Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-12-28

r'o'hfHb 'LiCHUuici HVi SCI dOVn nnrhf
hce."- lsHAKs.
While we are as strenuous advocates 10, the
Rights of the Statas, as those who ar. most
clamo, Gus in their defence. and most eager In
protesting against their Invasion, we cannot.
on the other hand, forget that the general gov.
srnmen, also has rights, conferred on j, by The
same charter 10 which the States them.elv.. an
frequently appeal. And we are not singular
IN the opinion that there is as much reason. il
not more, to dread a dissolution Of our federnl
compact from factious resistance TO the exercise
oil these powers as there is from any encroach-
menis on the sovereign rights & Preserved power.
OF the States. Indeed, we look upon the clam
ors on this subject, in great measure. as sheer
atisctaliun OF fears which are not felt. And
we think we have suil Gent warrant for so re.
gsrding them, ia the single fact, II no other
existed, that the statesmen of South Carolina
who now aspire TO take the foretnos, rank in
defence OF the doctrines of the H,aiior,an,
were not long since the most violent Eatinidt
ndr'ans-So far, indeed, did they out,trip all
others in their eagernes, to confer 90 TN. gene.
raj government unlimited power on the subject
ofin,ernal improvements within the ;uIisd,c-
ton of the States (which, togethar win In,
establishment of National Bank aud the p.
rsotion of q Bankrupt Law, were u, the time,
almost the sole questions In dispute between
the parties,) that the former editor of thi, nj,
per, with whom one of the present editors was
thea associated, and concurred with him IN on;.
nion, declared, in the first essay that appeared
IN IT, IN relation TO the then pending Pre,iden.
t'al election, but abiding particularly TO Mr..
Calhoun, that tins paper would be- especially
and vehemen'y opposed TO the whole race of
South Carolina politicians. How is it, them
that They have so suddenly and completely she ed
their skus I Has the Leopard lost his spots or
has the Ethiopian been washed white ? Have
principles changed Has that which was right
yesterday, become wrong to-day No: prin.
ciples are still the same ;sbut men have changed
ihe South Carolinians are still in favor of tha
| construction of the constitution which make,
the general government something more than a
shadow which does not strip il of all power 70
do good and all ability to confer benefit But
they have sacrificed both opinions and princi
pies in their easerness 10 overthrow an admin.
'stra,ion, the members Of which we're personally
obnoxious to them.
But, what are Gen. Jacksnn's opinionsf Il
any man eau gather them from his MESSAGE
we confess that he is hettor skilled in the ar,
OF diuining than our hnmb. selves. II is true.
be tells us, in general terms, what every person
knows and what tho one has ever yet BEEN sim.
pleidn enough 20 dispute, to wit that the fede
raj government was intended 10 be one ofspeci
hc and limited powers - and il is also true thai
he, IN several instances, refers 10 " consitu
tianal difficulties" standing in the way Of some
Of his recommendations But is 1t not clear
from bis very mode ofexpressi1n. that he touch
rs this subject with hesiating and trembling
hand, ss If he was " alarmed at the sounds
himself bad made'l II the government was
swt admit, Designed to be one of "specic
and limited powers" why did not the gigantic
genius of Gen. Jackson peei3 the powers
which il may constitutionay exercise, instead
of amusing US with the cautious generatSms for
which he rs so famous Why did he not trace
A line beyond which il may not rghtully pass
instead of leaving the public mind as it was be
fore, 10 state Of distraction and doubt, in a
broad aud Ilimitable sea, without chart or com
pass, 10 direct and guide i, In other words
why did he not when discussing the question
OF internal improvements, inform US directly
and uuequivocaly of the construction which
his profound research into the structure and
principles of our government, inclined him to
odopt' Would II not haze been as much to
the point, and more satisfactory, if he had told
us that he was, as he certainly is, inclined TO
the most liberal Interpretation of the text, in
stead Of discoursing most learnedy as to the
power Of amendment, and the propriety OF
se.ortiug TO it in all cases of dubious cbarac
| ter In short, this portion Of his Message dis.
plays more jesaitry than any similar Documen,
we have ever seen, and, in this respect, at
east, has no similtude TO those OF MI Isiler
son, whom he and his friends have adopted as
their great erempidr-not rejecting, apparent
ly, on that most admirable fable oflhe Frog and
the OI-But why talk of the construction which
Gen. Jackson would put upon the constitution?
Let him, or is friends, account for that to u,
unaccountabe inter probation of the ID section
of the Rules and Ar, icle, of War, by which he
transmitted naiius born citizens, assembled for
a most odious purpose, we admit into Jortign
spies, and psaceabie unwailed City into for
tilted camp. Or if this specimen of his prods'
position 10 liberal construction should be thought
not germaine to the matter in hand lei him ex-
plain bow the consttutionalty oftbe existing
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