The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-02-18
WHAT SHALL WE DO7

several important questions, which must soon h.,
drchlc'i and finally settled bv the action of the
government authorities, in each of which tho dis.
ttIrhing element OF sectional strife pluys Il CON.
| splcn"us part. IT is certain that they cannot all
br adjusted ut once. and the complication of them
w'li only 'lnbarraSS The diSl'ositon of each We
shall not assume I" determine their relative i'm
P"r'ahcc or intrinsic merit now. but simply
Present them III Chronological order. and notice
| hrs' that winch seems to occupy the great ,st
| space III tn" popular mind. This place must he
! assigned I" the controversy now being wnucd ON
In" subject Of admitting Kansas into the Union
nS Stat" with the constitution lust presented To
Congress. adopted by the Convention recently
hsScn''''' III i"coinpton 1t Is fortunate for the
south That IhiS issue has, by the force. of circum
stances been dsrmbarr;,Ssri of all collateral uu,s
| tons. The history Of the Trrriiorv blurred and
h"l"d nS Il las been by the nisrnanarcnrp,.
errors and offences ofms (;ovcr,n and lis pcou..
have l':'>H" into "iscurily. il not Oblivion, and
lii" only matte now I" he cons.lt reel is whether
with II constitution adopted by IL legally chosen
convention, r presenting the popular will and
after Il iair submission 1" all the bona ilc iniul.
it;ns OF the Territory, of the only question, hicl,
involved the rights of The whole of the States in
ms Their common property, approved and rai-
He'd whether with all these lr-liuninnricS fully
settled. ami Il Government " republican in form
secured, Kansas shall or shall not be- admitted ;s
Il Sia.c! This issue embraces not only abstract
principles of vital moment, whose disposition now
VIII br Ic,l as prcc".lcnts hereafter but a prac-
teal question of vast magnitude, upon which
may depend The continuance of our present uion
The Administration has taken position i'm favor
of the iinIirriate admission of Kansas IL is n
matter of the pr"fnnndcsl in.lirrmccs so far as
the result Is concerned, what motives NAV have
IIh'ic' such Il coursc-whcihcr from high patr-
"lIc considerations and Il proper sense of consti-
iuli"nal obligation. or from The pnltrv suggestions
"i mere cXpc'liemcy. However the conclusion
h.tsl 4
rcnlains for It's Of the South to determine whether
We VIII endorse IL by our cordial co oporatiun or
whether, III punishment for prst offences bv Luke"
warm in'ii'irrrncc III The present crisis, ". will
abandon our own interests, desert those who are
sustaining our cause and strengthen the nnpn:i
Ton "i an enemy who is warning against the Ad
tniniStrntlom ana Ils! Shall We because in Justice
has been done to us iii other points, refuse 10
claim what Is due To us OH ths2 If Mr.. Buch.
hiIan had been elected against the wishes and
Efforts OF the whole South, would it not be our
duty to deal justly with hts administration, con.
heInn'nG what Is wrong, and approving what is
righ; How much stronger does that obl,un,on
bcc"inc when his support WAS unnn,inumsi But
we are told there is nothing practical involved in
The Issue. This seems I" us grave rrror."-
The settlement Of the Kansas ,stnn by lis
admission. will r"n,nvc source of bitter srif,.
and contention from the halls Of national l.gSla.
tim, will rob the Abn'i,oni$ts Of I; fruitful source
Il
watchword. will diminish their numbers and de-
stsoy much of their strength. 1t will arrest for
ever the hn.ons hercsy Of " Congressional inter
ventiom" in the affairs Of the Tcrritn nrirs and
vin'lirate The ghtcous wisdom of the bred Scott
decision. ], will save the people vast amount
"i money now expended in the per diem Of mrm-
hers of congress who have been wrangling for
months over this "bone of contcntion," and if it
is not settled, will continue to dispute over it for
months 10 come.
Let us, then, cease this pouting, and, with the
manly independence of II people "who know
tIfeir rights. and knowing dare maintain act
according to our CONVICTIONS of duty in each in
divjslual case Let us fcarcssly condemn when
the administration does wrong; lei us cordially
endorse ANA snstain when it. does right. lndis
crInnate cciislirc is rs suicidal indiscr,minatc
c"nncn,lation. The attitude of The President on
the admission of Kansas is just and constitutional
We can with perfect safety and eifrespccl rally
I" his support on this question, still rcserving to
ourselves the right To dtlcr from aud ,lcuouncc
his course up"n amy o,I.er.-.Kohiie Rrgisfcr.