Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-12-01

Irodueed none Of my colleagues INTO that scene
Of unprincipled intrigue, on the one hand, and
unmerited persecution on the other. You ana
others ob,ruded yourselves. The slanderous
letter which you addresstc to one OF the lnhxo
itants Of Darlington, was kept, during the
whole canvass, in grog shop, and Its conien's
read to every reeIing ,ippler who entered Tor
hi, customary dram. Inever saw this delecta-
BILE morsel OF diplomacy Your correspondent,
the owner of The shop, refused 10 give me CO.
DIV OF it. I at first intended 10 demand one
from you, but saw that the letter produced no
effect; and that ! could iniict no injury on you
equal TO that which you were in!lic'ing on YOUR
self. Ii was ludicrous to see Senator oil the
United States and the Brigadier OF Charleston
exhibiting himself 10 the People as the pupPet
Of party who were known to be decidedly OPP
pos, 10 him; who believed him guilty OF what
never accused him; who would go any length
to defeat his approaching election; and who
chuc kled in their sleeves while they used him
as their tool.
But the main object OF your address, and OF
some of those whom you have introduced as
Witnesses, is, to prove me guilty OF misrepre'
sent alton. To acquit you entirely, however,
two things are necessary, not only 10 prove that
I was incorrect, but that you were correct
cence. For ii might have so happened, tina,
both have been guilty Of misrepresentation, and
I am not aware that in such case proof OF my
guilt would exonerate yon from the consequence
IS Of miss,a,emen,. A proposition for the
members to secede from Congress was OF the
most awful import. ]: involved the union Of
the States-,he existence Of the Government
the fate Of towns and cities, and the happi>
ness Of millions. 1t was, therefore, oil the Ut
most importance that an exact history Of this
transaction, il published, should be given
error on either side would be dangtIous-to
deny that the proposition soas ever made or to
misrepre sent the manner Of It's having been
made and received, would be equally calculated
to mislead the people with regard 10 The cha
racler Of the delegation. You, Sir, have in.
sisted, In both your publications, in the most
decided manner, that aoGs never made in the
teeth of testimony OF undoubled credit, aud
which you yourself introduced. How you
can reconcile this with propriety Ct sentiment,
or respect for your own character, is not for me
10 explain. But will rot indulge in crn,ina-
ton. Twill eel before the people your denial
my affirmation Of The fact with The lesti-
mony Of the winesses--and they will de-
cide which Of US is guilty Of misrepresentation.
Gen. Hayne-" deny that any proposition ,uas
euer submitted to the Delegation Of South Caro-
lima that the members should Immediately
abandon their seats, return home, and thereby
end all further political conoexion with the
Government"
Here isa Hat, unqualifi d denial that any pro-
position FOR secession. in any shape, was ever
made-expressed III terms which plainly indi-
cate that nothing was more remote from the
deliberations Of the meeting or the conlempla-
tons Of It's members.
Mr.. Mi'eheR--And will you deny. sir, tina,
after all the Southern delegations, cxcep, Geol-
gia, had positively refused TO unite with US in
such d protest as was, thought efectual by you
aud others, tina: a proposition was made by
one OF our members that we should formally
secede from Congress, return home, and say TO
our Constituents, that our services were no
longer OF any user That when this pr oposi ion
was made, il was Immediately opposed by Col.
Dray,on, who at once declared that he would
not concur, as the act, thus performed, would
be unconstitutional, and would not be sancti
fed by his constituents?
Now here assert lha, a proposition Uns
made by one of the members (not naming him)
that we sh 'ud secede from Congress and say
TO our constituents that our services were no
longer OF any use; that i, was immediately
opposed ard put down by Col. Dray,on Com
pare my statement with his Dn the subject who
Gas eviden ed in his pu bic ations) was opposed
To disclosure of the proceedings of the meet
ing, and has Indirectly charged me with a
breach Of proprie,v and implicit fanh."
Col. Drayton-Msjor Hamilton, af,er.xpress
ing great indignation al the passage of the
Tariff law, said, that in his opinion the proper
step for him to take, and he had resolved TO
rake il, was to go home, as he could no longer
be OF any service at Washing on, TO deliver his
commission to the Speaker Of the House Of
Representatives and not TO return 10 Congress,
unless he should be directed 10 do so BY his
constituents, who, he was sure, would approve
OF his conduct. | remarked, that | did NOT
agree with Major HamiIron-lhal a represen.
'aliVe had no other power than TO represent his
constituents in the Federal Congress; that he
had no right to abandon his post; and that II
the people felt themselves asgrie, ed, i, was for
them 10 decide upon what :he emergency re-
CURED. Gen. Hayne said that he concurred
with me, and made some observations enGorc-
ing his CDiDions which I .lo mn, reta;n /, ,,y