Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-12-10
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1928.
From TIE Boston Courier.
To The Honorable South Carolina Detegd-
tim, a, CONGRESS-

10 me fIOUOTUOte cOUtH S"otHSo Ne'e0e
ton in Congress.
GsyrLEMEN:-You will not, probably, con-
slider il As an incorrect or offt nsi,e assumption
tina, you rank yourselves as members OF The par
~ who have ALWAYS viewed with disapproba>
,ion the measures of the Casters States adopted
in opposition to the late restrictive and belli
geren, systems. 1t is my design now 10 show
that you are bound in candor 20 choose the al
,erna,iy. Of acQuitting The people OF those Siaes
and their leaders from the charge OF having
caLa led for The Acknowledgement OF the Union
or to admit that al least some OF your num-
Der have rendered themselves obnoxious to
similar crievous accusation. The intention TO
promote this calamtous event, in your case as
well as theirs. is matter OF inference from the
proceedings Of individuals, in public speeches
and acknowledged essays, or OF popular assem-
blies or legislative bodies. No overt act has yet
been sdduced. In both instances the intention
has been dIsavowed by those whose opinions
have been published under tbesancion OF their
own names. In neither are there indi, iduals
lastly responsible for anonymous saliies Of pass
sion, unguarded expressions Or incorporate
harangues from the pulpit OF the stump, or Tor
volunteer toasts intended by others as zest to
patriotic liba,ions. Though even it these were
admissible, il would bs easy TO show chat the
excess OF infuriate zeal, invoking resistance,
immediate resistance had burst forth from
the feverish Spirits Of the warmer ATTITUDES,
not from the phlegma,ic farmers and weavers
Of the colder regions.
But passing by these as mere hurries Of the
whirlwind, and adver,ing only 70 the sentiments
and measures authorized by your distinguished
names; il is evident that your hrst stilde to-
wards the precipice Of disunion overreaches
that 10 which the Eastern States (Massaohu-
sets being pioneer) had arrived, after being
goaded for years by the ,ormenls OF their rulers.
Your course resembles that OF the high melted
racer, that aims, by single leap, to clear the
hedge; theirs that Of the reluctant OK that might
in tim. have been baited into the ditch.
The Hartford Convention is generally regard
ed as the CO summa ion OF the disaffe etf4mea-
sures Of the Eastera States. But you were dis
nosed To begin with 4 convention. II IS stated
by Col Dray,on with characteristic ingenious
ness, that, at the meetings Of your delegation
['sthe object of which was 10 consult as to the
course TO be adopted in consequence OF the Ia
riff law'') il was determined "that as whatever
measures might be adopted would have more
weigh, il they were supported by all the States
opposed to The Tariff law than if Carolina stood
alone, certain individuals Of our delegation
should inform the representatives OF those
States OF our views, aud invite them to a Cons
ference with u.s." Major Hamilton also de-
cIares "tha, Tie exclusive object OF the meeting
was 10 ascertain how far The cooper alton oil the
o,her,south.sn delegation might he obtained in
plac;Dc on the journals Of both Houses our ar
pumentaiive exposition in the form Of protest
against the Tariff, opies Of which we propos>
ed 10 send 70 the Executives Of the Anti Tariff
States" Here then was demons ration OF
rood will on your part towards forming Con-
ven,ion'from all the Southern States. And for
what object! Not certainly that OF proposing
n dissolution Of the Union at that Umt-not
with design of ultimately effecung it. This
we are bound 10 believe, because your seperale
characters and concurrent testimony give as
surrence Of your ,eracity. But you Armed only
10 unite the South, in an "argumen'ative expo
sition"-in ga protest" against the consii;u-
,;onal obligation Of the law. Fortunately, the
other delegations declined the overture. Sup
pose however, j, had been accepted lmsgine
the Southern S,aes by their Representatives
convened under the excitement OF the occasion,
TO make stand against an act OF Congress-
20 pro,es; against law as "casus i9derls
repugnant 10 the constitution & OF consequence
no, obligatory, though analogous to a series OF
acts reaching back TO the earliest annals OF Fed
erai legislation Conceive this sentence Of re-
p,oba,ion unanimously decreed, as was expect
ed when the invitation 10 the conference was
first proposed. Could there have been any COM
parison in the danger of the respective attitudes
between this awful array Of the Southern States
thus presented, excited, protesting, invoking
their Executives, appealing to popular passions
aud perhaps giving up their commissions to
the Speaker and seeding from Congress; & the
Hartford Convention meeting under public in
srruc ions from their Legislatures, harged with
the duty Of consulting for the defence Of the
country and I, terminating their labors by a re-
port which holds forth q severance Of the IN
ION as the most to be deprecated Of any possi-
bic destiny A protest OF this stamp would be
little short Of a separation of the Union in fact.
It would be a supersedeas 10 the Judicial tri>
bupsIs, and decision ia their own favor 10y
some of the members the Confederacy,} ola
case by them adjudged to be 'palpable infrac-
ton" of the league. Congress at the next SEES
sion would exhibit the spectacle OF two Confed-
49, and