Jenks' Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1803-1805, 1804-06-25

copy Of il, before the two houies.-i indulge 4
hope that the Legislature may not, by any pref
lett impreiiions, be hurried into neature
which places the fate on an unequal footing
lin the ccnfederscy.
1have the honor to be,
with confederation AID regard,
your excellency's mon obedsnt,
P. BUTLER.
His escellency governor Richar1fon.
Philadelphia April g. Boa
Dear Sir, do rot know your fentimeh's
on the prpcied alteration Of the contribution
Your ha;ion as governor your having ad6oca-
teipcrfonai rights fnce you entered into pub
lie life, mua give great weight to any opinion
you may give on this very ntereiting luefion.
Intrigue ifef cannot have the :mpudence, if truth
is at all regarded to cali ii party queition. It
IS truely queiton Of fate rights or rather an
improper attempt BY few ltates. under the fpe-
cious garb of rspublicanifm, TO rob other itates
of their rights and rank IN :he Confederation. -
The honor of taving theie ftates from deerada-
ton, i: fetcrved for South Carolina fl,e will be-
come the Thcbes of America. If South Carroll
ia gives her fanttion to the propofed alteration
fle ratif!cs forever her own degradation, as well
as that Of other itaes. IF .he alterations fuc.
cceds, the vice prefdent will forever hereafter
become an article for fale, barter or exchange,
by combination of a few ftates.
"Throw your votes into one fcale far pref
ident, and you may name the vice PRECEDENT"
Thus the vice PRECEDENT, nltead Of being the le-
cond mott eiti,nable character in the Union
as is contemplated by the contribution, as it now
tsnds, will be the creature of the offspring of in
|t7igue. In the event of the death Of PRECEDENT
how dreadful would the it,,ation of the coun-
try become under the government of irch
|vice-prelidcnt as this intriguing innovation will,
nineteen times in twenty, give TO the Union.
South Carolina has, and ju.tly, the reputation
of embracing, as many enlightened, we'll cduca-
ted citizens as any fate in tine union--ean there
be rejecting mind III the fate who does nc:
forefee the effect Of the propoled alteration
There cannot. In a few years when party heat
fubhdes, would venture to rik my reputation
and life it, that feveral of the itates who have
allowed themfrlves TO be buried by the fprit Of
! party, into an appreciation of the meafure, will
devouty thank South Carolina for laving them
! from the inarc laid for them from the degra-
! dation into which they are hurrying themfclves.
| yeiterday was afured by very good authority,
that governor Fenner of Rhode-Ifland, did all
in his power to prevent the adoption Of the all
teration; but in confequencc of fone federal.
its being active in oppoGng it, the rel :blicans
faid it mutt be good thing. Such is the lfur-
~ into which party heats fomstirnes drive men.
South-Carolina has favorable opportunity to
diftinguith herfcf for ponefing true patriotifm,
and calm, clear judgement. God Almighty
grant that ihe may embrace the opportunity.
lrcsrer exceedingly that the fate of my health
does not permit of my return to Carolina. If
my worthy colleague and myielf were called be-
fore the Legislature to give tate ment of public
| meatures public relations, and private combina-
| lions, am well fatis6ed that we lould not diff
! Fer in our fatementsr-but alas ! my health
permits not Of my being in way of dicharging
this duty.
have the honor to be,
with great confederation and elfeem,
dear fir, your mott obedient,
BUTLER.
lrcceived the letter you favored me with, COW
erlng your communication to the Legislature, for
| which return you my bcf thanks.
Peruiing this letter over, fee nothing in it
that can with to be fecret; you are therefore
at liberty to make what ufe you think proper
of it.