Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-02

own character, is not for TO explain. But
will not indulge in elimination. ! will set before
the people your denial-Iny affirmation of the
iact, with the testimony Of the witnesses---and
they win decide which Of US is guilty OF misreprc
sentation.
Gen. Hayne-". deny that any proposition
tccS 6rer submitted 10 the delegation Of South
Carolina, that the members should immediately a
bandon their seats, return home, and thereby end
all political conneSion with the Government"
Here l. Hat, unqualified denial, that any pro-
position Tor secession, III any shape was made;
expressed in terms which painly indicate that no.
thing was more remote from the deliberations OF
uhe meeting, or tho CONCENTRATIONS offs members.
Mr.. Mitchell" And win you deny, sir, that
alter all the Southern delegations, except Georgia,
had positively refused to unite with us in such
protest as was thought cffectual by you and 9TH
ers, that proposition made by of
members, that-we should formally secede from
congress, return home, and say to constituents,
that our services were no longer OF any use That
when this proposition was made, Colonel Drayton
at once declared that he would not concur rs the
act,thus performed, would be unconstitutional, and
wonld not be sanctioned by his constituents.
Now here l assert that proposition tras made
or one OF the members mot naming him) that we
should secede from Congress, and say 10 our con-
stituents that our services were OF no longer any
use-that it was Immediately opposed aud put
down by Col. Drayton. Compare nv statement
with his on the subject, who (as evidenced in his
publications. opposed 10 disclosure of the pro-
ceedings of the meeting, and has indirectly charg
ed the with \" breach OF propriety and implicit
! faith"
| Col. Draytom--'s Major Hamilton, after ex-
pressing great Indignation at the passage of the Ia
rit Law, said, that in his opinion, the proper step
for him 10 take, and he had resolved 20 take H. was
/ TO so home, as he could no longer be of any SER
vice at Washington, TO deliver his commission to
the Speaker OF the House OF Representatives, and
not return to Congress, unless he should be di-
rected TO do so by his constituents, who he was
sure, would approve oil his conduct. I remarked,
hat Ill r,t 81, H.. Il
representative had no other power than to repre-
sent his constituents in the federal Congress that
he had no right 10 abandon his post and that If
the people felt themselves aggrieved, il was for
them to decide upon what the emergency requir-
ed. General Hayne said that he cOncurred W iliI
me, and made some observations enforcing his o.
Pinions, which do not retain in my memory
You say i'll your publication
That one of the delegation (Maor Hamilton(
without proposing that the members should Scccde,
or submitting any formal proposition whatever OH
the subject, merely expressed his individual inter
ton 10 pursue that course"
| III was guilty OF error, in surprising the pro-
position 20 secede was addressed To the deleration
and intended to include all its memberships error
might easily have occurred to one who had in
view the character and object OF the meeting, and
the manner in which the subject agitaied.
III was meeting of the dele2aiion--s' its object
I'm the words OF Col Drayton,) was TO consult as
to the course which ought 10 be pursued by Me
delegation 70 SOi.ih Carolina, in couseQ uence oi
the passage OF the Tariff Law We were not de-
iiocrating on what either of us would DO singh y
n"t on what 1t was best for us all 10 do. Any mea-
sure proposed by member would naturally be
supposed, under such crcum stances, TO be intend
ed for and 10 embrace the whole. The secession
oil me whole delegation, account OF the uncou-
stltuuonaty oil a law, would have an effect not
only on Congress, but the people of the Union. II
was strong measure, and would be considered as
having been done with the consent, and under the
authority oil the people OF the S>te. But The with
drawal oil one member, while ten retained their
seats, and performed their duties as usual, would
nave precisely the contrary elfect--it would be
considered disapproval OF the by The people
OF South Caro'ina-k might even be taken Us =. JUS
uhcatioh 10 Congress-at any rate ii would only
De a private affair between tho member and hi:
J constituentS-wh which neither tie people OF tbs
state, nor The people OF the Union, would have
any thing to do Had I, therefore, heard Major
Hamilton use the singular I. instead of the plural
IRE, as II would have been inapplicabe 10 the OBJ
Ject oil our meeting, shouli have come 10 the con
citlson that he meant it 10 embrace the whole an,
intended that his colleagues -houId be associated
WIN htn Besides, two gentlemen, (Col. Dray
Ton anu youTsci opposed il, aud the rennYi,s EdI
OY IHcjQIHtcr rfre geIcrai-frcGting 1t as q prO
: position u,tcIN1d for al the members But tn,
testimony OF MIR. Carter is conclusive also in sup
o port OF my view OF the proposi.ion-it fatty con
tradlcts the iea OF its being indivdua,-of its he
ing confined to Major Hamilton. Hear liis words
ltaiicized as they are in the .Nercu,y: % Some
tiing was said about rcsigning seats in Con
. gress, and returning home. 1t was not, however
submitted M the shape Of q distinct proposition
AS wen as rccolect, Major Hamilton said il til,
rest OF the members would unite with him. III
,o0nd take that step No one seemed to cojtc1j
a. lie suggestion, and no more was said about il.
l was not this direct appeal to the whole hody:-
Dih not Major Hamilton put his eccssonson tlt
acquiescence OF all the members-the whole mus
enter INTO the agreement, he would NOT? Car
:. MT. tarter TIC mistaken i'll tiis9 lie and have
pad no communication, and doubt whether he
e n"S conveTscd on the subject with either of the
5 delegation since the adjournment Of Congress. Il
Is enough for my justification that one distinguish.
cd member OF The delegation with whom have
had no intercourse since the session. and with
whom never had any intimacy ,supports me We
could not both have dream, it. The testimony /.
placed before the people, they must decide who is
correct.
Mr.. Carter, however says, that il was not sub.
lni''edio The meeting in the form of distinct pro-
position He calls it suggestion. and On ihai
ground you may justify yourself IN DENYING that
proposition was made. Bur | am at loss 10
know The difference between suggestion and a
proposition, where delegation il celebrating as
lhey usually dot is well known that AT these
meetings, the stiff e studied forms OF psrliamen nj
are Dispensed with. There il usually less OBJ
servancc OF order than in committee. We COM
Inunicate our IDEAS freely and discussions are car
red an in the short & rapid inserclanees of social
conversation. have mover seen chairman rco-
ulariy appMned.-The member who calls to-.
meeting usually proposes AMI explains the sub.
tect. and Puts The question ~ This be true. and
II cannot he denied. according 10 the facts ei,fcd
by hir Garter, as much formality twas observed
W this instance, a. in any other. 4 subject wa.
suggested or p~oposcdit was discu ssed (brinr ed.
vocated ny Major tamilon) and rejected R,t
take II either way you please, a. 1roposiii,n or
suggestion II was an expression Of the views NJ
the person who proposed H. ana OF ue ,r.;orii, ~,