Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-11-19
from the Yorkyille Pioneer and whisl

tFariF and Internal Improvement that now ga deep
~ agtste tho public mind throughout the State of
South Carolina, there are certainly neuras. In
deed II would appear that none were to be tolerated.
under any circumstances. Every man finds his opn
ions either called for or expected. and if not gven
improper motives are attributed to his silence.
left home the latter end of June on a travel
with my family, aud did return in time to avail
myself of the poli'c invitations of the citizens of
Stateburg and its vicinity, of the citizens of Lancas-
ter District of the citizens of Richland District,
to partake of their public DINNERS flor which take
this occasion to tender them sevcraly, iny most
pcctful acknowledgements where might have min |
gled in free discussion aud interchange of opinions
with the distinguished citizens Of those places; have
Transmitted my views through the medium of letter.
as many other gentlemen saw 6t to do But when l
lett South Carolina, had ntiuiations from any
quarter, that the people to be called together,
IN large assemblies and hose topics publicly discuss
ed before thc and the questions of notification and
convention urged with extreme warmth for their
immediate adoption. IF such had been the course
previously contemplated by any persons whomsoever,
they had kept it a profound secret from me- Had
proposition OF that sort been suggested had pos
sible motive why should not have given my views,
then, as well as other members of Congress and 9TH
er citizens have done. However, returning as did
on the very eve of the general elections but not in
time for my views to have reached every portion of
the state previous TO that event. determined to wait
TIL the elections were over in the least doubt
ing. that any thing I might say, if entitled to any
consideration, would weigh just as much with an i'm
parual and rejecting community. whose object could
only be TRUTH and whose end could only be the public
good, it possibly could have DONE had uttered it to
them in the midst of the most anlnuted and highly
excited canvass that perhaps has agitated the
state. As that contest is past, and Tranquility
In some degree restored to the public min !, such
opinions as have been led TO form for myself under
existing circumstances, beg leave to present with
OUT he east degree p.esuming upon their nalby.
Therc have been some unkind remarks upon nv
supposed silence II is not true that have been
lent. In my speech IN the Senate last winter in The
debate on Foote'S resolution, | explicitly said it
you'd not De necessary for the people to rise in their
might to put dozen this system, either by one portion
seeding from the union, or By tie drgui utter
nHetoe, ctUt ton-, that could drench the Suites ph
tie blood IF their citizens. And had What there said
on the subject Of the Tarf: been taken altogetler
no gentleman could have mistaken my opposition to
notification. the doctrine then urged by other
gentlemen III that debate: indeed to any other
strong measures. | there gave my reasons for NV
opinion. went further during the last session Of
Congress; before left Washington, wrote to sew
era distinguished gentlemen of my acquaintance in
South Carolina, and gave as more than probable
that both the tariff and internal improvement sys-
tens, were fast crumbling away, and would suon De
enureiy demolished guve my reasons why
thought So When I returned home from Congress
gave 1t as my belief and publicly too to ali with
whom converscd that the rapid decline and SPEEDY
dssoiutlons of those systems, thought could be- no
longer doubted. Among the distinguished citizens
10 whom l made these communications were the
Hon Judge Desaussure, aud several gentlemen of
The bar at Spartanburg court, in June last was
aso called on there by the members of the Legisa-
tyre, of Sparianburg District with Col Isaac
Snlltti at their head who asked for my opinion ex-
pieitif, whether thought the Legislature of South
Carolina ought to adopt the strong measures of nul.
LITIGATION convention to arrest those svstems T
1nhesratinsiy told them thought il unnecessary for
the Legislature to do at this time und under the
present prospect of their dissolution by easier and
saisr MEANS and gave them my also for that
hsllef At this interview, which was public and in
tie midst of q large concourse the Hon W T.,
Nuckoi's WIS present; aad know that nv views
were spoken OF without restraint by many who heard
them. Nor had any wish il should havn been
Otherwise. So that my fellow citizens will pla nIy
perceive that the iEputation of studied silence on
ny part is unjust.
In giving my views shall not go into any elabo
rate dissertation of what the constitution ought TO
hive been, or how 1t might have been better con-
structed to secure perpetuity Of equal rights and
nlnnnities to the citizens of the different portions of
tile Union Nor shall attempt leratby anaIvs,s
of the constitutional principles upon which the advo
Gates OF those systems urge their Legitimacy: it is
sufficient that Snoy0 they exist and that thew bear
rneqnally, unJusy, and oppressively upon the peo-
pie OF the Southern Ssatss and tend dirsctly 10 d.
uipish the profits Of their labor without auy neces
shry exaction from the general government for go
great sacrifice; whilst they ara kept in operation BY
lAat government, avowedly for the purpose of aug
nentng the fortunes and sustaining the speculation
Of other portions Of the citizens of the Unied States
Dpon no better authority than what is derived from
that lneXhaustble fountain Of implied legislative
powers, "the public good and general welfSre;" or
from that still more exceptionable and more dangerous
doctrine The power of Congress to raise MONEY and
consequently the power TO dlsburse il in the consrc
ton of roads, the excavation ofcanas or nv oar ov
trovagant purposes which their cupidty or their am
bition may suggest" Either which if carried out
and adopted as sound constitutional doctrine would
lead directly to ntolerabe dcspotism, and exnguish
the equality of rights intended to be secured by The
constitution
The evidences upon which my belief was hereto
fore founded. that the Tariff and Internal Improve
1nent systems rapidly giving way and must
shortly be dissolved still exist and Justify me in that
belief. As to the tariff, which appears to be the
principal object with that class of our politicians
WIN press the notification and convention doctrines
it had other evidence of its decline and fall
would say il existed in the redeeming spirit of the
people ofthe U. States, which has been some time
since awakened in other quarters Us well as in the
Southern States. The gnldcn dreams that were
held on. to the great community, by those who frs,
commenced and cherished the American system have
faded Moreover, The interests of the manufacturers