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

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views ON i, in all its relations. Some OF these
productions, as able arguments founded on
facts laboriousIy and judieiousiy conecuu;
were equal toany thing which was aeiVereu
on the subject in either branch OF congress,
and were brilliant specimens oil the talent anu
information Of the people. In the winter u
thai year, the Legislature, in Proiouna re-
m,ns,raucc, analized and explained the powers
Of the Federal Government, and the rights oi
. the State VIVA, then, l ask, was the lnlor-
nation which we, the Delegates, were 10 give
the Legislatures? Every body believed the l a.
riff uncon situriona, oppressive, imp"ii''c; Tue
bill had pass. d: il had become law; tne on'y
inquiry then was. how were we TO GEL ric ol ::
When, therefore, it was agreed that we shouio
take the extraordinary ,trp 81 meeting al Ho-
lumbia during the session of the Legislature,
10 give them Conformation in regard 10 the Ia
riff" I could not err in concluding that the In
forma ton to be given was in reference to the
existing emergency; thai the proposition con-
tenpla lated a congregation at Columbia OF the
Whole delegated power Of The people Of South
Carolina, Of all their constituted authorities,
Sta,e as we'll as Federal, TO consult and advise
on the most efectuaI mode Of relieE did
not say in my letter that il was intended to OBJ
trude this advice. Our meeting was TO be con-
sulta,ive; but the result of The consultation was
to be "plan Of action" or, il you like it better,
the recommend iiion OF such measures, as would
| force the Government 10 repeal the tariff.
| Plan Of crion may be vulgar or coarse rx-
preston, and my not signify what intended,
but have sufficiently explained myself above.
Blu, i, is said by one Of my colleagues, with
sneer, that no one appeared better pleased than
did at the idea of our meeting ct Columbia.
Whether ! appeared pleased, or NOT. cannot
! say. But went 10 that meeting, as did To all
others, with firm determination to pursue my
own course, regardless Of what Others did.
had M influence in the elcgation-aspired TO
none-was in no wise answtrable Tor its acts,
and concerned only about the honest and faith
full discharge OF my own duties. entered Con-
| eress in December, 1925, with the present de-
| legation, and from that time to this, believe,
have been in minority Of one, with regard to
the course, which you in the Senate, and others
in The House Of Representatives, pursued. /
am free 10 say that thought it neither a:wise
nor dienified course. You made our noble
little State the partizan OF a man and q party,
! when she should have been, what she always
has been, the champion Of principles and the
counlry--you made her bully and blusierer
when she should have sustained The character
of hero
Again: You charge me with having falsely
attributed TO you certain remarks with regard
to the ability of our State 10 resist the General
Government in case Of her secession from the
Union. Col. Drayton says shat upon this to-
Die do not recoiLeci that Gen. Hayne uttered
word 5" After positively denying The charge,
you cite his statement to rebui mine. The con-
flict, however, is only between you and myself.
Col Drayton's no, recollecting that he heard
you, is 70 evidence of your not having made the
remarks a, many thing must have transpired
| which either escaped his observation at the
time, or have been obirerated from his memo.
~ since 1t is of daily occurrence tha, witness.
es Of equal credibill,y will diff + not only in the
facts nf transaction, but in their view Of the
same facts; and no court of Justice or honor
would decide against The existence Of fact
sus, aimed by the 2osiiive testimony Of one wit
ness because another witness did not recollect
| it. Again: Major Hamilton asserts that he
made the remarks. I have every respect for
his honor, and have no doubt the fact is so.-
| This still does not affect my statemrnt-it does
no, prove that you may not have made them.
| IS il extraordinary that two gentlemen Thke
Major Hamilton and Yourself, having the same
views and sympathies on the same subject,
should express themselves alike when ques.
toned on il? did not hear Major Hamilton
saw word on II; but you could as soon convince
me that am not at this moment wiring by
my Preside, that was not at Washington
during the las, winter, as make me- doubl that
heard these remarks isll from you. I was
sitting by you, put the question to you, ana you
answered in substance what l have stated 10
my letter.
YOU affirm, that you entertain these opinions
thai you exult in them as glowing proofs of
your patl otism. IS it then too great stretch
Of probability, TO suppose that out Of the album
dance Of your heart, you may have uttered hem
six months ago without remembering i, now?
The ideas were familiar to you; they were new
! to me. The most xuaordinary revolution in
| nalure-a change in the relative position Of our
earth TO the sun would not have struck me
with more surprise than the array OF the State
| against the General Government. The idea of
dissolution Of the Union had never, in any
| shape, been brought home TO me. | had heard
i, frequently thrown out in debate, but consi.
derrd it always an extravaganza Of rhetoric,
uttered without reflection, under very great ex-