Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1828-11-18
October Goth, 1925.
Col. Drn,,t,n,s Statement.

Cod. Druy,on's Statement.
mako this statement in consequence Of having been
requested hy General 1uNne and Major Hamilton,
to put in writing what was said or acquiesced in by
them, and ty myself, at two meetings of the Deega-
ton of South Carolina, held at the lodgings of Gen.
IiRyne in the city of Washington, shortly after the
passage OF the late Tariff Act.
At these meetings, tho object Of both of which was
to consult as to the course which ought to bro pursued
BY the Delegation of South Carolina, in consequence
of the passage of the Tariff Law referred to- 10
propositions wCrc directly indirectly submitted, en-
coping the following. which acquesccd in NTH
OFT The dissent Of any LIST, That when the Dele
gates went home they should, by letter communicate
20 each other the feelings mud sentiments Of the peo-
PIE within their Districts, upon the subject of the Ia
rf that the Delegates should MAKE attempts to in
crease Tie crsucri which il anticpat cd the pro-
visions OF the law would occasion; and that thoy should
endeavor to prevent public meetings, and every OK
press. of public opinion connected with the Tariff
until after the result of the Presidential election
should be asccrtained IL being declared, and sppa-
renty with the concurrence OF ali who present
that the election of Mr.. Adams or Of Con- jackson,
a matter Of little importance compared with the
existence or abolition of the restrictive system. Cd,
That the Delegates should assemble at Columbia Mt
the comm nccment of the session OF the Legislature,
obtrtde their advice upon it, but to give any in
formation respecting the Tariff, or any other Con-
gressional proceedings which. the members of that
BODY might SEQ fit to ask of them. 3dly That what
ever measures might be adopted would have more
weight if they supported by all the States OPP
posed to the Tariff Law, than if South Carolina stood
alone certain individuals Of our Delegation should in
form the Representatives. ofthose States of our views
and invite them to conference with us Maj. Ham,
on, a!tor expressing great Indignation at tho pas
sage of the Tariff Law said. that in his opinion the
proper step for him TO take, and he had resolved to
take It, tn go home, he could longer be of
any service at Washington, to deliver his commission
to the Speaker Of the House of Representatives and
not to to Congress- unless he should DC direct
cd to do 20 by his constituents, who he was sure
would approve Of his conduct. | remarked that did
not agree with Major Hamilton: that representa-
tive had no other power than TO represent his const
tupntS the Federal CongTc ss that he had no right
to abandon his pos and that if the people felt them
selves aggicvcd 1t vas for them to decide upon what
tho emergency required. General Haync said, that
he concrred with and ma dc observations en-
forcing his opinion which do not retain in my mem
DRY. There wcsd conversation at Of the meetings
Gs to the effects which would be produced by the dis
solution of the Union. Upon this topic, do not re-
collect that General Hayne uttered word. Major
Hamilton remarked that should South Carolina be
driven from the Union by the restrictive policy 1T
would not be in the power of the government TO
force t that the regular army too email TO create
ony spprchensioD5 that sister States of Virginia
and North Carolina would never suffer the Eastern or
Northern militia 10 march through their territories
for the purpose of reducing South Carolina TO suiec-
tiQn and If they did should be able, successflly
TO defend Ourselves. Some observations were then
made upon Major Hamilfon's remarks, by one Of the
Delegation, but not by General IIaync. stated that
regarded the Union tO be OF immense Importance;
that much deprecated the restrictive system par
tial; oppressive and unconstitutional considered it
TO he, should consider tho dissolution Of the Union
serious calamity; nnd that when two evils
were presented 10 us, MS statCTncn end citIZens
ought To- choose the least Of them. Before the
separation Of the Delegates, the individuals who had
been deputcd TO communicate with the Represent
tatiyes Of the And-Tarn States, reported. that
many Of their Representative had acquicsced in
the propricty Of our course, but that many others
thought il 10 be inoxpedicnt none Of them therefore
had been invited TO a conference with orr Delegates.
We then adjourned, finally, it having been previously
declared that the agreement which had been entered
into to assemble nc Columbia ri the commencement
of the next session of our Legsaure should not be-
binding upon us but should be subject for further
consideration, to he decided upon after we had re-
turned 20 our homes The foregoing 10 the best of
my memory, contains illa substance Of I'll that was
said by Gen IIa5nc, Major Hamilton and myself at
these meetings, which not conducted accordingl
TO the forms Of deliberate body il sometimes occur
ing, that whilst speaking, others wero carry
ng conversations together. J am positive, that !
loibing more either proposed, or agreed TO be
iOnc by Delegation ot these meetings, than what
have mentioned. do not introduce the remarks of
ny IL fln ctheF Delegates, rot bcca,ap snpposcl