI and mould the constitution nf tl,,. govern
incnt. and l." change and overthrow it at pleas
nr". l;nl III the cXcrri<: Of this nnI,lcsiisnrl
and inalicnahlc right, it. can surely impose. re-
stri"',ns upnn itSrL If this be not So then Il
ii constitution is Il mere empty nullny-: SHIFT.
ing vapor without substance or reality. 4 c,p.
sttntion is not simply an enumeration Of rights
and distribution Of powers, but II system ol
checks. 1t is not the mere embodiment Of the
will and desires of Il numerical maj j"rilv Of tl,,.
people who meet in convention through their
delegates to frame it. Ono uf lis highest and
most sacred objects must be To protect The minor.
Ity; Y, set up barriers for the weak against the
strong to guard the ina jority against its
own tyrany and cXccssrs. y constitution which
does not do this, is unworthy Of IL free people
II can never bc relied upon To secure the blessings
of lil" liberty, and the pursuit Of happiness -
which the wise founders of The greatest written
constitution which the world has ever seen, have
declared to be inaenabIr.
have heard, sir, with surprise and ainazcmcui.
the light and almost hipping manner in which
many honorable gentlemen upon this floor have
spoken Of changing and annumg constitutions,
at any time and upon the least prov"cntion, bv
a popular vote. Nothing bnt The fact that The.
tide "f party feeling is running 50 high that its
hoarse roar browns for the time the quiet voice of
reason. can account for the rash aud h:,s,v cx
prcssi"ns of opinion to which allude. DO ,hos.
who contend so broadly for the right Of the people
Mt any Time, without restriction TO change their
fundamental organic law at The instance of every
temporary within or caprice, realize the monen.
tous consequences which may flow from such n
dognaf What safeguard have the rights O,
property. always in the hands of the minority, il
this doctrine he truei What is to prevent the
masses, inrmed by the ar,lul appeals of dcn,a.
g"g""s. from brnking down the blrlicrs which
hedge in property and capital and establishing Il
community of g0o'ls-inauguraiing agrarinnism3
Bewnre. gentlemen Of the Nortll-cspccially yo,
who live i'll large cities where millions as are con.
centrated in the hands Of Il few, and where (;
huigry-cye ed mob arc ever scowling al the luxury
which tcmpts while it mocks them; beware how
you teach the iaboring class, outnmlnbcrinr YOU,
Inillionnlrcs thousands to one, dangerous il les
son. What you teach them they NAV practice
andit shall go hard with you but they will bette,
your Instructions"