Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-10-13

unconstitutional. At present, although
we are emphatically the men Of the peo-
Pile, being charged exclusively with the
protection of individual right against un-
constitutional laws, yet indirectly we are
compelled to pass upon the delicate ques-
ton of sovereign right, from which may
Heaven deliver us.
You ask me "why did not come out
with my Eight Points at the late election
for Intendant of our city" ! answer, be-
cause | had as little to do with the Meet
ing at Seyle's as you had, and if had
had, no body would have listened to me.
The majority who voted for Mr.. Prngle,
arc as decidedly anti-tariff as you arc. l
did not vote, and | doubt if there is a
man in South Carolina who agrees with
me in at least seven Of my eight points.
But this | do not doubt of, that the time
is not far distant when they will all agree
with me in every one of them. You
know the course Of my public life. l
have more than once before been in
minority, to all appearances as hopeless
as the present, age, eren on The election ct
Jackson TO The Presidency. only assert
that freedom of opinion which / readily
concede to all others,
agree with you entirely that Judge
Lee and myself ought not to have been
invited, and for the reasons you suggest.
You see that | doubted whether it was
not hoax, and after the lapse Of so
much time without an answer from you,
| was nearly confirmed in that doubt. l
treated the invitation, however, respect
fully, yet so as to leave as little as posi-
bic to be gained by the hoax, if it was
one. There is one thing | must beg you
particularly to notice. / do not mean to
suffer myself to be drawn into the ques-
ton of Construction or Constitutonality
Of the Tariff Act. see that in my first
point | have written Constitution, where
| ought to have said Coaren!iCn; but the
context will correct the lapsus. l will
treat the subject historically, and no 9TH
erwise, and then i'll find | have even APP
preached the question of Construction,
will not sit Judicially upon cause aris-
ing under it, AS to the point which you
pISSS w I'LL btbSt l. WV
conspiracy, | am as ready now to dispose
of it as | probably ever shall be, and
have no objection to do so. Ihare no er-
idence bm whot IS before The public, and
probaby nerer shall hare. 1t requires
the power of an Asmodeus to ransack ca
binets, Or rake up the ashes Of confden-
tial correspondence, but if there has not
been enough published to establish the
fact Of IA fixed purpose and Jealous. CO.
operation among some Of our citizens to
get rid of the Tariff Act, or get rid ofthe
Union, then can only say, differ wide
ly from every one in my references. |
think there is evidence to show that
some 60 farther, and maintain that Sc
paration from the Union, whether singly
or in confederation with other states, is
the true policy of South Carolina: butthe
evidence on this subject, is chiefly before
the public also, and may safely be left to
their consideration without comment. 1t
is of too personal character to admit of
public discussion, otherwise than in a
Court of Justice, and there it can never
be discussed that know of: | hope new
er will be, directly or incidentally.
AS to the moral imputation of conspira-
cy, it does not necessarily carry with it
reproach. La Fayette would never
blush to have it known if the truth be so,
that he headed conspiracy against
Charles X. fthere are any among us
who maintain that they are absolved from
their allegiance to the United States,
what offence can they take at being char
gcd with conspiring against it. If there
are any who charge the Government Of
the United States with oppressive and
intolerable Tyranny, what reproach is it
to them to be charged with conspiring :
Shall there be a Cesar and no Brutus,
no Cassius, no Casca found among US?
BY such presume it would be coveted
as honorable. The motive only can
characterize the act, and to those only
whose conscienccs upbraid them with
selfish or dishonorable views can it come
with reproach. | do believe in the ex-
istence of what l call conspiracy; but |
have impugned no mans motives. |
have attached no reprouchfM epithet to
the term. AS to those who press the al
tentative upon the people, Of either com
peling a repeal of the Tariff or positive
resistance, if there are any such who
know or believe that Congress cannot
and will not rccede, leave them to settle
with their own conscicnccs how near this
approaches to a distinct effort to dissolve
the Union.
And now let me conclude with one
earnest request. If this correspondence
cannot be carried on without intcrrupting
that cordial feeling which has subsisted
between us from cur boyhood, pray
you let it end here. Do not entertain
lie thnunht thnt [ am shnnnincr tho com